Students at 17cÍøÒ³°æ (17cÍøÒ³°æ) took the Halloween tradition of carving pumpkins to a new level— deep below the water’s surface in the College’s dive training lagoon on the Key West Campus on Wednesday. The 17cÍøÒ³°æ Student Activities department hosted the event for students to create jack-o’-lanterns underwater as well as on dry land. 

The underwater activity was led by 17cÍøÒ³°æ Diving faculty member Lucja Rice, who recently became a Specialty Instructor of Underwater Pumpkin Carving through the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI). Twenty-two students suited up in scuba gear to learn techniques to safely and skillfully carve pumpkins underwater. Each student earned a PADI Underwater Pumpkin Carving Specialty Certification. Hanna Vranesevich, who is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Marine Resource Management, won the competition with a skeleton fish jack-o’-lantern.