Starting off lobster season right, senior Jackson Schenkenberger (Schenk) takes on Dana Point one lobster at a time. In the months of October through the middle of March, Schenk goes beach by beach to dive for lobster. He never goes solo; he normally goes with his two friends Wyland Thomas and Scout Denison. Schenk says his passion for lobster diving started when, “[His] uncle would always take [him] as a little kid growing up and he taught [him] the ins and outs of what to do when you are diving. And also Gary from Big 5 is [his] biggest sponsor and encouragement when it comes to lobster diving.” Since lobster season is only a few months, Schenk and his buddies try to go at least three to four times a week. He scouts out different locations along the southern coast to find the best spot for lobster. Schenk and his friends prefer to take on this activity at night because Jackson states “that’s when the bugs come out to crawl.” The list of gear you need for lobster diving is short but vital. The list includes a dive mask and snorkel, dive light (make sure it's waterproof), lobster gauge, dive fins, weight belt, and gloves so you don't slice your hands. It's required by california law that each diver in a party must have a valid lobster tag, Schenk says he gets his at Big 5 or lost winds dive shop for a small fee of $15. This sport can be extremely dangerous if you don't know what you are doing. It's never a good idea to go alone, because even the most experienced water-men occasionally can run into life threatening situations. It’s not uncommon for divers to get trapped in caves or stuck in nets/fishing lines; lights can run out of battery, and you can run out of breath. Schenk gave us some insight on a big trip he's planning with some dive buddies. This involves him and two others taking a floatplane to their favorite secret spot off the coast of the Channel Islands where the bugs are world class size and limits every time.
Author: Stella Wrobel
