28 Years of Underwater Pumpkins, Costumes & Community

28 Years of Underwater Pumpkins, Costumes & Community

It’s back! On Sunday, October 26th, we’re heading to Argonaut Wharf in Campbell River for the 28th Annual Underwater Pumpkin Carving Contest- one of our favourite local traditions and a highlight of the North Island dive scene.

Every year, divers from all over the Island show up with one goal: carve the most creative pumpkin they can… underwater. We’re teaming up with our friends at Oceanfix again this year, and if history repeats itself, we’re in for a day of good laughs, creative chaos, and the odd runaway pumpkin.

 

Costumes, Carvings & Community Spirit

If you think pumpkin carving on land is tough, try doing it in 8°C water wearing gloves and a mask. That’s where the fun begins.

Last year’s winners set the bar high - the carving champ etched a full dinosaur into his pumpkin, while the costume winner dove in a head-to-toe Spiderman suit. Even the spectators showed up dressed to impress, cheering from the beach in full costume. The sun shone, a rainbow made a surprise appearance, and divers lingered on shore swapping stories and soaking it all in. Our photographer Maxwel Hohn captured it all through his lens, making for some unforgettable photos that perfectly summed up the day.

 

Burgers & Big Prizes

Once you’ve finished carving,  warm up at our BBQ - the Oceanfix team will be grilling up burgers, hot dogs, and veggie burgers for everyone. Don’t worry about bringing a pumpkin, we’ve got plenty, thanks to our awesome donors at Siefferts Farm. Just bring your best ideas and maybe a good chase plan if yours decides to float off towards Quadra.

Stick around for the prize announcements, there are some great prizes in store for the most creative costumes and carvings, so bring your best ideas to life.

 

Tips for a Successful Underwater Carve

Underwater pumpkin carving always brings its share of surprises. Divers will enter from the beach and descend to about 15 feet for carving. It’s a shallow, easy dive but you’re welcome to carve deeper if you’d like.

Here are a few tips to help your creation come to life, and stay put while you work.

Bring Extra Weight: Pumpkins are surprisingly buoyant, so toss in some extra weight or rocks to keep it steady on the bottom.

Tools of the Trade: A sturdy dive knife or small carving tool works best, just something easy to handle with gloves.

Think Bold: Simple, bold designs stand out the best underwater.

Take Your Time: This isn’t a timed event - carve at your own pace and enjoy the process.

Keep It Lighthearted: This isn’t about perfection- it’s about creativity, fun, and seeing what kind of underwater masterpieces you can come up with.

 

All for a Good Cause

Beyond the friendly competition, this event is about community. Proceeds and donations go toward the Campbell River Food Bank, helping local families heading into the colder months. It’s a small way for us to give back, and a reminder of what makes this dive community so special.  So mark your calendars, grab your dive buddy, and come celebrate another year of this unique underwater tradition!

📍 Argonaut Wharf, Campbell River
📅 Sunday, October 26th @ 10:00am

💵 Admission: $10 per diver (proceeds - Campbell River Food Bank)
🤝 Hosted by Pacific Pro Dive & Oceanfix
🎯 Supporting the Campbell River Food Bank

See you there!