Students at The College of the Florida Keys (CFK) 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 CFK 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 CFK 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.