CuzzA
Wetwork for Hire
Florida Skin Divers Association
Our hearts are heavy this morning with the passing of Ray “Poppa” Odor, aka, the Lobster Mobster. Ray is now back with the love of his life, Shirley, whom he was married to for 54 years. Born in Bradenton Beach, Ray took up diving after returning from World War II service. No one had yet invented scuba gear for the masses, so he and his brother rigged up makeshift oxygen equipment using welding tools and materials available to them from doing ship repair. They called it the “Odorlung”. Not long after, Odor and a friend opened The Tampa Skindiver on Gandy Boulevard, which for a time was Tampa's first and only dive shop.
Ray was long time member of the spearfishing club Tampa Tridents. Ray was the definition of an “Old Salt”, a true waterman. In 1989, he and some friends took more than their share of lobsters during sport season and they landed themselves a 40 day stay in the Key West Hilton. There he penned a few lines to a song that earned him the nickname, “Lobster Mobster”. For many years, Ray made spearguns, shafts, stringers, kill spikes, PPDs, and pole spears from his “shop” in the backyard of his home in Lutz, Fl. If you ever visited Ray for some shafts or a new stringer, he would always show you his incredible collection of shells and diving memorabilia in his home. Long into his 80s, Ray dove the waters of Gulf of Mexico and Tampa Bay on his boat the “Shirley O”, and always had a generous and thoughtful personality. He set an example on how to live life and treat other people that we all should pay attention to. Fair winds Ray…….we all will miss you very much!!
I had the privilege of meeting the legend in August 2016. Ray gave me the tour of his home and shop... Spent the better part of an hour telling me stories, sharing newspaper articles, awards and trophies. And of course hooking me up with some gear. Pretty cool to meet the man who started it all in Florida.Ray was long time member of the spearfishing club Tampa Tridents. Ray was the definition of an “Old Salt”, a true waterman. In 1989, he and some friends took more than their share of lobsters during sport season and they landed themselves a 40 day stay in the Key West Hilton. There he penned a few lines to a song that earned him the nickname, “Lobster Mobster”. For many years, Ray made spearguns, shafts, stringers, kill spikes, PPDs, and pole spears from his “shop” in the backyard of his home in Lutz, Fl. If you ever visited Ray for some shafts or a new stringer, he would always show you his incredible collection of shells and diving memorabilia in his home. Long into his 80s, Ray dove the waters of Gulf of Mexico and Tampa Bay on his boat the “Shirley O”, and always had a generous and thoughtful personality. He set an example on how to live life and treat other people that we all should pay attention to. Fair winds Ray…….we all will miss you very much!!
