Skin Diver Magazine Cover.

[stoneshirt]

Hello,Water People.
I no longer Dive,and trying to recall when I was starting out,at an early age.(I'm 76 now.)..The only "first memorys" I have are getting the "new" Rondin FULL FOOT POCKET Fins,and a Skin Diver Magazine with a Painting (?) of an Abalone Diver holding the old Tire Iron and being in the Company of a Killer Whale.Can anyone Date the Issue?
Thanks.stoneshirt.
P.S. My first Diving was at Pacific Grove,Calif...where they had this Glass Bottom Boat enterprise going.It was pretty cool.I can still smell those Canvas Black-Out Shades they lowered,as we shoved off from the Dock.

 

[The Chairman]

Cool memories, thanks!

 

[captain]

Dr. Sam Miller is the man you seek. I believe he has a complete collection of Skin Diver mags.

 

[tridacna]

Dr. Sam Miller is the man you seek. I believe he has a complete collection of Skin Diver mags.

@Sam Miller III

 

[Akimbo]

My first Diving was at Pacific Grove,Calif...where they had this Glass Bottom Boat enterprise going.

I also remember those boats. The cove at Lover's Point was my third dive site in my 1962 Scuba class. It was also a favorite spot for divers using war surplus pure oxygen rebreathers because it is so shallow, but they were becoming pretty rare by the mid-1960s.

Did you take a Scuba class or did a friend show you the ropes? My instructor was Earl Pheiffer, who was associated with Art's Aqua Shop in San Leandro, California.

The boat operators really liked divers to swim under them as long as they stayed off to one side so the bubbles didn't collect on the glass view ports. PG & Lovers Point were special for my parents. They honeymooned there just before the end of WWII. They had to take the train down from the Bay Area because of gas rationing.

 

[stoneshirt]

I also remember those boats. The cove at Lover's Point was my third dive site in my 1962 Scuba class. It was also a favorite spot for divers using war surplus pure oxygen rebreathers because it is so shallow, but they were becoming pretty rare by the mid-1960s.

Did you take a Scuba class or did a friend show you the ropes? My instructor was Earl Pheiffer, who was associated with Art's Aqua Shop in San Leandro, California.

The boat operators really liked divers to swim under them as long as they stayed off to one side so the bubbles didn't collect on the glass view ports. PG & Lovers Point were special for my parents. They honeymooned there just before the end of WWII. They had to take the train down from the Bay Area because of gas rationing.

 

[stoneshirt]

Akimbo.
Ha ha...I was there in Pacific Grove,trying out my first Wet-suit (''3/16double Skin) bought from Phantom Productions, in San Fransisco.You would send him all important Measurements and he would send you a Kit with pre-cut Pieces,and a Can of Black Magic Glue,and Seam Tape.A Scuba Diver came in ,and I was Fawning over his Gear.He said something like "hey,kid there's still about Fifteen Minutes of Air left in my Tank go ahead put it on,and stay close to Shore"...
We put them on with Cornstarch/Talcum Powder,back then.

 

[Akimbo]

I was there in Pacific Grove,trying out my first Wet-suit (''3/16double Skin) bought from Phantom Productions, in San Fransisco.You would send him all important Measurements and he would send you a Kit with pre-cut Pieces,and a Can of Black Magic Glue,and Seam Tape.

My first suit came from Phantom as well but came premade through Art's Aqua Shop, also 3/6" skin both sides. I have a friend that bought Neoprene sheets from Steele's in Oakland and had to make his own patterns. I tried making my own Neoprene drysuit about 5 years later. Long story short, I never tried that again. Did you know that Dick Long, who started DUI, learned the trade at Stan's in San Jose?

Did you just glue the zipper or did Phantom glue and sew them to the Neoprene for you? What did they give you for the beaver tail closure? Man, I hated those brass zippers and snaps. I still avoid zippers on wetsuits.

A Scuba Diver came in ,and I was Fawning over his Gear.He said something like "hey,kid there's still about Fifteen Minutes of Air left in my Tank go ahead put it on,and stay close to Shore"...

Great story. Were you a Monterey Peninsula local or down from the Bay Area?

 

[stoneshirt]

Akimbo...Small World with the Wet Suites.eh? I grew up in Santa Cruz.Started Surfing at around 12yrs of age.We had these Surf Mats,inflatable Canvas,Red on One side,Blue on the other.We hung out at a small Cove at Pleasure Point.No Surfboards in sight.There was a break there that formed up quickly,where you could go Left or Right.The Kelp was so thick at the takeoff spots,that it would grab your Ankles,and pull your Fins off.There was a tight Group of Family's there most Weekends,down from San Fransiscne of them was a Jazz Trumpet Player,Frank Gillette,from Frisco...The best Body Surfer....He taught me to Body Surf,and dealing with the Kelp Take-offs,we would bring along Serrated Steak Knives and Masks,and tie them to the Kelp Strands,and during the in between sets lulls,we would make a feeble attempt at clearing the Kelp right at the Takeoff area.Ha,ha fastest growing Plants on Earth!...Frank's Trademark Red Shower Cap that he wore, could be spotted at Steamer Lane,bobbing in the 12ft Break!...The past seems so sweet,compared to these modern Days

That's how I got into Diving.There is some Rocks there on the right side of the Cove,and soon we began Popping off Abalone.

P.S.I remember the Wet-suite was a One Piece,I think.

stoneshirt.