This week I am in Cairns Australia and went into one of the local dive shops, Diversworld Cairns to visit with some of the guys there and happened to pick up one of the magazines on the counter.
In it there were plenty of articles about good fish and exciting trips but the only one that made me stop and read was about a lost diver. This past year our sport has lost some incredible people and sadly this can be said for every year not just 2010. I can write for hours on what each of these people meant to the sport but I cannot possible do them justice alone and I want them to know that they are missed and in our thoughts.
Personally, the loss of Bill Crawford was the most earth shattering for our close group of divers. That he shared his wealth of knowledge and was THE MAN that we look up to when thinking about diving in the Gulf of Mexico will always be remembered and respected. He has landed more big Wahoo, Tuna, Snappers and every other fish in those murky waters than most of us have ever dreamed about and all the while been the most humble about it. I wish I had known him longer but to a man the Louisiana free diving elite will carry on with his sense of adventure and mindset towards their resource and all of us should strive to be more like Bill.
Bill always found the fish and went about it in such a casual and relaxed way that you’d think it was by accident. It was however years of experience, patience, and perservance that brought him continued success through the years and multiple World Records. It was not unheard of for Bill to take off for 2-3 days at a time by himself in his 17ft Boston Whaler to explore the marsh or hunt tunas offshore. When no one else would come with him he’d simply take the boat and tie his bungey right to it. At night he’d crawl up on the rig and sleep on the platform and when morning came he was back in the water at first light. His stories and life were to Spearfisherman the equivalent of legends told of Daniel Boone or Ernest Hemingway exploring the frontier and oceans. He will be missed by all.
Also lost this year was IUSA President and another mentor of many West Coast USA divers Larry Carter. The link below to the IUSA website gives tribute to a good humored and giving diver who has openly worked to better the sport unselfishly through every opportunity. He has been a confidant in every World Record application we have all done in recent years and introduced many of you to Bluewater Hunting. Thank you Larry… http://www.iusarecords.com/larrycarter.htm
While not this year another shocking loss was that of Johnny “Long Blades” of Key West. My last trip out with Johnny was with he and I and GR and I remember Johnny showing up with his boat still full of fish scales and well used gear. He was quiet and well loved by all those around him and as is the case with Freedivers around the world, was always open and giving in all that he had to offer. Our last day on the water will never be forgotten as he put me on the spot that to this day is still the biggest Cubera Snapper I’ve ever landed in Florida. Thank you Johnny
Another sad loss this year was the husband of one of my diving friends in the Keys Jeff Simonds. I had met him on a few occasions at tournaments and in passing through and he was a constant fixture in the Florida Keys dive community. He and his wife Jess Snook are Marine Biologists who are also keen spearfisherman and their stories and excitement diving together has inspired many of us to get down there and get out on the water.
I’ll leave this post up so we can pay our respects to the divers we have lost in the past few years and to bring awareness to those just getting started in the sport and those who have yet to find their limits. There is more to Spearfishing then shooting the biggest fish of the day. Each of us needs to contribute something to the sport and as a group we have to stick together and look out for the ones we love and dive with.
If you would, write a bit about those who have passed to honor them and share with us their life doing what they loved.
9 Responses to “Tribute to our lost divers”
Cam, this is a great way to remember and honor those that we have lost. Thank you for posting this.
We shared a mutual friend in Jeff Simonds. He was a great person and I am fortunate to have had the chance to dive and work with him, and get to know him. Jeff took me out on what would be my deepest ank dive to date, and it was on a spot that he had just discovered. We had stellar conditions for all 4 dives. After a stormy morning (and a half day in the office) I met Jeff at the ramp in Marathon to join him and Steve Moore for an afternoon of diving. We were chased by storms on the way out, but by the time we reached the mark the skies had cleared. For the rest of the day we had blue sky, sun, glass calm water, zero current, and 80′ vis. We dove till sundown and did get back till after dark. It wasn’t an epic day for fish, but I will always remember that day. I will always remember Jeff, and his passion for ocean.
Thanks for posting this Cam. I will send a link to Bill’s family. I know that they will be touched.
I miss him.
Cam
Bill’s wife Cindy sent this onto us. I just wanted to thank you for such a thoughtful tribute. It is still hard to believe that the healthiest, most fit member of our family is gone. As you said, Bill was so humble and we didn’t realize how far reaching his life and experiences went into the diving community. This article is a treasure for his wife, daughters, and family. Thank you.
Beth
Cam, Let me tell you that I had the great fortune to have grown up with Bill (Bilbo)Crawford, since we were 15. Together we were always diving, waterskied, fished, hunting, canoed and hiked all over this country. Whether it was fishing an hiking in the back country of northern Utah near Flaming Gorge or on the Madison and Beaverhead rivers in Montana or just fishing off his Dad’s dock on Lake Hartwell in So.Carolina, Bilbo was the same up beat, positive guy that you always wanted to be around. In fact he was the kind of friend who was always there for you, In fact He unselfishly dropped what he was doing, 15 years ago and drove nonstop from La. to So. Carolina after my Wife(Pam) died, so he could be there to support Me and my Girls. But as others have said, Bill was humble and always the same, He was “The Best Friend I ever had” the kind of friend we all want to be. Bilbo was good at everything he tried because he had this drive, that made you want to tag team with him to climb Mount Everest or just take on a new adventure. We all have lost a very rare FRIEND, a great diver, a great outdoorsman but mostly a truely great FRIEND. Thanks Tony
What else can you say about Bill. What an example of human potential…not just as a diver, but as a person. I have come to realize that while Bill is a part of who I am today, he is an even bigger part of the man I hope to be.
What a special tribe we are a part of to be surrounded by people like Bill.
Not enough good can be said of Bill (Bilbo) Crawford. He was a quiet gentle man. I didn’t really get to know him until junior high but my parents knew his parents. He was well respected and liked by all who knew him. He was blessed with a wonderful wife in Cindy. I went to church with her and her devotion to her beloved Bilbo was undying. All that knew him will remember his kind spirit. Rest in peace my friend.
I had the pleasure of knowing Bill beginning at kindergarten, and essentially all the way through high school. I knew him more in passing during high school, but he was pretty much always the same guy, positive, outgoing and friendly, extremely capable, likable and enjoyable. He talked and he smiled and he refreshed the spirits of those surrounding him. I had not seen him since high school, but he made quite the impression on me early (beginning at age 5!) and I still feel his loss.
Bill’s positive energy was electric and seemingly never ending. Sharing time with Bill was and still is an uplifting reminder of how beautiful the human spirit can be. What a inspiration to all that new him. Bill, I can’t thank you enough buddy for simply being you.