Did you know individuals with scuba experience may harvest their own oysters from the Bay? Several area scuba shops offer oyster diving trips, in which guests may bring home up to a bushel of oysters. We caught up with John Harman of Atlantic Edge Scuba to learn a little more.
“We’ve been offering oyster trips off and on for 20 years, usually during October and November,” says Harman. “Most new divers spend about an hour and a half in the water, and on average they take home a half-bushel. We have a regular boat captain, and we make sure the divers meet all the regulations, such as oyster measurements, the bushel limit, staying out of tonging areas, and finishing by noon.
“We have several places we like to go, but right now we’re heading out of Kent Narrows and into the Eastern Bay. We look for natural oyster beds about 10 to 20 feet deep, a good depth for beginners. We welcome divers of all levels, so we find spots where there’s not much current, and we don’t go on days when the water’s rough.
“The divers have a buddy team and a mesh oyster bag, which they bring back up to the boat when it’s full. Then the guys on the boat knock of the spat, take the measurements, and put the small ones back while the divers take the bag back underwater and fill it again.
“Visibility averages approximately 10 feet,” continues Harman. “In the fall, in addition to harvesting some good seafood to take home, divers usually get to see native fish, such as striped bass and perch, and more tropical ones such as puffer and butterfly fish.” Harman adds, “The last two years the water clarity has been better than I’ve seen it in the last 20 years.”
Divers may bring their own equipment or rent from Atlantic Edge Scuba, which also offers training and certification. In addition, Atlantic Edge runs the Guest Dive program at the National Aquarium in Baltimore.
Tuesday, October 25, 2016 - 08:30
Did you know individuals with scuba experience may harvest their own oysters from the Bay? Several area scuba shops offer oyster diving trips, in which guests may bring home up to a bushel of oysters. We caught up with John Harman of Atlantic Edge Scuba to learn a little more.
“We’ve been offering oyster trips off and on for 20 years, usually during October and November,” says Harman. “Most new divers spend about an hour and a half in the water, and on average they take home a half-bushel. We have a regular boat captain, and we make sure the divers meet all the regulations, such as oyster measurements, the bushel limit, staying out of tonging areas, and finishing by noon.
“We have several places we like to go, but right now we’re heading out of Kent Narrows and into the Eastern Bay. We look for natural oyster beds about 10 to 20 feet deep, a good depth for beginners. We welcome divers of all levels, so we find spots where there’s not much current, and we don’t go on days when the water’s rough.
“The divers have a buddy team and a mesh oyster bag, which they bring back up to the boat when it’s full. Then the guys on the boat knock of the spat, take the measurements, and put the small ones back while the divers take the bag back underwater and fill it again.
“Visibility averages approximately 10 feet,” continues Harman. “In the fall, in addition to harvesting some good seafood to take home, divers usually get to see native fish, such as striped bass and perch, and more tropical ones such as puffer and butterfly fish.” Harman adds, “The last two years the water clarity has been better than I’ve seen it in the last 20 years.”
Divers may bring their own equipment or rent from Atlantic Edge Scuba, which also offers training and certification. In addition, Atlantic Edge runs the Guest Dive program at the National Aquarium in Baltimore.