Scuba Patches, Stickers and Shirts

Scuba Patches, Stickers and Shirts 

I would imagine a number of what I call patches are still popular today along with stickers and shirts that display our love of something that we  want to convey to like-minded people. 

Back in the 50s and 60s there were some dive related patches that we  collected and sewed proudly to some sort of jacket.  I was no exception to this collection and proudly wore the jacket to any and all functions whether it was dive related or not.       

                          Early Dive Days Jacket with Patches

 Of course, the main patch was the one depicting our dive club in Cleveland, following that the others were notifying onlookers what I accomplished, the type of diving I liked or where I had been.  Most of these patches remained in good shape because I didn't, now I require an extra-large jacket instead of this large.

I was proud of having passed the YMCA Instructor Course and taught for five years so, even though it was pretty beat up from being sewn on my bathing suit, I still displayed it proudly.                              

As to where I had dived, and keep in mind I had just been diving for about 10 years, my locations were limited to the area around Lake Erie as well as up in Canada.                                   

Because we spent a good deal of time diving off New York State, I joined the New York State Divers Association to show my support as an out of state diver.       

Another organization I supported was the Underwater Society of America.  This was to show my support for another organization involved in diving.  They are still active today and are the sanctioning body for underwater sports in the USA.  A charter member of the World Underwater Federation (CMAS), they sanction yearly local, regional and national underwater championships in skin diving, underwater hockey, underwater rugby, fin swimming and spearfishing. 

A number of us from Cleveland would travel up to Buffalo, New York to dive on the Coin Pile off shore, we became known as regulars at the Buffalo Aqua Club.  They were a great group of divers, had their own club house where they hosted invitational parties. 

My Dive Buddy Victor at one of the Buffalo Aquaclub’s Invitational Functions

A lot of them had the history of diving that we possessed, which was seat of the pants introduction to the sport as well as a keen ability to adapt to most any situation underwater.  I understand they have since disbanded and gone the way of the Cleveland Club.  

One of the neatest patches they handed out was their Angolob Grotto one that was to signify that you had dived the Angolob Grotto. 

The Angolob Grotto patch was to be mounted under the arm area of your jacket.  When someone would ask you if you were an Angolob Grotto Diver, you were to lift up your arm and say "You bet I am!" 

Now if you look closely, you will probably notice that the word Angolob read backwards is Bologna indicating this was a fictitious dive location but a great laugh whenever the members would meet up. 

A general patch was one that signified you had an interest in Wreck Diving, which was my primary interest in diving.  Diving allowed me to view a portion of history that most people don't have the ability to see either because they have not taken the time to learn to dive or do have the ability but are not drawn to wrecks or finally just don't care.       

Finally, the last two patches on the jacket, that won't fit me anymore, are the ones indicating my trip to Tobermory, Canada located on the banks of the Georgian Bay.  These patches signified that I not only traveled to Tobermory but also dove one of the deepest wrecks in the area.

Stickers

 Now I'm sure if anyone travels extensively, they are bound to pick up an inexpensive keepsake such as a sticker showing they had the opportunity to visit.  This practice began years ago with people adorning their travel, or steamer, trunks with those far away stickers.

Now, because I don't possess a travel trunk and stickers will not adhere to my cloth dive bag, I have opted to affix them to my camera case. 

After awhile I stopped carrying my camera equipment in these cases.  I  found it easier to pack it in a roll-away rather than carry the additional weight. 

Of course to top off the recognition stickers there is the ever present one on the rear window of my car as well as the one on the license plate holder in the front.        

These are especially handy in Florida where diving locations are so plentiful.  Other divers will stop and talk or at least toot their car horn to acknowledge their recognition of your sport

T Shirts 

Let's face it, whenever most people travel any distance outside of their home town, they most likely will invest in a T shirt signifying the location they had visited.  Sometimes they will wear a T shirt of their home town showing the people of the vacationing spot where they came from. 

Remember the stickers on the camera case, well when you're wearing one of those T shirts from dive location, on your next dive, it tells  everyone you've been around.....even if you haven't.

If you're anything like me, and it's more important as you get older, you like to have a keepsake of those places you spent your time and money to explore.  T shirts are the least expensive way of accomplishing this.  In addition, you may not be able to purchase one at the local store or on line, the only source is where you got wet.     

Here are a few examples of trinkets picked up from the various locations I have dived.  There are a lot more in my closet and some that are not due to them deteriorating from use or age.

There is one shirt that will never leave my closet even though it has taken on a somewhat yellow appearance.  That is the one I was given when working with Mel Fisher on the Margarita Spanish Galleon.  I also had one that read "Atocha Expedition" but it completely disintegrated seeing I dove it the year before.       

I will always look at these trips as the least expensive, most exciting and truly educational adventure I have had in my diving career.  I had the opportunity to meet like-minded people as well as locate and be able to touch a portion of history for the first time since 1622.  Thank you, Mel for allowing me to share in your quest.

Note: If my readers have any diving subject they wish me to expand on, relate my experiences or offer my opinion on, please don’t hesitate to contact me at scubageorge2@gmail.com and I’ll do my best to answer you direct or construct a blog to cover the subject matter. 

George