2008 HDS Conference & ADCI Western Chapter Annual Meeting Speaker Tom Kendrick

In 1962, at eleven years of age, Tom Kendrick moved to Hawaii, where a lifelong love of the ocean, and surfing began. His good fortune continued when his family moved to Santa Barbara in 1967, where he discovered the world-class waves of Rincon, El Capitan, and the Hollister Ranch. After a four year stint in the Air Force he returned to Santa Barbara, where a search for waves at the Channel Islands landed him a job in the fledgling sea urchin dive fishery. In 1978, he began his 22-year urchin diving career - a job that would take him from Santa Barbara to Mexico, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, and northern California. He left Santa Barbara for Point Arena, and the “Gold Rush,” in 1987.

In 1989, after two years of diving the Mendocino coast, he moved his boat (and family) from Fort Bragg to Bodega Bay in order to access the virgin reefs of the Farallon Islands, 27 miles west of San Francisco. He is now retired from diving, but still surfs, writes and keeps an active interest in the history of diving through his membership in the Historical Diving Society USA. In October 2006, Mr. Kendrick published Bluewater Gold Rush: The Odyssey of a California Sea Urchin Diver. This true-life memoir chronicles the adventure, humor, and tragedy of this fascinating way of life and has received high praise from reviewers. He has also been featured on the PBS television show, Huell Howser’s California’s Gold. Film producers have asked Tom to provide a screenplay adaptation of the book for a feature-length film. The screenplay is currently in production, as well as is his second book, Tales From the Kelpbed.

	2008 HDS Conference & ADCI Western Chapter Annual Meeting
Presenting Tom Kendrick
Presentation: “Swimming with Sea Monsters: 22 Years as a California Sea Urchin Diver”
In 1962, at eleven years of age, Tom Kendrick moved to Hawaii, where a lifelong love of the ocean, and surfing began. His good fortune continued when his family moved to Santa Barbara in 1967, where he discovered the world-class waves of Rincon, El Capitan, and the Hollister Ranch. After a four year stint in the Air Force he returned to Santa Barbara, where a search for waves at the Channel Islands landed him a job in the fledgling sea urchin dive fishery. In 1978, he began his 22-year urchin diving career - a job that would take him from Santa Barbara to Mexico, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, and northern California. He left Santa Barbara for Point Arena, and the “Gold Rush,” in 1987. In 1989, after two years of diving the Mendocino coast, he moved his boat (and family) from Fort Bragg to Bodega Bay in order to access the virgin reefs of the Farallon Islands, 27 miles west of San Francisco. He is now retired from diving, but still surfs, writes and keeps an active interest in the history of diving through his membership in the Historical Diving Society USA. In October 2006, Mr. Kendrick published Bluewater Gold Rush: The Odyssey of a California Sea Urchin Diver. This true-life memoir chronicles the adventure, humor, and tragedy of this fascinating way of life and has received high praise from reviewers. He has also been featured on the PBS television show, Huell Howser’s California’s Gold. Film producers have asked Tom to provide a screenplay adaptation of the book for a feature-length film. The screenplay is currently in production, as well as is his second book, Tales From the Kelpbed.
Saturday April 19, 9 AM - 4:30 PM HDS 2008 Conference at Monterey Maritime Museum Speakers include: Tom Kendrick presenting “Swimming with Sea Monsters: 22 Years as a California Sea Urchin Diver”
Tel: 800-222-2446	Conference Hotel — Casa Munras web: www.hotelcasamunras.com Request ADC / HDS Conference rate of $169 Alternate hotels listed at www.hds.org	Fax: 831-375-1365
	Conference organizers: Nyle Monday, Sid Macken, Leslie Leaney and Fred Aichele. All weekend events are open to the public.

Dedicated to preserving the history of diving!