As a ranger, I hosted a friend from the mainland and thought of catching a good size and tasty fish for my friend and campers. So, I set off in my wet suit, diving mask, snorkel and speargun from the shore to 250-300 yards out at the edge of the deep blue and kelp forest.
I caught a nice big sea bass (12 lbs.), inflated my buoy, and bagged the bass. Then I heard a muffled human voice through my head wet suit. Just as I was turning to look, a kayak hit me in the side of the head and ran me over. I blacked out and sank in to the tall kelp. I woke, to what was about three seconds later. My lungs and stomach were filled with sea water.
Without panicking I made my way up toward the light of the surface when my left fin (over 36 inch long) got stuck in the tall kelp. I used my fish killing knife from my forearm to cut the kelp. Then my left leg thigh viciously cramped in excruciating pain. With one leg, I made it to the surface. I belched sea water and begun a self-Heimlich to purge more water.
I then heard the mumble of the human voice again. I turned and the kayak was again heading my way. It was my guest who hit me but couldn’t stop. I couldn’t speak so I stuck the “finger” out with both hands. She turned away to shore.
The cramp was still raging so I laid on my back like a sea otter hoping it may pass. It did not. Fuck it! I have one good leg, so I grabbed my buoy and fish and swam on my back with the one good leg. Made it to shore 30-40 minutes and collapsed on the shore in exhaustion.
A couple approached me and said they saw it all and feared I would drown. “We screamed for the ranger, and he didn’t come”, they said. I am the ranger, I replied. Near death experience number 3. Sea Power - Remarkable Diving Feat is my soundtrack.
Ranger Gary
