Gary Costello's Story

My best friend Harvey and I were diving a 12 ft deep area usually closed out by waves and surge but that August day it was calm and had at least 10 ft viz. We were looking for big ones when I spotted an opening in the kelp with with a sandy bottom box canyon . I dove down and followed the sand seeing some nice abs on the rock wall where it met the sand. As I reached the end of the canyon I saw 2 very large abs. I had already gotten two 9 plus abs so I dropped my marker on at the end of the canyon and called my friend over and told him to take a look. He dove and came up with what turned out to be a nice 9.75 hog. Then he told me he saw a portion of a large ab in a small crevice in the wall across from the ab he pulled. I dove down and reached my pry bar elbow deep in the hole and popped the ab. I grabbed it with the same hand I had my bar attached to and pulled it to the opening....It was to big to get through.

I saw a little light 5 or 6 feet back in the whole so I pushed my arm into the hole up to my shoulder and tossed the ab toward the light.. I came up pumped with adrenaline and got my bearings. My marker was helpful to decide which direction and how far over to go over to find the other side of the cave. My first descent put me on the bottom at 12 feet at the base of of large rock . There was a 3 ft opening I stuck my head in and looked up and saw my trophy about 4 ft back. I could see the light from the other opening. I grabbed the big shell and brought it to the surface. It turned out to be 10 and an eighth inches. My friend still says he should have gone after it himself.

Gary Costello