The Fin Twisters: An Underwater Society of the Mississippi Gulf Coast from the 1950's!

In the 1950s, my family and members of the U.S. Air Force belonged to the first skin diving club on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Formed in 1953, the Fin Twisters members explored the offshore waters of the northern Gulf of Mexico from Chandeleur Pass to Pensacola, Florida. Over the few short years of the clubs existence, snorkeling and diving activities included deepwater, near shore, and on shore explorations, later in conjunction with the Gulf Coast Research Station. Through their contacts, club members procured boats and captain services that sometimes took them out into the deeper waters of the Gulf to explore the sea life and fauna living on or near the newly constructed offshore oil rigs that later become such a threat to the existence of the ecosystem and human culture of this portion of the Gulf of Mexico.

John Comin and my Dad, Leonard Arbon, formed the club on the air base in the early 50s. John was an experienced diver from Santa Barbara, California. John's considerable experience greatly aided the quick blossoming of the club and together with my dad's own connections in the US Air Force, enabled the club early on get to work on their exploration of the waters of the Gulf. Using Keesler Air Force Base swimming facilities, the club was able to educate and train members of the club in diving, safety, and equipment familiarity and use.

Photo from left to right, top: Owner of Chris Craft twin engine cabin cruiser occasionally used by the club, Mr. Nolan, John Comin, Griff Nolan, son of boat owner, Captain Lee Arbon, Bob Thompson. Kneeling, Whimpy Weaver with reef fish and large grouper.

As the dive club changed focus over the years the club fell into a unexpected role: assisting scientific research in place of claiming spearfishing trophies. Lee discovered the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory Gulf Coast Research Laboratory right across the bay from Biloxi in Ocean Springs, Mississippi. He and Peggy enrolled in a number of zoology courses and became researchers and assistants to Dr. Gordon Gunter, Director, and other Ichthyologists in gaging the bio wealth of the Mississippi gulf coast. Carrying his family with him on these expeditions became for them, a once in a lifetime experience. Today, a NOAA research ship, the Gordon Gunter , carries Dr. Gunter's name on its stern. Dr. Gordon Gunter was a pioneer Gulf of Mexico researcher whose contributions to the knowledge of the Gulf of Mexico still resonates today. Jointly, the club and GCRL participated in several offshore explorations aboard the RV Hermes and other craft.

Dr. Shoemaker and Lee Arbon dissecting an Ocean Sunfish, scientific name, Mola mola, or Head Fish caught off the Mississippi Gulf Coast in deep water. The fish was preserved in salt, but still smelled to high heaven as it had been out of the water a while before Dr. Shoemaker was able to start working on the fish. This fish grows to a very large size.

Several zoologists and ichthyologists were trained to skin (scuba) dive as a result of this collaboration between the military personnel and scientists at the lab. I actually played a part in this development-as did both my brother and sister. Mostly I listened to the various scientists as they worked with the adults in the club describing various species they caught or wanted us to watch for. I learned a great deal about the field of zoology as the skin diving club worked together with the GCRL. To this day, I retain an understanding of zoology which was only enhanced when I studied the field for myself in college.

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All Rights Reseved, Bill Arbon, Author Last updated August 13, 2015