Diving Into Walton's World
By Gwen Carroll Feb. 12, 2025
Many Bay Area residents have been to the ocean, but Lon Walton, Science Department, is more familiar with it than most. For over 30 years, he has participated in scuba dives as deep as 100 feet, having been introduced by his father who taught at San Jose State University. His father would bring his students on ocean diving trips, where despite being significantly younger, 13-year-old Walton assisted in preparations.
Since then, his dives have been regular family outings: first with his father and sister, now with his wife and children. They have also taken him far beyond the California coast: Walton has gone on dives in Hawaii, Puerto Rico, the Caribbean and even Australia. He particularly notes his dive in Cozumel, a small Mexican island in the Caribbean Sea.
“There are a lot of interesting sea creatures to see in the waters of Cozumel, from coral and fish to lobster and octopus. My favorite marine animal to look for on dives are octopi, since their nocturnal nature makes them a challenge to find, especially when I am helping newer divers find wildlife on group dives,” Walton said.
As much as he enjoys finding sea creatures, Walton also likes searching for them for another reason: hunting. At lower depths, the main joy of diving becomes spearfishing. Species such as halibut thrive off the Californian coast, making it the perfect hunting range for a more aquatically attuned hunter.
After retiring as a teacher, Walton plans to steer his diving expertise in a different direction. He has taken interest in marine life restoration projects, particularly urchin abatement, an operation in which divers armed with small hammers descend into kelp forests and cull the urchins, preventing them from overeating the kelp and damaging the ecosystem.
“When I retire, I want to spend more time diving, this time in the context of environmentalism. I am interested in restoration efforts globally, such as coral reef restoration projects in Florida, but I would also love to help out more locally in the kelp forests of Monterey Bay,” Walton said.
Walton himself does not usually take any footage of his dives, only standing in for when his family cannot, but treasures each underwater memory nevertheless. From his wife’s photo albums to his son’s GoPro footage of each outing, Walton’s dives have become more than just a hunting trip or sightseeing activity—they make a valuable and unique family tradition that shows no signs of slowing down.
About the Contributors
Gwen Carroll
community news & last word editor
Gwen Carroll is the page editor for community news and last word. It is her third year in journalism. She likes playing rhythm games and taking naps when it's warm out.
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