A day with Andrew Zimermen and the Travel Channel

Hey all awhile back I got an email from a friend of mine Lou from bodega Bay Pro Dive asking if I could help him with a TV shoot and if it was OK to pass my contact info on to them of course I said yes. A week or two later I got a call on my cell phone it was the producer of the TV show Bizzar foods on the Travel Channel and they were given my info by Lou. They were looking for a Dive Master with current insurance to over se there Filming of a episode on Abalone diving. Unfortunately I could not help but I had another friend that could and that would be Tom Stone From Bamboo Reef, so I passed along the info got them hooked up and thought I was done with it. A week later I got another call back from the producer asking me to still come and over se and consult for them on the shoot ! WOW cool ! He advised of the date and location which meant I had to take a day off from work ! It was pretty cool to tell the boss why I was taking the day off I think he was a little jealous ! Well the day came and my son Blake and I went on up to meet and help, like I said it was at Fort Ross. The reason Fort Ross was chosen is cause you can still harvest sea urchin and scallops there the goal was to try and get urchin,abalone,scallops and rock fish to eat. There was me and my son Blake and Tom, Pam from Bamboo reef Tom's brother in-law and Lou and 2 of his friends and the film crew and Andrew Zimmerman. We could not have asked for a better day we had clear sunny warm 70 degree weather and nice calm ocean with a 3 to 5ft small swell with nice blue water. Once on the beach we started to get things set up for the shoot and what not. It was cool I got to explain abalone and diving techniques, and go over the gear as well as  a ton of other stuff pertaining to abalone with Andrew. The plan was to have Andrew and Lou and his 2 buddies 1- diver on scuba to film and yes they had a permit from DFG to legally have the scuba around while harvesting abalone for filming purposes only ! and Tom as the overseeing Divemaster to go out for a bit and dive. After about an hr Andrew got out while the rest of the guys hunted selectively. I hung around for a bit more but did not stay the whole day or for the eatting part of the show had other obligations to get to plus I was not there to get on TV but for the experience and to meet Andrew Zimmerman. what a cool day and the best part is I got to share it and hang with my oldest son !!!! and he said he actually had fun and enjoyed hanging out with his old dad !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

here are some pics.
http://norcalunderwaterhunters.com/forum/index.php?action=media;sa=album;in=88

the show should air in March some time is what they said

Very cool Matt!!!!!!!!

Really looking forward to seeing the episode!

A good buddy of mine who was in the Peace Corps with me in Nicaragua teamed up with Andrew for the Nicaragua episode...said he was a very nice guy and that the whole experience was a lot of fun!

Stoked that you had a great time with your son and got to be involved in showing TV folks how special diving (and the bounty!) can be!!

Congrats again and thanks for sharing!

 

Sincerely,

Jim

Thats cool! I love that show

Cool, I like that show - sometimes
Zimmer is a little more adventurous with "food" than I.
Must have been fun!

That's pretty cool to be involved with the show's episode. I enjoy watching the show since I enjoy food, trying many different types/prepared food

I look forward to watching that episode when it airs. Thanks again!!

Ive been wondering why he hasnt done A show like that yet! Very cool Matt thanks for sharing......

I agree, very cool! Nice Matt!!

That's awesome!

Did you make Andrew try some ab gonad?!   

That's awesome!

Did you make Andrew try some ab gonad?!   

I did not stay the whole time but acording to a buddy of mine that was there siad he  did and he said it was not that bad !