Reflections from a Geoduck Dive Harvester: Voices from Underwater (2017)| Window Seat Media

Voices from the Tidelands

Reflections from a Geoduck Dive Harvester: Voices from Underwater (2017)

Heath Heller, an Olympia native, was introduced to geoduck farming along his circuit of seasonal work. He has worked various jobs, including diving to harvest geoduck.

Health Heller: geoduck dive harvester

“When I was younger, some friends that I’d met doing seasonal work out in Minnesota had harvested geoducks before. Seasonal work seems like an alternative because sometimes you don’t want to work for a while. And if you’re all right with your money you can live easily for a few months."

"There is a cohesion in the shellfish community. Pretty much everyone I’ve worked for has worked with everyone else. A lot of the stuff you have to go through - like if you’ve worked winters - it bonds people. Your whole crew are your friends. It’s long shifts and it’s cold sometimes, but you’re hanging out. Everyone who’s in the industry really seems to enjoy nature and is really into working on the water.”

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“It still gets to me. I don’t like watching the water rise across the mask as I’m breathing.”

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“Some of it is timing your inhales and exhales. You take a breath, speak, and hold the rest of your breath to listen to a reply; or breathe out real fast to listen."

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“When you’re diving you hear breathing and bubbles and for the most part you don’t really see anything. It’s just looking at a swirling cloud. A lot of time you’re lucky if you can see your hand in front of your face.”

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“It still gets to me. I don’t like watching the water rise across the mask as I’m breathing.”

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“When the silt clears out you can actually see what you’re doing. You get to watch all the interactions between all the different animals. But a lot of the time it’s just meditating with your eyes closed and feeling around at the bottom of the Sound.”

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Voices from the Tidelands

more stories from this project:

May 23, 2013

Reflections from a Geoduck Dive Harvester: Voices from Underwater (2017)

Heath Heller, an Olympia native, was introduced to geoduck farming along his circuit of seasonal work. He has worked various jobs, including diving to harvest geoduck.

May 23, 2013

Reflections from the Winter Night Harvest: Voices from the Night (2017)

Luke Gumke moved from the North Cascades region to South Puget Sound in 2007. He currently manages Arcadia Point Seafood, a Shelton-based geoduck farm owned by Vicki and Steve Wilson.

May 23, 2013

Reflections from a Geoduck Dive Harvest Tender: Voices from the Deck (2017)

Chris Harnish came to geoduck farming from a background in migrant work. Since he was eighteen, Chris followed the seasons, finding employment in various land and water-based industries - from “aligatorin’’ in New Orleans to selling gems in Tucson. He has since settled with his wife and kids in his hometown of Olympia, where he works year-round for Sound Shellfish.

Community narratives:

Community Roots

A community oral history project about visionaries and change-makers. Join a cohort to gather the stories or engage with us at artist talks, exhibits, workshops, and performances.

The Third Thirty

A community-based oral history project honoring and amplifying the voices of South Sound elders. Check out the story archives.

Stories of Food, Food as Story

A project-based workshop series using oral history practices to explore our histories and cultural heritage through food traditions and local foodways. Join a cohort or engage with us through community programming.

InhaleExhale

A multimedia, multidisciplinary conversation series about death & dying. Curated by Window Seat Media in collaboration with local artists, organizations, & groups.