I would drive the Westwind over to Kerckhoff, side tie to the float (that’s when they had water at the end of the pier) and load his tanks and equipment. This particular morning Wheeler helped me with the dock lines then return to the lab to pick up a few more things. I loaded the gear that was on the float, new dive gear, a dry suit, etc. Wheeler returns to the boat and I asked who was diving with us today. He says "no one, just us"... Well who’s dive gear is this? I asked. "It’s mine" he says with that Wheeler smile, "Last month I was diving at Diablo Canyon with the PG&E biologist and they were so embarrassed by my dive equipment they told me to go out and buy all new and send them the bill".

This was the only time I ever knew Wheeler to have all NEW dive gear. As expected, within a few months it no longer looked new.

Chuck Mitchell