Jamie Sewell of Warren prepares his boat for scallop diving off the coast of Cushing. Sewell has been diving for scallops and sea urchins for years in what has become a hard industry to earn a living in due to quotas and catch limits.
Sewell has been diving for scallops and sea urchins for years in what has become a hard industry to earn a living in.
Jason Simmons of Waldoboro helps Sewell slip into his scuba diving suit aboard the Sophie Elizabeth. Sewell, who lost his right arm in a snowmobile accident, uses a prosthetic arm fitted with a part designed for kayaking to hold his netted bag and uses his left hand to fill the bag with scallops.
Simmons rinses Sewell's hand with hot water that's nearly 180 degrees before Sewell slides his glove on for a dive.
Sewell jumps into the chilly Atlantic off the coast of Cushing in search of scallops.
Sewell scuba dives toward the bottom of his boat, the Sophie Elizabeth, to cut a rope that got caught in the propellor while he was diving for scallops off the coast of Cushing.
Scallops picked off the ocean floor rest in a tray waiting to be cut.
Simmons "cuts" a scallop, a process that is similar to shucking a clam, while tending the boat. Sewell is one of a handful of scuba divers who still scour the ocean floor for the desired ground feeders.
Freshly "cut" and washed scallops are poured into a bucket.
Sewell looks toward shore after a full day of scuba diving for scallops off the coast of Cushing.
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