On November 9, 2018, just after his 64th birthday, Don Canestro was diving with his friend Dan Richards, in Cambria, California. When he surfaced near their kayak, he said he did not feel well, and then passed out. His friend got him to shore, performed CPR, and arranged for a helicopter to take Don to the hospital. But Don, who had survived so much before, died from cardiac complications.
It is ironic that Don, a former Dive Safety Officer, died while scuba diving. For so many years, he was the person others relied on to keep them safe because of his extensive knowledge, expertise, and prowess underwater. Perhaps it is fitting that Don’s last day was spent in the ocean. He was a dedicated waterman: He did regular ocean swims; he surfed; he could free-dive to 100 feet; he scuba dived and played underwater hockey. He could recite U.S. Navy dive tables, rebuild a regulator, and captain a research vessel. And Don knew more about the ocean and its inhabitants than most marine biologists.
Don’s professional life revolved around his love for marine biology and natural history. After graduating from UC Berkeley in 1977, he worked as a park ranger for the East Bay Regional Parks. When he tired of motorists running over his traffic cones, he filled them with cement and watched the damage unfold. He loved the seasonal work, because for the rest of the year he could grow his hair out, travel, and keep in shape for the next triathlon.
