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thalassamania
02-09-2008, 02:57 AM
I've recently arrived on the Big Island of Hawaii with my wife of 20 years and our 11 year old Conch (he was born when we lived in Key West where I worked with aquaCorps (http://www.cisatlantic.com/trimix/AQUAcorps/contents.htm) and Billy Deans).

I've been diving since 1956. My Dad was an archaeologist and got the idea to recover Babylonian artifacts from a barge that sank in the mid 19th century where the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers come together. So he bought two tanks, two regulators, and a copy of the Science of Skin and Scuba (a later edition of which I was later honored to be permitted to contribute to), and we learned how to dive.

I continued to dive recreationally (lakes in New York, the New England Coast, North Carolina, Florida, California) ‘till high school when I hooked up with a group that styled itself “Beta Oceanographic Research Inc.” It was basically a dive club that had an agreement with the Pt. Lobos (http://pt-lobos.parks.state.ca.us/Scuba.htm) administration that in return for mapping and doing some baseline work they could have unlimited access to the park.

I went to university and had a part time job prepping bodies for autopsies at the Coroners Office’s that led to becoming a phlebotomist at a local hospital. The guy who ran the hospital lab was a PADI Instructor and I became his AI (this is about 1970). At the same time I became involved in the research diver training program at the university. I took the 100 hrs. Research Diving Course in the spring quarter, did underwater research in Central America over the summer, was an Assistant Team Leader (AI) in the course in the fall, and a Team Leader (Instructor) for the next course. I remained active, both teaching and conducting research until I received my degree in Zoology.

I was accepted to grad school at a major oceanographic institute where I continued my research diving, but there was no organized diving program there. In 1975 I attended a two-week NAUI ITC at the University of Michigan run by Dr. Lee Somers (http://www.oseh.umich.edu/diving%20articles/pioneer.pdf). I returned to my home institution and began teaching other students the 100 hour course I learned during my undergraduate days. To make a long story short, I wound up as the Diving Safety Officer and had a chance to do some interesting things and make what where, I hope, some small contributions to the diving communities.

I’ve held certifications at many institutions of higher learning, up to a 200 foot card, surface supplied, NITROX, mixed-gas, rebreather, chamber operator, instructor, etc. I’ve been an aquanaut (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquanaut)(habitat based saturation) and a deep submersible pilot.

I helped found the American Academy of Underwater Sciences (http://www.aaus.org/mc/page.do?sitePageId=29795&orgId=aaus), served as a national officer of AAUS, and contributed to their standards; I was a member of both the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society and National Science Foundation panels on Shipboard Diving Safety. I’ve been invited to provide testimony before a number of governmental entities including the Department of Labor, the National Advisory Committee on Oceans and Atmosphere and the Vice President's Committee on Governmental Deregulation. I was in on the early days of the formation of the technical diving community as an editor for aquaCorps Magazine and an organizer of the Tek Confereneces.

I was elected a National Fellow of the Explorers Club (http://www.explorers.org/) and I am an Associate Member of the Boston Sea Rovers (http://www.bostonsearovers.com/BSRpublic/History.aspx).

I'm now semi-retired and work as a consulting taxonomist for a photo agency that represents twenty or so of the top nature (including underwater) photographers in the world. I continue my interests in underwater science; I teach a few private programs each year and write. I am currently working on a book addressing research diver training from both an historical and practical perspective.

Papa Bear
02-09-2008, 03:06 AM
Welcome to the Board! Or welcome aboard whatever fills you jib with wind! I think you will find this board a whole lot nicer and fewer Macho Divers!

Sarah
02-09-2008, 03:15 AM
Hi Thalasa, welcome to the SMN Community!

You sound like you have lots of tales to tell! :)

Papa Bear
02-09-2008, 03:43 AM
He is a very interesting fellow with a lot to offer! I hope he will share with us here!

Mountain Dog
02-09-2008, 09:35 PM
Hi Thalassamania,

Welcome to the forum! I don't know if you recall, but you and I shared a few conversations at that other destination a while back, before I jumped ship for the reasons just outlined by Papa Bear.

A note to others on the board. We are in the presence of greatness. Thas has forgotten more about diving than the rest of us put together will ever know. Either that, or he's one heck of a bluffer.

Mountain Dog

thalassamania
02-09-2008, 10:46 PM
Hi Thalassamania,

Welcome to the forum! I don't know if you recall, but you and I shared a few conversations at that other destination a while back, before I jumped ship for the reasons just outlined by Papa Bear.

A note to others on the board. We are in the presence of greatness. Thas has forgotten more about diving than the rest of us put together will ever know. Either that, or he's one heck of a bluffer.

Mountain DogAw shucks, if you can't bewilder them with footwork, baffle them with bull s.

Mountain Dog
02-10-2008, 01:56 AM
By the way, it's great to see you finally made to the Big Island. Good for you. LadyDog and I were there for a great couple of weeks two years ago. Stayed at a house on Kapoho Bay.

Aloha,

Mountain Dog

thalassamania
02-10-2008, 02:24 AM
What a long, strange trip it's been ...

acelockco
02-10-2008, 07:06 PM
What a long, strange trip it's been ...

How true, how true. Words that describe my life just about as well as any could. I am sure that is true for most of us here.

DrBill
03-25-2008, 02:28 PM
Good to see another "well seasoned" diver here. No surprise to find you on board of course.

thalassamania
03-25-2008, 05:41 PM
Welcome Dr. Bill. Tis the season(ing).

Quero
03-26-2008, 12:53 AM
Good to see you here.

Where on the big island are you located? I've got close family living on Hilo side. I'm planning a trip for October.

thalassamania
03-26-2008, 04:48 AM
Down at the south end of the island. Let me know when your headed over, if the house is done maybe I'll be allowed to go dive.:)

Quero
04-26-2008, 04:47 AM
Down at the south end of the island. Let me know when your headed over, if the house is done maybe I'll be allowed to go dive.:)

Wow, it's been a month since I've logged on, and when I get to the very endy-end of the "new posts" I find this reply!

Anyway, Thalassa+, I WILL let you know when I'm on the Big Isle. Would LOVE to get together!

For any who are interested, here's the link (http://scubamagazine.net/showthread.php?p=12801#post12801) to the post outlining my comings and goings for the past month.