Rod Shroufe, an accomplished NAUI-certified instructor (NAUI# 55930), intertwines his three fervent passions – diving, teaching, and STEM – weaving them together in a harmonious dance that has defined his life’s work. Currently, he is the driving force behind an innovative initiative known as the “Water Stewards Program” (WSP).     This groundbreaking educational initiative,

If you have the good fortune to meet Riley Young and ask her about SCUBA diving, you will be greeted with a wide smile and her passion-filled story about overcoming challenges while learning to dive. Riley’s determination to conquer fear and manage anxiety about being underwater and reaching her goal of becoming a diver was

“Brake with your left hand.” If you are a cyclist, at least in the United States, that statement probably sounds like an invitation to disaster. However, as usual, it pays to listen with an open mind.   Recently I was on a guided bike ride in Vietnam. The group was composed entirely of folks from

Please join the NAUI Board of Directors and NAUI Diversity Committee in congratulating Sarah Yerrace on being selected as the first ever NAUI Diversity Scholarship Recipient! Sarah will work to earn her NAUI Instructor Certification this fall and join the NAUI family. Sarah has worked in several capacities to increase diversity in both recreational and

Over a weekend in October 1-2, 2022 a group of approximately 30 NAUI Leaders and prospective leaders attended a “NAUI Leadership Rescue Workshop.” The workshop was a collaborative effort organized by: Frank Degnan 7165, Scott Chapman 49776, Andrew Morgan 52002, Sloane Lofy 57154, and Nick Nechay 60788. Attendees spanned quite a range of years from

Ready for an adrenaline-pumping adventure that takes fishing to the next level? Spearfishing is a thrilling and one-of-a-kind sport that will challenge you in ways traditional fishing never could! Unlike regular fishing, spearfishing requires the hunter to get up close and personal with the fish and requires them to get in the water, hunt for

NAUI will be exhibiting at the 2023 Scuba Show, June 3-4, 2023! Being held at the Long Beach Convention Center located in Long Beach, California.   Stop by and see us at booth #503!   NAUI will be holding seminars at the show on Saturday June 3:   1. NAUI Member Update (For NAUI members

In conjunction with the Scuba Show 2023, NAUI’s Mobile Training Team is conducting a First Aid Leadership Workshop prior to the show.  You can sign up to get certified as a First Aid Instructor or a First Aid Instructor Trainer.  There is limited space so sign up before all the spaces fill up!  Details of

Catalina Rodriguez has harbored a passion for animals and diving from an early age. She spent her formative years on dive boats with her parents, both of whom are ardent scuba divers. Her father, a Physical Education teacher and NAUI Course Director, imparted valuable life lessons to her, including leadership and dive safety. He mentored

The sheer number of unique conditions that can trouble divers underwater is enough to make your head spin. From decompression sickness to gas embolisms to marine envenomations, there are plenty of problems to prepare for, and it takes effort to keep up with the latest research and treatment protocols. Conditions both rare and commonplace can

NAUI’s recent requalification workshop held in Hong Kong was a resounding success with over a hundred participants, all excited to reunite after a long hiatus. We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to our Hong Kong rep Kenneth Cheung and his team for organizing the event, as well as Board member Simon Yu and his

Task Force Dagger Special Operations Foundation (TFDSOF) aids wounded, ill, or injured US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) members, veterans, and their families. TFDSOF responds to immediate needs, conducts Rehabilitative Adaptive Events (RAE), and provides next-generation health solutions for issues facing our service members.   As a veteran-operated nonprofit, TFDSOF understands the needs and experiences of

NAUITEC Brazil, with its rich history, is committed to disseminating knowledge about deep and decompression diving due to the long-standing exposure to nitrogen in the country.   In 2023, experienced divers living in the capital of Brazil willingly faced the depths with the assistance of NAUI Dive Center Migulho, the promoter of the event. NAUITEC

Just a quick note from the NAUI HQ Training Department, Terrence Tysall #16627 (March 6 – 10, 2023)   As our wet suits dry from our incredible trip to the lush landscapes south of Mexico City, I wanted to take a moment and recognize the incredible team that made this mission happen and recognize a

Jake Emmert’s childhood was spent exploring the picturesque hill country in Austin, Texas. It was his mother who opened the doors to an entirely new world for him when she introduced him to diving at the age of 12. With his mother lacking a dive buddy, she had Jake get certified and accompany her on

Dear NAUI Membership, Attached is the job announcement for the NAUI Executive Director and NSG CEO position. We have hired an executive search company, Integris Group to find candidates. A search committee has been selected to work with them to find the best candidate. Please disseminate to anyone interested in the position and have them

NAUI participated in Asia’s three major leports exhibitions from February 16 -19, 2023. At this exhibition, we also conducted a Member Update and 2022 Requalification. About 80 IT & CDs gathered together. We pledged to create a more developed NAUI.   NAUI App Badges for NAUI Members Attending the Member Update and CD/IT Requalification  

This past weekend we were again able to be present at the “Duikvaker” dive fair to present NAUI. Many passers-by had questions about NAUI: What is it? What do you do and most importantly? What can we do with you? After our enthusiastic members answered the questions, almost all of them were enthusiastic and happy

As underwater photographers, it is usually relatively easy to capture the attention of audiences by sharing images of a whale shark, manta ray, or other relatively large marine creature. and   Including a diver (or divers) in your frame with Mr. Big can transform an interesting image into an “oohs” and “aahs” crowd pleaser. and

Found in marshes and bodies of water throughout the eastern and central United States, water snakes are a staple of American wetlands. When you’re swimming, hiking, kayaking, or scuba diving anywhere in this half of the country, you’re likely to come across these water-loving serpents eventually. Yet despite their prevalence, most people don’t know a

  The team of instructors who are specialized in Public Safety Diving from NAUI Brazil, taught a special course for 20 firefighters and divers from the Military Fire Department of the State of Santa Catarina, located in the south of Brazil.  There were 8 intense days of training inside the headquarters of the 7th Battalion of

After a total of 21 training days ~ five new NAUI Helitrox Divers and a NAUI ICC in progress to become NAUI Instructor shortly after.   For quality and safety we worked with two groups separately for 10 days each.   Both teams did a great job, and we achieved our objectives. They got their

  With great pleasure I, Roberto Baraldi, report the success obtained in the day of cleaning the seabed of Naxos and Taormina organized by Divesicily (NAUI # AF1271) of Giardini Naxos and Taormina, Messina, Italy. Attended by all the diving schools and diving centers of the area including: cultural associations as Legambiente, the team of

  Moving into Chapter 4 of Forever Improving the Diver, we visit Dekker’s Hindsight Bias current look at safety from the safety community installment two – As a reminder Bruce starts the article acknowledging he is no safety expert but relies on subject matter experts for guidance.   “I’m no safety expert so I look

  Looking to impress your friends with your quick and accurate identification of tropical fish?    In this article, you’ll learn the basics of identifying tropical fish while scuba diving, so you can categorize the fish you see into family groups.     Most of the time, when people think of scuba diving, the image

Moving into Chapter 3 of ‘Forever Improving the Diver’, I am very excited to see the title resonating with individuals and prompting responses and input. I would like to thank Bruce Higgins for providing his interesting read on ‘Safety’, which addresses the balancing of efficiency and thoroughness.   Bruce starts the article acknowledging he is

Any underwater photographer who has tried their hand at making images at night knows this endeavor comes with its own set of challenges. For starters, you need to know your way around your camera system by feel because it is not always possible to clearly see the various controls for a camera or strobe. If

    Technical examiner Abdulaziz Altanak has completed NAUI technical instructor workshop in Saudi Arabia specifically Jeddah the Red Sea with the assistance of Mahmoud Zahran. It has been a successful course, and Saudi Arabia proudly welcomes the new instructors.         We are proud to announce that Mahmoud Zahran has been designated

  As we continue our journey exploring ‘Forever Improving the Diver’, our focus this edition features benefits of NAUI Leadership you may not find in other agencies. It’s the hope to draw as much contrast as possible of what makes NAUI unique and a better choice for anyone interested in leadership training.   When it

I have started expanding Technical Diving in the middle east and the Arabian gulf.   As a course director I flew to Oman specifically Mascot to train instructor Ahmed Almanji who had a strong interest in Tech Diving, and I helped him start his path with NAUI Technical Diving.   I have also realized that

  The Story of the National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI) begins with a shared vision of what quality Scuba Training should be; a commitment to ‘Dive Safety Through Education.’   NAUI embraces and encourages innovation and dynamic approaches while incorporating academic freedom to adapt and meet the specific needs of a student. The water

  SUBMISSIONS ARE IN  – 43 submissions were approved and have moved forward to the voting portion of the contest!   The first submission will be posted on Monday, July 18, 2022 and a new submission will be posted every other day until Monday, October 10, 2022.   Voting is easy and simple.  Each submission

  First Technical Instructor Workshop in Kuwait with presence of NAUI Czech Republic representative and Examiner Petr Rehak and the help TIE Abdulaziz Al Tannak.   Congratulations to those new NAUI technical instructors CD/ Hussain AL-Khamees, CD/ Mishaal AL-Saeed, and CD/Fouad Naja and welcome to NAUI Tech.   A big thank you to the  Prime

In photographic circles, the term negative space refers to everything in a photograph other than the subject. Accomplished shooters recognize the manner in which a photographer treats negative space is often the factor that “makes” or “breaks” a shot. In short, skilled photographers routinely turn opportunities with relatively common subjects into memorable photographs with good

NAUI Mobile Training Team Technical Workshop May 24th-27th, 4 Day All About Scuba – Multi-agency Training Event May 28th– 29th, 2 Day   Dive Site Location – Alexandria Bay, NY, Bonnie Castle Resort that includes a shore diving underwater dive park open to the public along the St. Lawrence River. The underwater dive park is

  Liability is one of those catchalls, a sometimes magical term used as a reason either to not do something or to do something that may seem unnecessary. The word has become so powerful and is used so frequently that it’s become a go-to answer to “Hey, why don’t we [insert brilliant idea]?” or “Why

  NAUI has officially launched their Social Media Campaign that will run from May to October. With prizes ranging from $75 to $200 in Digital Promotional Code Credits!    Submissions will be accepted from May 9 – June 30 and you can submit as many times as you want. Plus, get bonus points by referring

Finally, after 2 years the dive fair, Duikvaker was organized again in Houten, the Netherlands. For the first time after a long time, NAUI was present with a large booth.   The booth was filled with the big NAUI wall, lots of promotional material and a lot of info was available. The expert advice was

Get ready for NAUI in California! Check out the NAUI booth #503 – May 14-15. There will also be a Pop-up event by Bamboo Reef at the booth. No need to register, just show-up and hang out. Times listed above. In addition, there will be a chance to win a NAUI Freediving shirt for the

I think it fair to say that when most photographers first try their hand at photography, their feet are firmly planted on the ground and they are shooting through air, not water. And when first using any kind of wide-angle lens, beginners often back away from subjects and try to take in big scenes like

A resort located in the central region of Brazil, more precisely in the City of Rio Quente, in Goiás, provides one of the most incredible experiences with the giant fish originally from the Amazon region: the “Pirarucu”, one of the largest fish in the water sweet in the world, and whose name comes from indigenous

  NAUI Worldwide is partnering with Force Blue for the Force Blue Ocean Conservation School (OCS). This program allows Gold Star Families to become involved and educated in the diving community.   During the week of March 10 – 13, 2022, eight Gold Star children and their guardians will have the opportunity to earn their

Last week, I received a request that truly inspired me, and I felt compelled to share this inspiration with all of our NAUI members.   Ace has internships already in the works and plans to become a Master Diver at the age of 16 in Mossel Bay, South Africa and Dive Master by age 18.

Captain’s Log: January 5th 2022 Location: Cap Verde Islands, Island of Sal, Palmeira   As we passed the date from Dec 31st 2021 to Jan 1st 2022, entering a new year, this also means setting new goals and in our case, a new dive area to explore. Looking at the ocean maps that we use

Have you checked out NAUI TV lately? If not, it is time to go and see what is there. Over the past year, it has grown and been refreshed. There is a library of NAUI Talks that you can watch to help you to succeed. In addition, there is the Member Update area that contains

At the beginning of October, NAUI celebrated creating yet another group of certified divers. This course was run by the Indeep Club from Constanta, Romania and included nine respected members of the police community, with eight officers from Georgia and one from Romania.   It is wonderful to see the great work of NAUI members

During our last weeks of traveling onboard SY Blowing Bubbles (you can follow these stories biweekly published in Sources), visiting and scuba diving different islands in the Atlantic Ocean, we also came across several diving centers offering Eco Diving. Now, I must admit that Eco diving, at least in my mind, did not get any

Early Spring 2021 – NAUI announced an “Armed Forces” program designed for veterans by veterans. Launched May 1st, this innovative industry first, in conjunction with a VA benefits program and the US Government, affords the active-duty service member and the retired military person opportunities to utilize the G.I. Bill® to pay for many of NAUI’s

Captain’s Log: Dec 22th 2021 Location: Cap Verde Islands, Island of Sal After a six-day sea voyage from Canary Islands to Cap Verde Islands, we were happy and eager to arrive at the island Sal within the archipelago of Cap Verde. Taking a day of rest was needed to relax after the six-day trip, each

Right now, everyone is dreaming of a diving getaway. You can have your tropical vacations to the Bahamas, Barbados or Bermuda – but I will take another B: Blue Grotto. The Blue Grotto Dive Resort is located in Williston, Florida, which is about forty minutes off the I-75 highway, a major thoroughfare that travels between

For more than 60 years, NAUI has been committed to the environment and encouraging members to support and preserve the planet. Our sustainability initiatives focus on partnering with conservation minded companies, eliminate waste within our operations, and change the way we create products and services to be a better advocate for our divers.   NAUI

In an effort to include more veterans in its mission to preserve and restore, NAUI is teaming up with Force Blue to encourage U.S. military veterans, who would like to become “Force Blue Assistant Scientific Divers”, to undergo SCUBA certifications through a network of Force Blue “Outposts” across the country.   OUR MISSION NAUI PARTNERS

Van McGhee admits always being captivated as a boy by the underwater adventures of fictitious ex-U.S. Navy frogman Mike Nelson in “Sea Hunt,” a television drama series from 1958-61 starring Lloyd Bridges. “I thought it was just fascinating,” he said. For 40 years, McGhee, 70, and his wife, Barb, 63, of Manor, have pursued that

Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays from Scuba Connection

NAUI Instructor, Jake Johnston of Shelton, WA lost his fight with Cancer earlier this month. He was certified as a SCUBA diver in 2005 as the first step in becoming a commercial harvest diver as a member of the Squaxin Island Tribe. Jake completed training in lightweight Surface-Supplied Air (S-SA). He was the only Native

Do you want to write an article or some news for the Sources Magazine or the Sources Blog?   Below is an outline that can help you get your item in the Sources Magazine or on the Sources Blog. Please Note: These are guidelines; you are more than welcome to add more to your article.

Captain’s log: 27th November 2021 Location: Atlantic Ocean, Canary Islands, multiple dive sites   As we arrived in the Canary Islands, we encountered SY Ornella, French Flag again. Onboard, Cpt Thierry and skipper Nathalie are on their way around the world.   Both of them were very interested in learning more about scuba diving as

Without the world’s bodies of water, there would be no scuba diving at all, or if there was it’d only be within local pools. Although the world’s oceans, lakes, and other bodies of water aren’t drying up anytime soon, there is a problem. The problem of the amount of trash that is in these bodies

France is a big country and part of Europe. Does your knowledge of France go any further than Paris, the croissant or French fries? Well, probably the same for many among us, but this story is not about the lifestyle in France but about the special scuba history that France has to offer! Where does

Eye-popping colors. Entertaining antics. Bizarre-looking creatures. Photogenic poses. Fascinating behaviors. Megafauna. Seascapes. No doubt about it, as underwater photographers we are blessed with an abundance of fantastic subject material and photographic opportunities. Yellow-lipped sea krait (aka banded sea krait) and anthias   Upon first consideration, creating compelling images might seem to require little more than

Captain log: October 29th, 2021 Location: Canary Islands, between Tenerife and La Gomera, Atlantic Ocean   As we are heading from Tenerife to the next island called “La Gomera”, we are crossing some serious deep waters, up to -3000mtr (or -9000ft) of depth. These depths are reached quite close to the shores of all the Canary

As we approach the new year, it is once again time to look into the great work of NAUI. Every year we reach out to NAUI Members to invite them to join a committee. Joining a committee is a great way to give and receive ideas that will shape NAUI for all members, including yourself.

We are pleased to announce that we will again be offering members the Annual General Meeting and Awards Ceremony on-line this year. This format gives members worldwide the opportunity to join one of the different sessions and stay tuned with the great work of NAUI Worldwide. Be sure to join us in December at one

Neptune Warrior is a 501 (c) 3 Non-Profit Organization. While our focus is on veterans and public safety professionals, we train the general public to support our mission. Our dive team has over 12000 dives and has been teaching since 1999. Twenty-two Vets a day cash in and opt for suicide. You’ve seen people do

Congratulations Dan Henderson for this amazing Instructor Review!   “I just wanted to drop a note to compliment my NAUI instructor Dan Henderson. His # is 62105.  I took the basic underwater course from Dan.  Initially as the class started I was surprised at not being comfortable breathing underwater.  I was just going to quit,

NAUI Talk is a webinar series with guest presenters, speakers, and discussions. Each topic is an opportunity for NAUI members around the world to build and succeed in their businesses. Sessions range from 30-60 minutes, time well spent! As we will be running the Member Updates next month, there will be only one NAUI TALK in November.

Historical Diving Society (HDS) Annual Fundraising Trip #1 Guadalupe Island, Mexico Dan Orr Since 2005, the Historical Diving Society (www.hds.org) has offered a fundraising trip to Guadalupe Island, Mexico to dive (in cages, of course) with Great White Sharks. In 2021, two back-to-back trips were offered, October 5-10 & 10-15, 2021. Each year, with the

Captain log: October 11th, 2021 Location: Canary Islands, Puerto San Miguel, South Tenerife, Atlantic Ocean   The crew is still trying to wrap their heads around the momentum of Mother Nature’s volcanic eruption, during our visit to the island of La Palma (as discussed in Sources October 14th Issue). Having moved on, and wound up

Congratulations Randy Pekarik for this amazing Instructor Review! “I recently completed my Ship Wreck and Nitrox Certified Courses with Randy Pekarik as my instructor. Randy was very knowledgeable on both topics and everything dive related He was patient with those of us learning, and detailed and thorough with his teaching. Randy made the dives a

Frank Rakowski and Tracy Green of Scuba Connection, a NAUI Platinum Pro Dive Center, led the 2nd Annual Clean Up Project through the Green Diver Initiative. The event was hosted by Scuba Connection out of Bergenfield NJ and sponsored by ADR NJ Services. The reservoir which is approximately 2000 acres has a max depth of

  “VA Affiliates and NAUI Dive Centers, NAUI is proud to announce the NAUI Hero Certification Card ProgramTM. We welcome you and your teams to share these programs with your students, customers, and community so we can give back to our nation’s heroes through these donation campaigns and deliberate partnerships.” – Ray Reneau, Director of

  “VA Affiliates and NAUI Dive Centers, NAUI is proud to announce the NAUI and the Department of Defense (DoD) SkillBridge Partnership. We welcome you and your teams to share these programs with your students, customers, and community so we can give back to our nation’s heroes through these donation campaigns and deliberate partnerships.” –

NAUI has officially announced the launch of the NAUI Mobile Training Team (MTT) for early 2022.   The NAUI MTT will promote the growth and continuing commitment to member engagement worldwide. The mission is to assist NAUI members in developing teaching ability and to expand their course offerings and skills. The planned workshops may vary

World Day for Clean Up Rivers and Beaches   NAUI affiliate promotes cleaning day on the beaches of Santos, Brazil   On this very important day, of awareness, the guys got their hands dirty for cleaner beaches⠀In this effort, 376 kg (829 lb) of garbage were removed from our beach! 20,530 items were discarded in

NAUI Worldwide and all of our members would like to welcome New Instructor Kenneth Sterns #62739 from CD Billy Walls #599902 through NAUI facilities Panama City Dive Center Vortex Springs.

DURHAM, NC – July 7, 2021 – Divers Alert Network has enhanced its popular Return To Diving guide with the launch of a video in support of the program. Available at DAN.org/Return, the guide has helped thousands of people get back in the water safely in the past few months. Now, this new video brings

NAUI Platinum Facility Captain Hooks in the Florida Keys recently completed an Instructor and crossover instructor course. From left Brennan Autry(new CD from Trilogy Dive center), Frank Slifka (IT Capt. Hooks), Vince Corning (Crossover Instructor), Sydnie Collins (new NAUI Instructor), Andy Olday CD, Josh Matalus (Crossover), Vianne Euresti (HOOK’S STAFF INSTRUCTOR)   For more info

NAUI Worldwide attended Shark Con 2021, along with Off the Wall Adventures & Outfitters and the Scuba Gym at the Tampa fairgrounds on August 7th, 2021. This event was filled with endless education on marine conservation and shark awareness.     From wonderful kid activities to motivational/educational speakers, there was something for all who attended.

Don Markham, Nicole Zelek, and Lila Jones represented NAUI Worldwide at this year’s 2021 MerMagic Con in Manassas, VA from August 6 – 8th, 2021. They shared first-hand about their experiences at the convention.   “NAUI Worldwide ran two Mermaid certification classes over the weekend. NAUI Instructor, Nicole Zelek, stepped up and taught a free

MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Divers in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary unfurled a huge American flag underwater Saturday and attached it to a historic military shipwreck to mark 20 years since 9/11. The 30- by 40-foot flag was carried by divers about 60 feet beneath the ocean’s surface and affixed it to the kingpost of

Please introduce yourself and where you are from and your background.   I am Lila Jones; I work as a mermaid on the beautiful island of Maui. I am a NAUI instructor and creator of the NAUI Mermaid program. I hold a degree in Marine biology from Hawaii Pacific University and have been an active

Do you have a NAUI Surface Marker? This is a necessary safety Tool for divers. Go to the NAUI  store and order some today. Item 31018-Open Surface Marker.

Congratulations to our newest NAUI DAN First Aid Instructor Mark Lee certified by Bill Doran CDT and FAIT.   This past week we finished up the First Aid Instructor Workshop and topped it off with a dive at Bill’s cottage.

In the term from 8 till 10th July 2021 close to Prague, Czech Republic, we held technical workshop with NAUI instructor Cristian Irimies, NAUI # 60220, from Transilvania, Romania.   Cristian is a young diver with a rich experience with cave diving. He started his cave explorations in 2008, in the beginning with dry parts

NAUI Worldwide and all of our members would like to welcome Josh Washburn #60254 Newest Instructor from latest ITC at Grapevine Scuba, # F0001712. In addition a big congratulations to Newest Divemasters Vernon Vittatoe #60761 and Tina Coker Washburn #62509.   Left to right: Tina Coker Washburn, Josh Washburn, Vernon Vittatoe

NAUI is sad to announce the passing of Jim Hicks. There are so very many of us that are blessed to have know Jim and many more have benefited from his many areas that all his work as a NAUI Member, as an instructor, as a mentor, and so much more. The dive world is

After 32years being active in the EU dive industry, established in 1990 by founder/owner and Naui Representative Jean-Marc Claes, dive centres Time To Dive in Belgium have gotten new owners. Naui Instructor Dennis Gryncewicz and his partner Johanna Rediers are taking over the diveshop/divecentre and diveschool and will continue to grow Time To Dive in

We would like to congratulate both Matt Stow NAUI # 61644 and Derek Marshall Dunning NAUI # 61675, both members are from South Africa, as the have both qualified as NAUI Freediver Instructor Examiners. This allows them to train and qualify NAUI Freediver Instructors. Their drive and passion for Freediving and Freediving safety has led

NAUI Worldwide and all of our members would like to welcome Umberto Plaitano as a In and new member #62447. In addition a big congratulations to Antonio Arcucci from NAUI Italy for certifying a new member to the NAUI team.

Congratulations Darrell Barabash for this amazing Instructor Review! “I wanted to just give a quick review of my diving instructor Darrell Barabash. He was not only an excellent instructor, but a patient and excellent teacher as well. I want to commend him for his hard work and dedication to not only the sport itself, but

NAUI Worldwide and all of our members would like to welcome Rowen Mead as a Dive Master and new member #62446. In addition a big congratulations to Nelson Pereira from Oceano Dive center for certifying a new member to the NAUI team.

NAUI Worldwide and all of our members would like to welcome: Dario Lopezas an Instructor and new member #37162 Luis Llorenteas an Instructor and new member #62427 Alejandro Boteroas an Instructor and new member#37859 In addition a big congratulations to Jorge Martinez CD 18658 for certifying three member to the NAUI team.

NAUI Worldwide and all of our members would like to welcome Sven Vangilnergen (seen on the right) as an Instructor and new member # 61279. In addition a big congratulations to Nico Jeandarme CD 45137 for certifying a new member to the NAUI team.

As we know all too well, the pandemic has had a devastating effect on the global diving industry and on our sport. Many of us have been out of the water for more than a year and we are itching, and for many of us, desperate to get back underwater. As more and more of

I had the opportunity to listen to the live broadcast of the meeting of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) where they discussed the results of their investigation into the tragic fire aboard the dive boat, Conception, where 34 divers lost their lives. During the meeting’s 4+ hours of discussion, they reviewed all aspects of the

When accomplished underwater photographers share their techniques, one of the first pieces of advice that is offered is often “get rid of the water”. Of course, when you are diving there is no way to eliminate the water. So, how can you follow the well-intended advice? The answer is that the intent of the advice

If you were to ask a group of underwater photographers to list some of their favorite subjects, they would likely include whales, sharks, manta rays, dolphins, sea lions, manatees, shipwrecks, and myriad reef creatures. If those same photographers were then asked to draw the photographs they would like to take, my bet would be that

The Green Diver Initiative includes stewardship in its goals.  But what does stewardship mean for a diver?   Stewardship is supporting the needs of a dive site, particularly the aquatic environment.  My interpretation of stewardship comes from a long history of supporting an Underwater Park.  All diving sites have needs, some of which are best

On August 28, 2020, I responded to a Facebook post from an out of town diver. Thomas was looking for a guide to our local waters. I chose Diver’s Cove, 6:00 a.m. on Sunday August 31, 2020 for our dive to beat the hordes of other divers who frequent the site. Even though Thomas was

      It took place in Brazil, at the headquarters of the NAUI MERCOSUR Office, another Public Safety Diver course, within the strictest standards of the National Association Of Underwater Instructors, totaling eight days of intense learning and mobilizing a total of 23 divers, among students, candidates for instructor , instructors and the coordination

  In August, I responded to a Facebook post from an out-of-town diver. Thomas was looking for a guide to our local waters. I chose Diver’s Cove, 6:00 a.m. on Sunday, August 31, for our dive to beat the hordes of other divers who frequent the site. Even though Thomas was a new instructor, I

The Elections Committee announces the official candidate list for the 2020 NAUI Board of Directors election: Ahmed Alansari 52672 Richard Alvarez 30773 Douglas Bennett 17952 Erika Boruff L56496 John Duggan 2226 Todd Shannon 10986 Jonathan “Ford” Turner 53203 Simon Yu L11146   These eight candidates will be listed on the ballot for this year’s election.

  NAUI to be SCUBA Certification Partner for the International Institute of Astronautical Sciences’ Space Suit Test Laboratory at Survival Systems USA in Groton, CT.   BOULDER, Colorado – Today the International Institute for Astronautical Sciences (IIAS) announced that it had finalized a partnership with the National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI) to designate NAUI

Halina took a leap to become Open Water certified right after her dad passed away, as a way to seek excitement in 2017. She thought it would be a recreational sport, but she fell in love with diving and was inspired to be more involved with the ocean. She steered her life’s direction and became

With August halfway through it is great to make a few announcements, so here they are! Over the next few weeks, we will be shipping certification cards directly from Canada. This will greatly benefit us in both shipping time and avoiding the costs at the borders. Once the certification cards process is streamlined, I will

July 17, 2020   The Elections Committee is preparing for the 2020 NAUI Board of Directors election. This year there are two (2) Board of Director positions due for election. Each of these positions has a 4-year term. The Elections Committee is accepting nominations for the 2020 Board of Directors election. To be considered, nominees

On June 9th, 2020, the World Recreational Scuba Training Council endorsed a new recreational scuba diving and freediving medical screening system. The following is an overview of that system.   The existing RSTC 2007 edition medical form is still valid for use.  However, as you work through your stock of existing forms begin your transition to the

Happy new trimix diver group Antti, Niko, Teemu, Juho and Aleksi with instructor Mikael Tyven, Also on the trip were Tech AI Kari Pussinen and Trimix diver instructor student Tomi Leinonen. Congratulations for All!

Manō, or sharks, help maintain the balance of ocean ecosystems as apex predators, but due to the perception of sharks as a dangerous threat to humans, they have not received the protections needed to sustain healthy populations. Research has shown that the media has a strong influence on an individual’s emotional reactions, threat perceptions, willingness

When I last wrote, we were embarking on a new journey with the advent of the novel coronavirus and COVID-19. As expected, it has changed the landscape of the business world and had major impacts on our incomes, our way of conducting business, and our way of life. It’s safe to say that this has

DURHAM, NC – May 27, 2020 – Divers Alert Network® (DAN®) has published answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about preparing to dive in the new normal. Covered topics include safety practices for retail areas, staff and client interactions, dive boat operations, gear disinfection protocols and more. As dive professionals, dive operators and

NAUI Talk Staying connected during this time is important to help divers keep in touch and have some fun! Join these 30-minute sessions to stay in touch on weekdays from 10:30 until 11 am Eastern Standard Time. These sessions provide routine and assist those looking to reach out and stay connected to others in the

Due to COVID-19 the NAUI credit programs at the University of Tennessee had to wait till May 15-16 to complete their certification at Vortex Spring, Florida. The small group of students that were able to go earned many NAUI certifications: 22 Basic Open Water Scuba Diver, 7 Advanced Scuba Diver, 2 Rescue Diver, and 2

NAUI Brazil conducted an Instructor Training Course and added to our NAUI family in South America. The classroom work was at NAUI Brazil Headquarters in Jundiaí SP, with practical activities at Pedreira do Biguá, in Laranjal Paulista SP. The ITC’s 12-day format provides a great opportunity for NAUI leaders to transform themselves into NAUI Instructors.

The Elections Committee is preparing for the 2020 NAUI Board of Directors election. This year there are two (2) positions open for election. Each of these positions is for a full 4-year term. The Elections Committee is now accepting nominations for the 2020 Board of Directors election. To be considered, nominees must send their nominations

DURHAM, NC – May 19, 2020 – DAN Risk Retention Group (DAN RRG) is presenting a webinar Wednesday about its 2020/2021 liability insurance programs via Facebook Live on the DAN Facebook Page. Live on Wednesday, May 20, at 3:00 p.m. ET, the presenter will be Shelli Wright, manager of DAN professional programs. If you miss

František Svoboda is our new NAUI Instructor in Czechia. He completed the Hagen Divers ITC in Rovina this May. The course was led by NAUI Czechia Representative Petr Řehák, who said that Franta was perfectly prepared for his course even though he had said he did not believe he would ever be able to each

Version 2.0 of the 2020 Standards and Policies Be on the lookout for a revised version of NAUI Standards & Policies Manual in early summer. The changes focus on the Technical Course updates announced at DEMA 2019 and reflect the course flow that was approved by the Board of Directors. Just as you have seen

Thursday May 14th from 3 to 4 pm will be a session for all divers titled “Adapting for the New Dive Environment”. You can join me live on my Zoom account (as seen above) or watch later as I will be recording it and then placing it on the NAUI North YouTube Channel. You do

Four Ontario dive centers are cooperating to provide full face masks to Toronto General Hospital. The masks will be used with newly developed respirators. NAUI Course Director Todd Shannon (NAUI 10986) reports that AquaSystems, Mississauga Diving, Brampton Scuba, and Oakville Divers have delivered 500 full face masks to the hospital where test versions of the

In light of the unprecedented conditions facing the dive industry, DAN Risk Retention Group (RRG) will extend the policy term by 90 days for current insureds under its professional, group professional and general liability insurance policies. Funded 100% by DAN, this extension will apply to all policies in effect on May 1, 2020. For example,

Frequently Asked Questions How can I protect my staff from COVID-19? For employees, the general COVID-19 safety recommendations, as published by the WHO and CDC, apply. The use of protective face masks and gloves should be considered when staff members are in direct contact with clients. Reducing the number of people in certain areas or

Covid-19 has negatively affected nonprofits around the world.  Tuesday May 5, 2020, Is #GivingTuesdayNow A worldwide day of philanthropy and giving to aid philanthropic organizations We urge you to participate, and we ask you to support Green Diver Initiative. By donating now at http://www.nauigreendiver.org/donate.html Thank you for your contribution; we greatly appreciate it! Green Diver

OK, we are shut down TEMPORARIALY with this COVID-19 pandemic. The key word here is TEMPORARY: This thing will end. I hear so many folks talking Gloom and Doom, pity poor me, so much negativity. It is time to get positive, folks. I remember after 9/11 there simply was no business. I was working at

April 21, 2020: It is with great sadness that Divers Alert Network® (DAN®) announces the passing of its former vice president of research, Richard D. Vann, Ph.D. Dr. Vann was an esteemed researcher whose work focused on the physiology of breathing and exercise in special environments and the epidemiology of pressure-change-related injuries. His extensive career

In February, we had the pleasure of introducing scuba to the “Youth Cadets” of Cayman Brac! The “Try Scuba” experience was held at the Layman Scott High School pool. A great time was had by all! A big thanks to Brac Scuba Shack (a NAUI Destination) for supplying air fills for this fun! Can’t wait

The NAUI office in Brazil organized a meeting with NAUI members on April 17 to explore post-pandemic return. Alvanir “Jornada” Oliveira of NAUI Mercosul held a virtual meeting with NAUI members to provide guidelines for quarantine and post-quarantine time due to the impositions made by governments related to the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic. The meeting was

Times like these really illustrate how well-thought-out emergency action plans (EAPs) can improve our safety (and the safety of our loved ones) both in the water and on land. Crafting these plans involves careful evaluation of the activity, location, and available resources, and it must be done well in advance of diving or travel. Take

Having a new student bolt toward the surface is probably the biggest fear most instructors face. Flooding the mask and taking the mask off underwater are probably the two skills that give new divers more anxiety and make them more likely to bolt. To reduce this anxiety, most instructors usually first have students put their

The Opening Festival of the Sea and Diving Season was created with the objective of encouraging ecotourism and promoting nautical activities and diving on the north coast of São Paulo, Brazil, with the Alcatrazes Wildlife Refuge as an anchor attraction. The event marked the beginning of the most suitable period for nautical activities in the

Letter from NAUI Worldwide CEO about COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Pandemic Tampa, Fla. (March 25, 2020) – Coronavirus (COVID-19) is changing the landscape for 2020. Be assured that NAUI WORLDWIDE is here and ready to help meet your needs. Caring for Dive Centers and Members We are ready to meet these challenges. Plans are in place to

In the Czech Republic, we do not have the sea or extensive cave systems. On the other hand, we have many flooded mines. The majority of the old mines were closed long ago, and their entrances have been filled up. Our scuba diving team, Hagen Divers, set out to locate diveable places in the northwestern

Florida’s Keys contain the third largest barrier reef in the world. Much of the offshore areas in the Florida Keys are protected as part of national and state park programs and sanctuary areas. That protection has not stopped the advance of coral disease that has progressively claimed living corals, from Palm Beach County in the

In challenging times like these, it’s ever more important that we communicate with each other to share the collective implications of what we are all going through, and continually build a common sense of purpose and hope. COVID-19 has forced circumstances upon us that we are continuing to absorb. There is no one who isn’t

Lined up in neatly made wooden stands, five gallon buckets are being made available on public beaches as an initiative to encourage people to pick up trash. “I noticed a lot of trash in the ocean. I was diving, it was another world. Then I’d see a plastic bag or a water bottle. It made

What follows is a description of an environmental emergency on the northern coast of California and a call-to-action to SCUBA and free divers that love this coast.  The need is urgent and time-sensitive – read on to see how you can help. The north coast of California has experienced a massive disturbance in its near-shore

The Reef-World Foundation and Egypt’s Chamber of Diving and Watersports (CDWS) announce Green Fins has expanded to be available to all dive and snorkel operators nationwide across Egypt. Following a week-long training for six new Green Fins Assessors in Egypt’s Red Sea Governorate and the implementation of the Green Fins initiative nationally, the Egyptian marine

DURHAM, NC – March 11, 2020 – In light of the recent outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), questions have arisen in the dive community about disease transmission when using rental equipment, especially regulators. With the threat of coronavirus on everyone’s minds, divers want to know what precautions are being taken against the spread of

The University of Tennessee scuba program supports five entry-level classes. Each class has 25 students. They have around five Instructors and several Divemasters.  This is typical of the University of Tennessee. They also offer Advanced, Rescue, and Master Scuba Diver, through a NAUI Instructor. The University instructional team includes one Instructor Trainer and one Course

Divers Alert Network® (DAN®) has announced its newest research grant, the Alfred Bove DAN Research Grant for Cardiac Health in Scuba Diving. The grant was established in memory of Dr. Alfred Bove, a cardiologist and dive medicine specialist who contributed significantly to the field of dive medicine. In a career that spanned more than 40

NAUI made a great impression at this year’s Toronto Outdoor Adventure Show. Approximately 30,000 people came to the show on February 21 – 23, and a great many stopped to participate in our booth activity. The NAUI booth was often packed, busy, and filled with fun! A big excitement was the NAUI “Wheel of Wow.”

Mermaids from all over the world came to attend MerMagic Con 2020 in Manassas, Virginia, in February. NAUI recently launched the new NAUI Mermaid Certification programs, and MerMagic Con was the perfect event to promote the new classes. NAUI’s Mermaid Program Coordinator Lila Jones (NAUI 58342) attended the event, educating mermaids and others on the

The “CORAL REEF REVIVAL” Program presented by MOTE MARINE LABORATORY and CAPTAIN HOOK’S Dive Centers Today, more recreational scuba divers are aware and concerned with the health and state of our oceans’ coral reefs. There are many reasons for the reefs’ decline in the last thirty years. Most marine scientists agree that the rise in sea

As a board member since 2014, I spend a lot of time thinking about our Association, our history, and what makes us unique as a training agency. The tenets of our credo, the “loved one” concept, academic freedom, ability to safely exceed standards, and an association of equals controlled by the democratic process are among

Bruce Wienke (NAUI 5343) has left us. His passing was noted repeatedly on social media and other communications from divers around the world, especially those interested in advanced and technical diving. His place at the forefront of decompression theory and science spanned more than three decades, beginning in the 1980s and had a huge impact

Bill Schane, NAUI Instructor #2620, the smartest and most interesting man I ever knew, passed away on January 21, 2020. I first met Col. William P. Schane, MD, when we roomed together as team leaders at a NAUI Instructor Certification Course in Riviera Beach, Florida in 1973. Bill lectured on decompression theory and the medical

One of the skills that clearly separates accomplished underwater photographers from the rest of the photographic pack is that highly skilled shooters recognize when their shooting plan is not going to allow them to produce the photograph they have in mind, and therefore, they change their plan on the fly. When underwater photographers first try

Picture 700 odd coral islands and cays scattered across some of the clearest waters on the planet. Throw in a few shipwrecks, deep walls, blue holes, canyons, a fantastic array of marine life, and white sand beaches and you have the Bahamas — a country seemingly designed with divers and diving in mind. The subtropical

Depth Perception in Tampa welcomes a new class of Rescue Divers to the NAUI family. Congratulations to John, Krista, John, Javier, and Matt. Well done!

The Top Chef of the Year Tampa Bay event has been postponed.  Please check back for the rescheduled date. Due to the overwhelming appeal of famous television shows, outstanding chefs have been praised for their culinary genius. This event will have Tampa Bay’s prominent chefs put in the limelight and will raise much needed funds

Emergency oxygen is the proper first aid for treating a dive injury, but not all methods of oxygen delivery are appropriate in all situations. A demand valve is an easy-to-use system that can deliver a high concentration of oxygen while making your resources last as long as possible — something that’s critical when help is

In a first for the Foundation and the island of Bonaire, Reef Renewal Foundation Bonaire (RRFB) has started growing three species of boulder corals in its nurseries. These three coral species are among the most common reef-builders that make up Bonaire’s reefs – lobed star coral (Orbicella annularis), mountainous star coral (Orbicella faveolata), and great

NAUI Brazil welcomes four new instructors to NAUI. Course Directors Rodrigo B. Conceição # 40606 and Marco A. Martha # 32748 and the candidate for instructor trainer Frank Bastos NAUI ITW # 56303 led this Instructor Training Course in the capital city of Brasilia. Over the last couple of weeks, the candidates, who already came

NAUI Worldwide kicked off 2020 by holding its first Board of Director’s meeting. In this meeting, the Board voted for its officers for 2020. The officers are Michael Feld as Chairman, Danny Grizzard as Vice Chairman, Barry Moore as Treasurer, and Hanalie Burger as Secretary. On the election as Chairman, Michael Feld said, “We’re looking

As we embark into a new year and new decade, it is a good time for every one of us to resolve to work toward a NAUI year to remember. I was truly honored to serve this past year as the chairman of your NAUI Board of Directors. Great strides were made this past year

Tampa, Fla., (January 7, 2020) – The NAUI Green Diver Initiative is pleased to announce its continued support of the Center for Open Exploration (C4OE) annual surveying and coastal clean-up project, GaspOur Beads of Tampa Bay, which is being coordinated by Next Level Dive Club. Next level Dive Club will host the GaspOur Beads of

Congratulations to instructor Björn Kieft from the Netherlands.  Kieft was trained by NAUI Course Director and NAUI Board Member G. Wessels (CD 54145) with the help of Maarten Horsting. Kieft was already a great professional leader and instructor in gymnastics but now he has earned his NAUI instructor certification level to teach scuba diving courses!

Mermaids have long been associated with the ocean. The mythical being has inspired tales by sailors across the globe with many major cultures having some form of a mermaid in their mythology. Over the past decade, there’s been a rise in popularity and demand as mermaid performers pushed the envelope of what was possible. Everything

In celebration of their 25th anniversary, NAUI affiliate Acquanauta Centro de Mergulho in Curitiba, conducted the first South Brazilian Meeting of Doctors and Diving Leaders in November. The conference’s presentations and discussions about safety and medicine in diving included diver medical exams, teaching diving physiology, and connecting dive leaders and doctors. Participants included NAUI Brazil,

Tampa, Fla. (December 20, 2019) – NAUI is proud to sign on as the title sponsor for a new Scuba Diving and Spear Fishing show called “Spear Life,” which will air exclusively on the Outdoor Channel and the World Fishing Network in the United States. “With the popularity of spearfishing on the rise, NAUI thought

Gigantic! — the loggerhead turtle’s tail at the base is bigger around than my hands, thumb and forefingers spread wide. I’ve logged the big fella’s return to the same reefs off Ocean Ridge, Florida, over the last 26 years. He’s easily recognized by the propeller scar on his carapace. He does not live there year-round;

With DEMA behind us, NAUI wanted to take a moment and recognize our award honorees for 2019. This year, NAUI recognized 82 of its members and three non-members. These include two Lifetime Achievement Awards, four Hall of Honor inductees, 46 Outstanding Service members, 17 Continuing Service members, two Albert Pierce Medal of Heroism awardees, two

Students in Rod Shroufe’s (NAUI 55930) AP Environmental Science class are participating in a Green Diver Event by kicking off a watershed enhancement plan in their community.  The students from Clackamas High School are studying the relationship between watershed health and its connection to ocean health. The focus for the unit will be the native

Sea Monsters – Truth or Fantasy Contest Deadline: January 20, 2020 The first International Poster Contest for Youth was organized almost 40 years ago. Originally inspired by a teacher who had her students draw posters for a film festival in the south of France, the contest offers the opportunity for young people around the world

NAUI Worldwide remains a true membership association. Our standards, policies, and ethics are governed by the Association’s Board of Directors, who are members themselves. The Board of Directors is elected through a democratic election process — each eligible member gets a vote in his or her association.  This year’s voting was again performed online with paper

DEMA Show 2019 wrapped up on November 16. As part of the show, NAUI hosted its annual Awards presentation and Annual General Meeting (AGM) for members. Descriptions, criteria and the list of award recipients can be found at www.naui.org/awards/. For the AGM, topics covered everything NAUI has worked on this year and what’s to come

Whether by serendipity or making dives in which you look for specific behaviors, it is possible to find animals acting in interesting ways on many dives. For many experienced underwater photographers, creating images that reveal behaviors ranging from displays of territoriality, courtship, mating, egg guarding, hatching and nursing to predation, cooperative and opportunistic hunting, cleaning,

Instructor Robert Lawrence welcomes some new NAUI divers at Devil’s Den in Williston, Florida.

The last voyage of the steamship Copenhagen began on May 20, 1900. The ship was carrying 4,940 tons of coal from Philadelphia bound for Havana, Cuba. It was a large steel-hulled vessel, 99 meters (325 feet) long with a 14-meter (47-foot) beam. Approaching South Florida, Captain William S. Jones left his chief officer on deck

Pink October is known as the month to help and raise awareness for breast cancer worldwide. NAUI Instructor Trainer Carole Mutran, #60825, known as ScubaCaroll from Lebanon gathered her students and friends on October 12th for a fun dive. Profits from this dive would help raise money for the Lebanese Breast Cancer Foundation and the

I ran across an article on LinkedIn that was about changing school values. It began with a phrase from @SteeleThoughts: “You don’t change culture through emails and memos. You change it through relationships … one conversation at a time.” That struck me as being so true in our little world of the business of diving.

William Tong, NAUI Training Director for NAUI Asia Pacific, conducted a Course Director/Instructor Trainer Requalification Workshop in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on October 5. NAUI Members came from all over our Asia Pacific territory: Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Japan, Indonesia, and South Korea were in attendance. It was a great opportunity for NAUI leaders from,

The Dive Academy Las Terrenas had a great meeting with Chris Campbell, the UK ambassador to the Dominican Republic, informing him on the progress of our joint reef restoration project. Ambassador Campbell is an avid diver, so it was much easier to explain the needs of the project to him. The project, which has undertaken

Sisters Maria and Jillian are the newest Depth Perception Dive Center Mermaids! Congratulations and safe diving to both!

Congratulations to students from Bergen Community College in NJ that completed their open water training dives with Scuba Connection. Instructors for these dives were Frank Rakowski, #58062; Chelsea Beecher #57072 and Tracy Green #60061.

Voting is now open for NAUI Board is of Directors. The Elections Committee announces the official candidate list for the 2019 NAUI Board of Directors election: Douglas Bennett, NAUI 17952 Hanalie Burger, NAUI 49570 Thomas Skalko, NAUI 19624 Cheryl Thacker, NAUI 23525 Kok Yew Wong, NAUI 18820 These five candidates will be listed on the

Celebrating the 23rd NAUI Members Meeting, NAUI Mercosul held its annual conference from August 13 to 18 in the city of Jundiaí, SP, Brazil. More than 130 NAUI Instructors and leaders attended, and the event reached the goal of bringing together our finest, who came to network, qualify for specialty ratings, and promote the exchange

As part of its long tradition of recognizing excellence and leadership in the dive industry, the National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI Worldwide) membership has selected official NAUI award recipients for 2019. Recipients are to be formally announced and honored Thursday, Nov. 14 during the DEMA Show in Orlando, Florida. This year, NAUI will recognize

The Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostrus) is a large, slow-moving marine mammal that inhabits the coastal bays, estuaries, and rivers in the southeastern United States. They are a threatened tropical species, most related species being found endemic to regions near the equator. Manatees found in the United States are in their northernmost habitat. During the

Congratulations to these new open water divers at Humboldt State University. They just finished their 8th dive. They did 4 skills dives in the ocean and 4 at the lake working on rescues, buddy awareness, and buoyancy.

The first thought that many divers have when contemplating cold water diving is: “Brrrrr! Why would anyone want to do that?” The short answer: AMAZING diving. Colder water tends to have more nutrients, and typically more nutrients equal more life. The sheer amount of diverse biota in colder waters is absolutely stunning. A diver could

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is the most commonly taught medical technique in the world, but as few as 20 percent of bystanders can adequately perform it in an emergency. CPR is a simple set of skills, but it can make a huge difference in the outcome for people who experience one of several different types of

Scuba Connection conducts two referral dives, also for a Junior diver, for SeaTrek BVI

Scuba Connection welcomes two new Junior Divers.

October is here and that can only mean one thing. Oktoberfest savings at NAUI! For the month of October, select NAUI Educational Systems are on super savings. And the savings goes even lower when you stock up now! A complete breakdown of prices is below.   North America – Affiliate Pricing North America – Member

The end of 2019 is fast approaching and that means it’s time to renew your membership. With your renewal this year, NAUI Worldwide is bringing back the Lifetime Membership option for the first time in more than 20 years. The NAUI Board of Directors has been working on bringing back the Lifetime Membership for some

“It’s a submarine,” I was thinking, unmistakably a submarine, sitting on the bottom of the ocean 30 meters (100 feet) below the surface. I was descending from the dive boat to the U-85, a German submarine sunk just 20 kilometers (12 miles) off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. The U-85 was the first German U-boat to

To be successful in today’s market, you must be able to see what’s going on and figure out how you can capture a piece of the action. Many dive centers are not seeing the big picture. The dive center owner has to know what people want. That should be simple and easy: Divers want to

Fall is upon us, winter is fast approaching, and you are busy catching up on repair work, planning for DEMA or even a well-earned vacation after a busy summer with few days off. You also need to take time out to plan your inventory for the winter. Why in the world would we be concerned

It was while on our dive at the high-altitude lake of Cima d’Asta that my friend Claudio Turco and I decided to dive Lake Beinette. Claudio had grown up in the Cuneo province in northwestern Italy, and during our overnight at Cima d’Asta, he told me tales of the lake, the fantastic purity of its

The National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI) Worldwide once again has agreed to co-sponsor the Visual Cylinder Inspection® class hosted by PSI-PCI, Inc. in Orlando, Florida, during DEMA Show 2019. NAUI members will receive a discounted rate of $275. The co-sponsored Visual Cylinder Inspection® (VCI)  course will be held Saturday, November 16 from 8am – 5pm.

The Elections Committee announces the official candidate list for the 2019 NAUI Board of Directors election: Douglas Bennett, NAUI 17952 Hanalie Burger, NAUI 49570 Thomas Skalko, NAUI 19624 Cheryl Thacker, NAUI 23525 Kok Yew Wong, NAUI 18820 These five candidates will be listed on the ballot for this year’s election. Eligible voting members may also

My best friend and mentor called. He was frustrated with folks not recognizing what a C-card or certification card is. He hears the term “PADI card” all the time. It frustrates me as well. This led into a discussion of what NAUI Instructors can do to assist building NAUI name recognition. After all, this is

The water was cold and the hours were long.

  The Red Sea’s warm, clear waters and multicolored reefs, have long been one of the world’s premier diving destinations. More than 300 diving centers in the Sinai Peninsula region receive more than 1.6 million divers annually — an incredible number of visitors and incredible dives! This summer, a group from NAUI Brazil visited Egypt,

Tampa, Fla. (August 1, 2019) – Registration is now open for NAUI Worldwide’s exhibitor-sponsored workshops and seminars at DEMA Show in Orlando, Florida! Qualified dive industry professionals looking for training opportunities in First Aid Instruction and Training or Course Director and Instructor Trainer Requalification can now register online or by phone. Are you interested in

  When you take a breath from a helium balloon and speak, your voice rises humorously. What happens when an astronaut does the equivalent and receives a phone call from the President of the United States? In the 1960s the U.S. Navy developed the SEALAB project, a series of underwater habitat experiments to test the

  Recently voted the third-best aquarium in the country by USA TODAY, The Florida Aquarium, a NAUI Organizational Affiliate and partner, is a top family-friendly attraction in the Tampa, Florida, area, to educate and inspire the public about marine life and conservation in an entertaining way. Guests are invited to see and learn about more

The largest of an archipelago of 21 volcanic islands and islets, Fernando de Noronha is the pinnacle of an extinct volcano whose base is 2,480 feet (756 meters) deep. Located about 215 miles (340 kilometers) away from the mainland, it is considered one of the best diving destinations in South America. The first visitor was

The California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco has two new NAUI Instructors: dive officers Marina Bozinovic (center left) and Allison Shafer (center right). The ITC staff included dive operations manager and Course Director Trainer Mauritius Valente Bell (left), and senior dive officer and new Instructor Trainer Mark Lane (right). Congratulations to all on a

The tropical breeze gently rustles your hair and makes that unmistakable sound as it tosses the palm fronds to and fro. As you walk along the path to dinner, the sun is getting low and its golden orange glow bounces playfully off the orange-peel calm water nearby. As you go you recall the great dives

Many diving spots around the world allow you to dive “as you wish,” whether on a relaxing vacation, to engage in tech diving, to go in search of archaeological treasures, to teach diving or to work. While I have been exploring these many ways of approaching scuba diving for more than 20 years, both as

As I packed my dive gear to head down to Bonaire on another dive trip, I knew that this one would not be the same as most of the other dive excursions I had been on. I would soon be on my way to partner with three other NAUI Instructors who, like me, had all

Crystal clear water with underground passages that stretch for miles forming maze-like structures that open up into huge breathtaking chambers! This is the underwater playground of cave divers all over the world. But cave diving is often viewed by many divers, even some instructors, as one of the so-called “dark arts” of scuba diving. Insurance

NAUI CD Scott Creamer (NAUI 30480) qualified two new NAUI Divemasters on July 21st. The pair started their Master Diver course with Scott Creamer’s Underwater Breathing Adventures (S.C.U.B.A.) last summer. “It has been a pleasure working with them,” Scott commented, . “Northern California is lucky to have these passionate Divemasters!” New Divemaser Will Burns (NAUI

It’s 2 o’clock in the morning. You’re miserable and cold. Large raindrops strike your face. The air temperature is barely above freezing. You’re standing on the pitching deck of the boat as swells roll it back and forth, up and down. A helicopter hovers overhead, its rotor wash whipping up frigid wind and mist as

About 2,500 miles southwest of Hawaii lies one of the world’s largest coral atolls with a lagoon that contains nearly 850 square miles of the world’s best diving. The lagoon is filled with warm, crystal clear blue water with a sugar-white sandy bottom that averages 150 feet and maxes out at 200 feet. A combination

Immediately after they break the surface, my two young guests burst into excited chittering. “Did you see that eel come up? It was huge! Those lobsters look even bigger underwater! Dad, we have to get certified; that was amazing.” It was the kind of excitement you would expect after two teenage girls breathe underwater, get

When I first began to seriously pursue my interest in underwater photography back in the mid-1970s, I was very fortunate to work as a diving instructor and store manager at a dive center in San Diego that was routinely visited by several National Geographic staff photographers. The dive center was owned by Chuck Nicklin, and

Professional Scuba Diver’s Liability – Live webinar with Attorney Jason Botticelli on August 27 at 12p.m. ET/9a.m. PT. Click here to register. The goal of this webinar  is to give more of the “laymen” dive professionals a basic understanding of what their professional insurance is for.  the webinar will cover the following: What is “negligence”

NAUI is proud to present the very first class of the Mississippi Highway Patrol Special Operations Group Dive Team. The group is in the middle of NAUI’s intensive Public Safety Diving Program being held on the campus of the University of Southern Mississippi. Ten troopers were selected from Mississippi’s most elite law enforcement officers to

Neighbors, who know that I dive off Boynton Beach often ask me, “How’s the ocean look below?” It is an easy enough question to answer — if I fend it off as I would the more usual, “How are you doing?” “Good” is my usual answer. Very few have the interest to listen to more.

With proper training, subsurface exploration and diving can be safe. What we do individually often contribute to incidents. That is not to say incidents don’t creep up from the depths, but training and gear knowledge, placement and practice can mostly mitigate situations the diver encounters. Safety begins on the surface with instructor and staff teaching,

Geological karst features, necessary for the formation of water-filled caves, are scarce in Sweden, and no suitable caves exist for cave-diving training. However, with literally thousands of water-filled mines, hundreds of which are accessible, it would perhaps be apt to call central Sweden “mine country,” akin to Florida’s famous “cave country.” Stable bedrock and a

Getting dive certified is something my husband, Tim, and I have talked about doing for the better part of at least 10 years now. We even ordered the books and had planned to do a diver certification course in Malta when we first moved to Europe. But life got in the way and after realizing

He’s had both hips and a shoulder replaced and his entire lower back rebuilt while serving his family, friends, and home. He neither complained nor asked for thanks. Instead, he simply decided to make a difference for his fellow servicemen and women who, too, continue to make the ultimate sacrifice for their country. Before retiring

Congratulations to Jordan, Morgan, and Justin. They recently earned their NAUI open water certification with Depth Perception Dive Center.

I found myself getting bored with diving. I had been diving within no-decompression limits for several years, and I could not find the next challenge or another skill to learn. A Course Director told me about two instructors running technical diving classes and wreck diving. I had previously ruled out technical diving because the complexities

Have you ever tried to explain how diving feels to prospective students? Or excite and spur newly certified divers to take additional courses or get out there and dive? Here are a few prose pictures, call them “teaching points” if you want, that you can use to share the wonder and the experiences of scuba

For those of us connected with the ocean through work or leisure, each year is a roller coaster of emotions, especially when the news is full of doom and gloom. The seas are getting more acidic, environmental protection laws are being repealed and the ever-growing amount of plastic is infecting every part of our oceans,

The Blue Heron Bridge spans Florida’s Intracoastal Waterway connecting Riviera Beach with Singer Island. It is a massive bridge that replaced a concrete structure, which has been partially kept for fishermen to use. At its eastern end, the bridge crosses Phil Foster Park, a Palm Beach County beach and park that is a popular diving

In 2008, while being treated for a severe back injury, I was told by my spinal surgeon that my days of sky diving, rock climbing, snowboarding and mountain biking were over. One bad fall or hard landing could have life-altering consequences. But he did recommend getting in the water. Much of my physical therapy was

One of the questions that comes up with increasing frequency is whether closed-circuit rebreather diving will replace open-circuit diving. The simple answer is almost certainly not. This should not be taken as a negative view of the devices. Rebreathers are tools, and like all tools, they have strengths and weaknesses that vary with the application.

Offshore of the narrow islands of the Florida Keys is one of the world’s important marine ecosystems. Protected by Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico areas are off-limits to taking wildlife and coral or damaging the natural environment. As you travel the length of the Florida Keys on the

Officially, Florida’s Boynton Inlet is not an inlet, but nobody refers to it as the South Lake Worth Drainage Ditch. And nobody calls the Palm Beach Inlet, farther north, by its official name: Lake Worth Inlet. Every nautical chart denotes the Boynton Inlet with the caveat “Passage through the inlet is not recommended without local

There are many horror stories about Tridacna gigas: tales of divers and swimmers who found themselves trapped by its powerful shells, their foot or the hand stuck as though caught in a stranglehold. Held underwater, they struggled and died slowly. In other narratives of disappearances of trapped people and accidents created by giant clams, walkers

In conjunction with the 10th anniversary of the May 27, 2009, sinking of the 159-meter (523-foot) USNS Gen. Hoyt S. Vandenberg, Austrian art photographer Andreas Franke placed a 24-piece art exhibit, highlighting the plastic danger to our life-giving ocean waters. This exhibit, titled “Plastic Ocean,” is the third exhibit Franke has placed on this unique

On Friday, April 7, 2017, the Guam Visitors Bureau commemorated the 100th anniversary of the scuttling of the SMS Cormoran II, a ship that holds a unique place in history for both Guam and the United States — an unusual role for a German ship. The ship was built in Germany to be part of

You hear the call of a fish eagle as you slowly open your eyes to a magical view and the entrancing sounds of Africa. This is Lake Shore Lodge in Tanzania, situated on the shore of the longest fresh water lake on the planet — Lake Tanganyika. Our journey: In December 2018 my husband and

It was just past 8 o’clock on a typical morning in late November 1948. About a dozen people were riding Stockholm Tramways’ electric trolley (also known as an overhead-wire bus) on their way to work. World War II had ended a few years earlier, and life was returning to normal. The morning commute did not

Tampa, Fla. (July 16, 2019) – The National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI) Worldwide, a leader in diver training and education, is pleased to announce the release of its 2019 DEMA Show schedule of seminars, workshops, and special events. NAUI’s complete digital program guide is available at https://www.naui.org/media/2304/dema-special-section_2019.pdf. “This year’s schedule of seminars and workshops

NAUI Freediver Talya Davidoff heads to Roatan on Sunday, July 28 to compete in Caribbean Cup for Freediving. And she’s quite the spearfisher too. Check out one of two fish being submitted to IUSA (International Underwater Spearfishing Association) for Women’s Spearfishing World Records.  

Great job guys!!! Everyone is over three minutes and even maxing out the course at four minutes!! Depths up to 20m and solid safeties!! Welcome newly trained NAUI Freedivers!! Remember to take care of those ears

When I originally wrote this article, it was about a recent freedive trip to Hawaii that included both training and recreation. While putting the finishing touches on it, I received a phone call from a friend of mine who was eager to get one more day of spearfishing in before the season for cabezon closed

There is no doubt that diving has changed over the last several years. Computers that transmit and calculate all our information, regulators that will deliver an adequate amount of air at any depth, new materials for dry suits, stretchable wetsuits, more dependable rebreathers—so many other items have come out. It has only been in the

Students at Burntwood School in Wandsworth, South London, became NAUI Scuba Divers this spring as part of the underwater media course conducted at the school by NAUI UK Representative Simon Lodge (NAUI 44740). Left to right are new Burntwood divers Milli, Daisy, Winnie, Nida, and Imogen.

Note: This Paper/Talk will be presented at the 2019 AAUS Diving for Science Symposium in Vancouver, B.C.,  October 8-11, 2019. The question of deep stops and shallow stops is interesting and fraught with controversy in diving circles and operations, training, exploration and scientific endeavors. Plus fraught with some misunderstanding which is understandable as the issues

Keeping divers warm at any depth — you could say that has been Dick Long’s life accomplishment, and you’d be right. But, there’s a whole lot more to Long than “just” keeping divers warm. If you have the chance to sit down and talk with him, you’ll quickly see that he’s not only capable of

Your new scuba student has practiced descents in a confined water pool. Perhaps the pool was 5.5 meters (18 feet) deep. Maybe it was 3.5 meters (12 feet) deep. Possibly it was just 2.5 meters (8 feet) deep. Now it’s time for the open water dives! Is your new aquanaut diving in a cold quarry

Throughout the years I spent as a police training officer, I had the opportunity to spend some serious time teaching new officers the “ins and outs” of a difficult and demanding career. Spending hours breaking down complex and difficult skills often required a different approach to many of the standard training guidelines or norms. With

Are you an exceptionally talented NAUI member? Perhaps you are a successful scuba retailer or have experience in strategic planning? Then the future of NAUI depends on you! The Elections Committee is accepting nominations for the 2019 Board of Directors election. To be considered, nominees must send their nominations to the Election Coordinator at NAUI Headquarters no

It was 2 a.m. on Nov. 29, 1966, when crewman Dennis Hale awoke to two very loud crashing noises. He thought the noises might be the anchor of their 183-meter (600-foot) freighter, the Daniel J. Morell, slamming against the bow as it battled its way through a terrible storm. He knew something was wrong the

NAUI is proud to support career pathways through its premier Dive Leadership Training Program.  This industry-leading course teaches you skills that transfer into all professional and vocational occupations.  Dive leadership training mentors the candidate through an enriching and rigorous program that improves communication, decision making, and leadership skills.  These are the most sought after and

Jim Brown was NAUI Director of Training in the 1980s and ’90s. This article appeared in the July 1990 of Sources. Have you ever observed a diver in distress on the surface? You might remember some classic signs — no air in the BC, mask on the forehead or gone, mouthpiece missing from the mouth,

Marine Search and Rescue (MSAR) is a division of the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office (EBRSO). MSAR is responsible for surface and subsurface water operations in East Baton Rouge Parish. Surface water operations include security for the port area, boating safety enforcement, and water rescue. The MSAR Division Dive Team conducts all subsurface water operations.

Dive season was just coming into full swing when Joe Lodmell (NAUI 42553) of Montgomery Scuba & Travel, Inc. took his classes down to Lake Phoenix in Virginia on the first weekend in June to complete their training. It wasn’t just the dozen students from two classes there for their open water certification divess. Lodmell

Ninety-seven kilometers (60 miles) due north of New York City, on a hill overlooking the Hudson River, sits one of the most exclusive educational institutions anywhere in the world. Some jokingly refer to it as “Harvard on the Hudson,” but in many ways, it is even harder to get into and even more difficult to

Congratulations to Anthony Sterlacci #57506, Angela LaFranca, Camille Donowa, George Donowa, Lazlo Horvath and Steven Ingis for completing the NAUI Powered by DAN DFA Pro and Rescue Course led by Scuba Connection Instructor Frank Rakowski #58062 with assistants Tracy Green #60061 and Brian Feury #59436.

Safety comes first in all situations, but when working with scuba divers who have special needs, security takes on a whole new meaning. As a facility approved for scuba therapy for people with special needs, protection is a concern to be tackled efficiently and thoughtfully. Special needs scuba diving is an incredible adventure — for

A vast and green territory, marvelous beaches, the Indian Ocean, who could ask for anything more? Like most tourists, we could not have imagined the wealth or the agonies of this land until Wassanta, our guide, told us some of the history of this green pearl in the Indian Ocean. It’s southeast of India, but

I’ve been doing underwater photography for over 10 years, and the more I do it, the more I love it. I use a compact camera: It is light, it offers wonderful results, and it is highly versatile. With the appropriate wet lenses, you can use a compact camera to take a photo of a little

Approximately 70 volunteers dove into Tampa Bay for the third annual Gasp Our Beads clean-up project. All told, the divers gathered 1,266 pounds of beads, bottles, metal, nets, and other trash from the banks and waterways. The clean-up was sponsored by a mini-grant from the Tampa Bay Estuary Program. Mica Neal from Next Level Dive

There are real underwater forests in the Mediterranean Sea. Dense meadows of Posidonia (Posidonia oceanica) or Neptune grass, provide habitat, breeding and nursery grounds for many species. Moreover, they are an important food source. Their exceptional importance is also in maintaining coastal equilibrium by stabilizing the sea bottom, reducing beach erosion and producing up to

One of my favorite movies is Caddyshack. Ty Cobb (Chevy Chase) gives Danny the “be the ball” advice. This is how I feel about the ocean. I dive in warm water in a Lycra suit so that I can feel the water, “be the water.” When I can actually feel the water, I am one

As I travel around the Midwest talking to both shops and independent instructors, I find that there is a misunderstanding on how the NAUI eLearning was intended to be used. I also have just read an opinion article in a popular dive business magazine that discussed how an instructor was dissatisfied with how her students

Ear injuries happen more frequently than any other type of diving injury. In fact, they occur more often than several of the other most common dive injuries combined. Every time we dive we put our ears through a great deal of stress, but forgetting to equalize or forcing it when we have some congestion can

  Living and diving around Long Island, New York, provides for a wide variety of diving opportunities. The “normal” dive season is about seven months long for the average drysuit diver, but most divers really only utilize the warmest four or five months of the year. Then there’s the other side of the coin: divers

The 2017 Category 4 Hurricane Irma gave the Vandenberg a “mighty push,” but our Grand Lady remains as great a multi-dive site as it has always been. What Happened? On Sept. 10, 2017, Hurricane Irma struck the Florida Keys with maximum sustained winds of 113 knots (209 kph/130 mph), leaving devastation and destruction in its

As NAUI dive leaders, it’s imperative to execute proper setup and dive planning. Without it, you not only run the risk of creating a potentially unsafe situation but also run the risk of falling short of our high standard of training today’s most competent and safe divers. “I witness way too many open-water students exiting

Straddling the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, just south of the Arctic Circle, sits one of planet Earth’s most unique islands where active volcanoes roar, massive glaciers slowly pour into scenic fjords and more than 80 percent of its landmass is uninhabited. The mountains and other-worldly landscapes are so breathtaking they’ve served as backdrops for movies such as

Own an underwater camera system, and it’s all but guaranteed that you will find yourself trying to create a great photograph of a fish. Probably of a lot of fishes. Occurring in an almost endless variety of shapes and colors while exhibiting so many fascinating behaviors, fishes make wonderful photographic subjects no matter where our

(MONTAUK, NY)  Earlier this week, FORCE BLUE announced plans to begin partnering with the NAUI Green Diver Initiative in its quest to promote conservation through education, partnerships and activities focused on environmental stewardship. “We couldn’t be more excited,” said FORCE BLUE Executive Director Jim Ritterhoff.  “The NAUI Green Diver Initiative, with its vision to create

A surfer’s dream… smack dab in the middle of some of the nation’s richest farmland is an unlikely place to find some of the world’s best surf riding waves. That is exactly where Kelly Slater’s Surf Ranch (http://www.kswaveco.com/) is located, 200 kilometers (130 miles) inland from the California coast. The Surf Ranch has been a

The Elections Committee is preparing for the 2019 NAUI Board of Directors election. This year there are two (2) BOD positions due for election. Each of these positions has a 4-year term. The Elections Committee is accepting nominations for the 2019 Board of Directors election beginning today. To be considered, nominees must send their nominations

In a day and age where the diving industry has struggled to find ways to attract new divers, especially young divers, It’s a refreshing change to learn of a storied organization that has remained strong and vibrant since the dawn of sport diving in North America. The lessons that can be learned from their history

Hi! My name is Marty Snyderman. As a new columnist for Sources, I would like to introduce myself and give you the Cliff’s Notes version of my professional background. I have made my living through underwater photography since the mid-1970s while working as a still photographer, cinematographer, teacher, author and presenter. Creating underwater images, helping

NAUI Brazilian affiliate Jornada Sub Dive Center in Jundiaí SP is convening volunteer divers for the 19th cleanup of Rio Jundiaí-Mirim, the river that is the main source of water for the whole Jundiaí region. This year’s action will take place on Sunday, June 2. The event has been held annually since 2000 and involves

Depth limits are an important concept in recreational diver training. As with many new ideas, students are more likely to respect these limits if they understand why they are what they are. A great deal of data shows that divers face increased health and safety risks when they exceed maximum depth limits without advanced training,

A boat beached and abandoned after Hurricane Michael in 2018 is now at the bottom of the ocean and becoming Florida’s newest artificial reef. Crews sunk The El Dorado, a 157-foot-long, 300-ton casino boat in early May 2019. The El Dorado sustained damage through a couple hurricanes that blew through Florida. Hurricane Ivan in 2004

Exotic locations hours from the nearest population are a powerful draw. The prospect of experiencing something that no one else ever has is difficult to refuse, and daydreams of unexplored wrecks and undiscovered ecosystems are hard to ignore. With these thrills come specific challenges and significant risks that can put unprepared travelers in harm’s way.

Do you know someone who represents the best in NAUI? You probably know at least one person who has made a significant difference in scuba diver education and training and in supporting NAUI’s mission. As an association, NAUI Worldwide members have the opportunity each year to nominate those persons and groups worthy of special recognition.

Diving in the Philippines years ago, I photographed what they called “turkeyfish.” They were the only species of fish in abundance in some places. The beautiful fish remained perfectly still suspended in the water column, brightly colored red and white spines deployed, large mouths poised to devour prey. We call them lionfish. Exotic and beautiful

I’m sure that we have all heard the saying, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” As divers, we plan our dives, then dive our plan. But have we planned what we will do when (not if) an emergency happens? While by its very nature, responding to an emergency situation is reactionary

Part 4 – Questions and Answers – continued Isobaric counterdiffusion (ICD) is just a theoretical concoction and never observed? No. It’s been demonstrated and observed in laboratory experiments with helium and nitrogen. Improper gas switches from nitrogen-based mixes to helium-based mixes (heavy-to-light) have been implicated as DCS causative. Simple calculations with diveware packages will easily

NAUI Green Diver Supports Local Conservation Efforts, Seeks Volunteers for the Annual GaspOur Beads of Tampa Bay Clean-Up Project Tampa, Fla., (April 30, 2019) – The NAUI Green Diver Initiative is pleased to announce its continued support of the Center for Open Exploration (C4OE) annual surveying and coastal clean-up project, GaspOur Beads of Tampa Bay.

In this day and age, it is hard not to become discouraged when you hear news about the state of our environment and the species around us. Having been a high school science teacher, I know how overwhelming it can be to learn the true scale of some current environmental issues. From coral bleaching to

This article is about being in charge of your own dive and not following someone else to your own detriment. All dive operations and dive professionals are not the same in quality, and there are those who may lead you astray if you let them. As dive professionals, we must teach this to our students.

Idaho is not at the top of the list for dive destinations, yet Neptune Warrior and Boise Scuba Center in Meridian, Idaho, are bringing divers out every week to participate in their Ultimate Diving Challenge and theme-based dives. The Neptune Warrior project was founded about two years ago by Rob Anderson (NAUI 31192). With the

They say that Jacques Cousteau named these waters “The Aquarium of the World” for a reason. With over 900 different fish species, 170 bird types and more than 30 species of marine mammals, the Sea of Cortez is well-known by scientists and environmentalists, and it has become a diving hot spot thanks to its unparalleled

 Part 3 – Questions and Answers – continued Differences between Haldane models and RGBM are not important for recreational diving? Not quite. For single nonstop dives on air and nitrox, this is true. It’s not generally true for repetitive, multiday, and deeper-than-first diving, with differences notable for short time intervals, large depth decrements between successive

Florida Keys Community College (FKCC) is the smallest of Florida’s Community Colleges, yet it offers an awesome array of dive/marine-related courses. Located on Key West in the heart of a National Marine Sanctuary, it is just 5 miles from the only barrier coral reef in the continental United States. FKCC offers dive- and marine-focused courses

Sunscreen pollution is now recognized as a direct reflection of unsustainable tourism practices. With governments like Palau and Hawaii banning sunscreen ingredients and organizations from Surfrider Foundation to Ocean Conservancy creating education programs, reef-safe sunscreen has become a well-known topic. The problem, says Autumn Blum, CEO and formulator for Stream2Sea, is there isn’t any real

  While moviegoing audiences in 1975 flocked to the theaters to see Jaws, the movie itself seemed to have an opposite effect on the ocean-going public. The horror flick touched a primal nerve in many people. Traumatized by scenes of a mindless, toothy beast attacking helpless humans in the water, a large swath of the

Questions and Answers Next is a collection of technical queries and explanations. These have crossed our phones, emails, and mailboxes over the years. Some of the more interesting follow, and some have been mentioned in earlier Tech Corner articles in Sources: Deepest dive first destroys bubbles on next dive? Maybe. Bubble and seed reduction on

When you think of Florida’s 2,170 kilometers (1,350 miles) of ocean shoreline, it is easy to get caught up in the vision of clear, blue waters and white, pristine sand. Each year, millions of tourists and locals alike flock to the beaches to enjoy some saltwater therapy. These beaches are also overlain by many misguided

Tampa, Fla. (April 22, 2019) – The National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI) Worldwide returns to California’s Long Beach Convention Center on May 4-5, 2019, for the annual Scuba Show, booth #503. The Scuba Show is California’s premier diving event of the year featuring 76,000 square feet of exhibit space, 300+ exhibitors, seminars, clinics hosted

Simply defined, a corporation is a legal entity that functions as a person. It is “an association of shareholders, even one shareholder, created under law and regarded as an artificial person by courts, having a legal entity entirely separate and distinct from the individuals that compose it, with the capacity of continuous existence.” (Black’s Law

NAUI’s strong presence in Brazil since 1997 has produced a family of tens of thousands of Brazilian divers who travel around the world, and the small village of Tofo in Mozambique on Africa’s east coast is a destination known and sought by many Brazilians. The greatest similarities between Brazil and Mozambique are in their colonization

Introduction Technical and research diving encompasses a wide spectrum of related disciplines. The scope is immense, so any treatise on tech diving is limited in scope. With that caveat, a short glossary of terms and definitions is first given with special care to linkage to the queries.  This is the first post in a 4-part

“BULA!” Shouts of “BULA!” accompanied by ukuleles greet you the moment you step off the plane. Smiling Fijians with flower leis around their necks are there to immerse you in the Fijian culture, and you feel their genuine friendliness and pride in their heritage instantaneously. There’s no warmer welcome anywhere you’ll travel than there is

A number of years ago, I visited Crystal River, Florida, in the hopes of photographing manatees. As it turned out, I was about a month early, and there weren’t too many manatees to be found at their favorite freshwater springs and hangouts. As we sat on our guide’s boat and lamented the lack of action,

Red Sea Diving Corals  The Red Sea is considered to be one of the 7 Wonders of the underwater world, harboring more than 1,000 species of invertebrates and over 200 species of soft and hard coral. This forms the basis of a marine eco-system which includes 1,100 species of fish, of which just under 20%

The Brazilian aquatic rescue team E.R.A RESGATE (Equipe De Resgate Aquático) was created by NAUI Instructor Marcos Caruso (NAUI 59306) to provide aquatic safety and lifeguarding at open water events. Its rescue professionals were trained by Caruso as part of his extensive lifeguarding course. E.R.A RESGATE participates in aquatics-related events in and around São Paulo,

In 2010, Qatar Whale Shark Research began as a collaboration between the Qatar Ministry of Environment (MOE) and David Robinson. Robinson approached the ministry to authorize research on whale sharks in the gulf around Qatar and suggested the Al Shaheen oil fields north of Qatar as his field of study. His initial plan was for

Reef Check Foundation is an international organization working to protect tropical coral reefs and California rocky reefs through education, research, and conservation. Reef Check trains hundreds of volunteer divers to become citizen scientists who survey coral and rocky reefs every year. The data is used to improve the management and conservation of our marine habitats,

Be in the audience when a photographer projects a beautifully shot silhouette, and after a moment of silence, you are almost certain to hear “oohs” and “aahs” of appreciation. Those audible gasps are proof that strong silhouettes command viewer attention. As an underwater photographer, the question to ask yourself is” “How can I create silhouettes

Tampa, Fla. (April 15, 2019) – The National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI) Worldwide is excited to announce the complete transformation of its Sources magazine from a digital flipbook to an online blog publication, available at https://blog.naui.org/. Sources: The Journal of Underwater Education is an international publication of the National Association of Underwater Instructors. Sources

  Are you planning a dive trip to the dive capital of the United States? Florida Keys Aquarium Encounters, a NAUI Dream Destination located at mile maker 53 in Marathon, is a must-stop for any diver or ocean lover. Immerse yourself in the largest exhibit at the aquarium, a 200,000-gallon seawater system that mimics the

The Galveston campus of Texas A&M University (TAMUG) is a premier institution for maritime leadership and ocean and coastal studies on the Gulf Coast and a 21st-century institution where research and scholarship are one with student learning and success. This campus operates a recreational and scientific diving program that has been well established since 1998.

I have investigated more than 1,000 drowning events and have authored several peer review studies focusing on drowning behavior. Several of my studies involve children and dispelling some commonly held myths about drowning behavior. Focusing my research on children is justified because drowning among children represents the second leading cause of accidental death. Ms. Deborah

The first mention of a proposed diver flag was in the September 1957 issue of Skin Diver Magazine [SDM]. Michigan native Ted Nixon announced the need for a flag exclusively to denote recreational diving activity and requested suggestions for designs that could be accepted nationally. The notice reads: In the ensuing months, considerable research was

One of the most controversial topics that rear its head when the subject of family diving is discussed is when, or even if, children should be allowed to scuba dive. Of course, no real research has been done on how diving affects the physiologies of young people, but you will never find yourself short on

Conservation, diving and travel go together as naturally as peanut butter and chocolate (if you like peanut butter cups!). After all, our sport happens out in nature. It’s possible to enjoy a video of scuba diving from the comfort of your own living room, but if you’re actually going to scuba dive, you need to

On January 31, 2019, the new NAUI Board of Directors held its first meeting of the year. The Board welcomed newly elected member Geertje Wessels (NAUI 54145) and re-elected member Danny Grizzard (NAUI 3550). Also in attendance were current members Michael Feld (NAUI 50134), Cheryl Thacker (NAUI 23525), Barry Moore (NAUI 6790), David Ochs (NAUI 15918),

The first time I confidently identified a yellowtail damselfish underwater, I may have been so excited that I nearly screamed through my regulator. But that was nothing compared to feeling like a hero the first time I submitted the fact that I had seen a yellowtail damselfish, along with several other reef fish species and

As a NAUI member, you have invested time, energy and resources pursuing your goal of teaching scuba and sharing the underwater world with others. There are many motivators on what takes someone who is drawn to scuba to continue the path of becoming an instructor. For some, it was a goal, but once achieved, the

Something about shipwrecks makes them irresistible to divers. No matter how big they are or how they sank, wrecks offer a unique challenge and a glimpse into history. Whether you’re driven to identify a new wreck or training to touch one of the Italian ocean liners, it’s easy for wreck diving to become an obsession.

A group of Dutch divers, diving companies and the Plastic Soup Foundation are introducing a new hand signal for divers: the P for Plastic. Every year, thousands of marine animals get caught in ocean plastic or mistake it for food, eat it, and die of starvation. The plastic soup damages and kills coral reefs. It’s

From 2005 to 2008, I was the editor of a quarterly magazine focused on the underwater world. Many of our readers considered it the “National Geographic of the underwater world.” It was filled with in-depth articles and beautiful photos. In fact, several of our contributors were National Geographic contributors. A starry-eyed new editor, I imagined

In an effort to make your membership in NAUI as valuable as possible and to give you the opportunity to maximize your profitability, NAUI management has decided to decrease the cost of NAUI Education Systems while increasing the cost for certification cards. Competitive pricing allows us to provide the most cost-effective products in the market.

NAUI tech divers from Czech Republic visiting the reservoir in Dedinky, Slovakia, for a spring dive. Only a little snow, no ice, water temperature 5 degrees Celsius (41° F), air freezing. Unfortunately, visibility was no better than a meter (3 feet), but it was a great way to say goodbye to the winter.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (March 26, 2019) – The National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI) Worldwide returns to Florida’s Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center April 27-28, 2019, for the 12th Annual Blue Wild Ocean Adventure Expo. The Blue Wild is south Florida’s premier ocean adventure and watersports expo that features one of the most diverse

Offshore ocean reefs serve as barriers reducing wave impact on shores. Hurricane Irma brought devastation to the Florida Keys. Many reefs in the Florida's Middle Keys suffered damage. Lobster traps, floats, and lines were torn away leaving below masses of twisted polypropylene lines and derelict traps. Anchor lines, fishing monofilament, plastic bags, cans, and discarded

  Liability is one of those catchalls, a sometimes magical term used as a reason either to not do something or to do something that may seem unnecessary. The word has become so powerful and is used so frequently that it's become a go-to answer to "Hey, why don't we [insert brilliant idea]?" or "Why

I am thankful to have had the opportunity from Women Divers Hall of Fame (WDHOF) and NAUI to complete my NAUI Divemaster here in Northern California. I started the program with Pro Scuba Dive Center, Scotts Valley, California, in early February 2018 and completed in December. I first finished a few cold-water checkouts (water is

Duggan Diving is well known for its program of scuba training for the amputees and burn victims at the Center For the Intrepid (CFI), which is the rehabilitation center for the San Antonio Military Medical Center (SAMMC — formerly Brooke AMC) at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. They have been giving this training since 2005 and

John J. Christofoli, standing, and John M. Christofoli, seated, just completed the NAUI SCUBA Diver classroom and pool work with NAUI Midwest Regional Representative Kenny Wheeler. Now the pair are off to Costa Rica to complete the open-water portion of their training.

During 2018, members of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Forward Response Technical Dive Team could be found diving in Japan, the Marshall Islands, Puerto Rico, and throughout the United States. Traveling not for pleasure, but working as Army civilians, they brought specialized individual and collective engineering expertise to underwater missions the world over. Team

Rum Runner Dive Shop's ENC Youth Scuba Club members, who also serve as Love A Sea Turtle volunteers, attended and participated in the Virginia Aquarium's inaugural Youth Ocean Conservation Summit (YOCS). This event empowers youth participants with the tools and resources needed to develop ocean conservation initiatives designed to protect marine ecosystems and their inhabitants

Lucien Pelletier and William Doran from 4D Dive Club, Ontario, Canada, journeyed to Louisville Dive Center in Louisville, Kentucky, in December to take their Instructor Trainer and Course Director Workshops with NAUI Midwest Regional Representative Kenny Wheeler. New NAUI Instructor Trainer Lucien Pelletier (left) and new Course Director William Doran.  

Of many popular myths, some are easy to identify by simple observation. One common story is that birds will explode or get expansion injuries from eating uncooked rice thrown at weddings, but you can observe that birds regularly eat raw rice in rice paddies, along with other uncooked grains and whole seeds, without any ill

You might think that these two countries would not have a NAUI tech community, but we have a very active one. In 2018 there were NAUI technical courses in Intro to Tech and Technical Support Leader, and a couple of members were starting training and preparing for Tech Instructor courses under supervision by Frantisek Ondrus

Tampa, Fla. (February 12, 2019) - Each year, the National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI Worldwide) recognizes contributions and services of persons and groups to the Association and to the greater diving community. This year, NAUI is announcing an addition of a new award category: Next Generation Leadership Award. Nominations are open for all categories

NAUI Korea Representative LEE Sunghoon (NAUI 13702) hosted the two-day Ice Diving Festival and Ice Diving Workshop in Hongcheon, Gangwon Province, on Feb. 9 and 10, 2019. The successful and quite large-scale event was attended by approximately 100 people including a lot of active NAUI members as well as Korean divers. The area media was

Tampa, Fla. (January 29, 2019) - The National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI Worldwide), a leading certification agency dedicated to promoting dive safety through education, has officially launched a Skills Update workshop series available to all divers worldwide, offering firsthand experience in skill sets covered in NAUI Technical Diver Training programs. Initial workshops began in

Two acclaimed marine-wildlife artists served as judges for this year’s International Poster Contest for Youth. Dr. Guy Harvey, whose popular paintings depict marine sportfish, and Wyland, known for his “Whaling Walls” on structures around the globe depicting cetaceans, chose the winners from among hundreds of posters submitted. This year’s theme was Human Exploration of the

Tampa, Fla. (January 9, 2019) - NAUI Worldwide, a leading certification agency dedicated to its membership organization and affiliated industry professionals has officially launched its mobile app to thousands of divers worldwide. The free NAUI Mobile 1.0 app takes a completely fresh look providing its members and divers (public users) the ability to view their

  Tampa, Fla. (January 3, 2019) - The National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI Worldwide) is excited to announce 2019 updates and changes made regarding its regional territories in the Caribbean, Canada, and southeast and the midwestern USA. Effective immediately, Dave Hall (NAUI 58360) will assume responsibility as the NAUI Southeast Regional Sales Manager managing

NAUI Worldwide remains a true membership association. Our standards, policies, and ethics are governed by the Association's Board of Directors, who are members themselves. The Board of Directors are elected through a democratic election process - each eligible member gets a vote in his or her association. This year's voting was again performed online with

NAUI celebrates the dedication and contributions of NAUI members who have made significant contributions to the Association and the sport of diving. Tampa, Fla. (October 2, 2018) - The National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI Worldwide) membership has selected their official NAUI award recipients for 2018 as part of NAUI's long tradition of recognizing excellence

Tampa, Fla., (July 17, 2018) - The National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI Worldwide) is excited to announce its expanding international presence in The Bahamas with an addition to its growing slate of worldwide affiliates: Neal Watson's Bimini Scuba Center. The center became a NAUI Dive Destination in 2017 supporting and welcoming NAUI referrals and

Tampa, Fla. (July 10, 2018) - Leaders of the National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI Worldwide) convened in Kuwait on July 5 to conduct a First Aid Instructor Trainer Workshop (FAITW) with trainers and candidates from surrounding countries. The FAITW, hosted by Reyadh Al Bannow of NAUI Middle East and administered by NAUI's Manager of

Tampa, Fla. (July 5, 2018) - Neptune Warrior, an affiliate of the National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI Worldwide) and a 501c Non Profit based in Idaho, has created a NAUI Instructor Specified Specialty to help veterans with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Mild Traumatic Brain Injuries (mTBI). A result of a partnership between Neptune

Tampa, Fla., (June 26, 2018) - The National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI) Worldwide service center for Brazil gathered this month to participate in its 17th annual cleanup of Brazil river Rio Jundiaí-Mirim, located in São Paulo, to celebrate the United Nation's World Environment Day. About 200 volunteers assembled to participate in the UN's most

Tampa, Fla. (June 12, 2018) - Neptune Warrior, an affiliate of the National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI Worldwide), has recently partnered with Emergenetics International to study the effects of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in veterans and scuba diving on the brain's behavior and thinking preferences. The partnership will help Neptune Warrior further its

Tampa, Fla. (May 15, 2018) - The International Conference on Underwater Education (ICUE, or IQ) is excited to announce the recent release of its esteemed group of seminar speakers and 2018 event program, which is available now for free digital viewing in an interactive flipbook format. Similar to last year, ICUE will be held in

Tampa, Fla. (May 15, 2018) - The National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI Worldwide) is proud to share an exceptional opportunity for youth and young adults to receive quality NAUI training with its affiliate SeaTrek BVI, located in the British Virgin Islands and throughout the Caribbean. With summer adventure voyages located in the British Virgin

Tampa, Fla., (May 6, 2018) - The Green Diver Initiative (GDI) partnered with various groups on May 6, 2018, to host its second annual Gasp-Our Beads of Tampa Bay Cleanup and Survey along the Seddon Channel off of Davis Islands in downtown Tampa, Florida. Over 60 people including eight boats, nine kayaks and paddleboards, 27

Tampa, Fla. (May 1, 2018) - NAUI Services Group (NSG), in collaboration with the National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI Worldwide), is pleased to announce that Daniel Semrad II (NAUI 56283) has been selected to lead NAUI's global freediving program as its Freediving Coordinator. The Freediving Coordinator is a position devoted to all aspects of

Tampa, Fla. (April 17, 2018) - Officially launched on April 9, 2018, NAUI Worldwide is pleased to announce the arrival of its completely redesigned enterprise management system, ushering in a new era for NAUI's online member services and business operations. NAUI CORE presents Certifications, Online training, Resources and Educational material and provides a convenient hub

Tampa, Fla. (April 10, 2018) - As part of this year's International Conference on Underwater Education (ICUE, or IQ), NAUI Worldwide has several events scheduled alongside the annual Scuba Show in Long Beach, California, on June 23-24. Events will recognize the legacy and contributions made to scuba diving by Lloyd Bridges and the cast of

Tampa, Fla. (April 3, 2018) - To support NAUI Worldwide's expansion throughout the Middle East, NAUI Services Group Chief Executive Officer Dallas Edmiston and Chief Operations Officer Derik Crotts recently joined representatives of the NAUI Middle East Service Center for the Kuwait Yacht Show held in Marina Crescent, Salmiya, between March 27 through 30 and

  International Poster Contest for Youth 2017 - 2018 'Human Exploration of the Oceans' Contest Deadline May 30, 2018 ln the more than 30 years since the International Poster Contest For Youth and its allied environmental-educational organizations have been involved in seeking solutions to the problems of pollution and depletion of the world's marine resources.

NAUI Advisors From 16 Countries Gather in Europe to Kick Off First Aid Instructor Trainer Workshop Series Tampa, Fla. (March 27, 2018) - Leaders of the National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI Worldwide) convened in The Netherlands on March 20, 2018, to conduct NAUI's inaugural First Aid Instructor Trainer Workshop (FAITW) with trainers and candidates

Tampa, Fla. (January 23, 2018) - The National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI Worldwide), a leader in recreational scuba diver training and certification, welcomes additional representatives to its 2018 North American Regional Management Team and announces expanded territories for its current representatives. New to the 2018 Regional Management team are industry veterans Angelo Fiore (NAUI

Tampa, Fla. (January 16, 2018) - To kick off 2018, NAUI Worldwide's Board of Directors and International Advisors visited the Tampa headquarters to participate in the first of a series of NAUI First Aid Instructor Workshops (FAIW) to be conducted across the globe throughout 2018. Administered by NAUI's Training Manager, Jim Gunderson, the headquarter's FAIW

Tampa, Fla. (January 9, 2018) - To assess NAUI's growing opportunities in Asia, Executive Director Dallas Edmiston and Director of Marketing and International Operations Derik Crotts recently joined the managers of the NAUI Asia-Pacific Service Center for the Dive Resort and Travel (DRT) Expo and conducted a series of meetings and sessions with NAUI members

Tampa, Fla. (December 12, 2017) - In collaboration with Team Lifeguard Systems, NAUI Worldwide invites dive leaders from across the industry to participate in the first of its Leadership Rescue Workshop series taking place at Neal Watson's Bimini Scuba Center March 16 - 18, 2018. The Leadership Rescue Workshops are open to any certified dive

NAUI celebrates the dedication and contributions of NAUI members past and present who have made significant contributions to the Association and the sport of diving. Tampa, Fla. (October 24, 2017) - As part of its long tradition of recognizing excellence and leadership in the dive industry, the National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI Worldwide) membership

Tampa, Fla., (October 19, 2017) - The National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI Worldwide) is proud to announce that Angie Cowan (NAUI 53628) has been selected as one of four finalists for the inaugural DEMA Wave Makers Award. DEMA recently announced that it will recognize new dive industry professionals who are employed by (or own)

TAMPA, Florida (October 19, 2007) - NAUI has announced the addition of the Inspiration and Evolution Rebreathers manufactured by Ambient Pressure Diving Ltd. and distributed by Silent Diving Systems LLC to their list of approved rebreathers for NAUI training courses that can be found in the Technical Diving Section of their web-site at www.naui.org. In

Tampa, Fla., (October 17, 2017) - On October 11, the Hillsborough County Soil and Water Conservation District honored the Gasp-Our Beads of Tampa Bay Survey and Clean-Up project with its Hillsborough 100 Conservation Challenge Outstanding Project of the Year award. The award ceremony was part of the 2018 Hillsborough 100 Conservation Challenge Kickoff Luncheon held

Tampa, Fla., (October 17, 2017) - The National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI Worldwide) invites dive industry members and leaders attending DEMA Show to participate in NAUI-sponsored seminars and training events and visit the NAUI booth to engage with NAUI members and explore several exciting initiatives NAUI has begun executing in 2017 and will carry

Tampa, Fla. (October 10, 2017) - This past August, the National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI Worldwide) was informed that the Recreational Scuba Training Council (RSTC) Board of Directors voted unanimously to accept its membership application. 'We are pleased to have NAUI as a member of the RSTC,' said Tom Leaird, RSTC President. 'For the

FLAQ and NAUI leaders gather to sign the new agreement. From left to right: Casey Coy (The Florida Aquarium Vice President of Operations); Richard Germann (The Florida Aquarium President & CEO); Dallas Edmiston, NAUI Executive Director; Derik Crotts, NAUI Director of Marketing, Communications, and Operations Tampa, Fla., (September 26, 2017) - The National Association of

Tampa, Fla., (September 19, 2017) - The National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI Worldwide) is proud to endorse the candidacies of Dr. Anthony Ford (NAUI 48401) for the office of President and Kim Yarbrough (NAUI 56323) for the office of Vice-President of the National Association of Black Scuba Divers (NABS). Ford is a NAUI Course

  Tampa, Fla. (September 5, 2017) - The National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI Worldwide) Board of Directors, international advisors and headquarters staff recently met in Marathon, Florida, for three days of discussion and planning designed to set the course for the association over the next three to five years. NAUI's purpose is to enable

  NAUI Worldwide Celebrates its Defining Role in Diving During NAUI Week! Tampa, Fla. (August 22, 2017) - The National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI Worldwide) invites divers and leaders across the industry to celebrate NAUI's 57-year history of defining diving during NAUI Week. The week of August 20-26 marks the timeframe in 1960 when

Tampa, Fla., (August 8, 2017) - The National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI Worldwide) and the History of Diving Museum are proud to announce Vintage Weekend Wonders, a community event to be held Saturday, August 12 through 13, 1 p.m., at Lookout Lodge in Islamorada, Florida. The event will begin with a vintage diving event

In Memory of Dr. J. Morgan Wells - Diving Pioneer and Legend Tampa, Fla., (August 1, 2017) - It is with deep sadness yet immense gratitude and respect that NAUI Worldwide announces the passing of industry innovator and leader Dr. J. Morgan Wells (NAUI 4175) at the age of 77 on Friday, July 28, 2017.

  In Memorium of Randy Shaw - Exceptional NAUI Leader and Industry Ambassador Tampa, Fla., (July 25, 2017) - It is with a heavy heart that the NAUI Worldwide family announces the passing of Randolph L. Shaw (NAUI 9102) on Saturday, July 22, 2017. After 22 years at NAUI Headquarters, Randy Shaw retired as NAUI

Tampa, Fla. (July 6, 2017) - The National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI Worldwide) is experiencing one of its largest growth periods in more than a decade and has its 'eye,' or in this case the Orlando Eye, on the 2017 DEMA Show in Orlando, Florida, to showcase the value and quality of its membership

Tampa, Fla., (July 6, 2017) - The National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI Worldwide) is proud to fully endorse the insurance program being offered by the Divers Alert Network Risk Retention Group (DAN RRG). As the agency committed to the safety of the industry, NAUI recognizes the importance and value associated with supporting an organization

Tampa, Fla., (June 8, 2017) - As the leader of 'Dive Safety Through Education,' the National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI Worldwide) and the community dedicated to the NAUI Green Diver Initiative (GDI) are working diligently to empower individuals to preserve and conserve the ocean planet. 'The end of April 22 did not signify the

Tampa, Fla., (April 25, 2017) - With funding from a Tampa Bay Estuary Program (TBEP) Mini Grant, the NAUI Green Diver Initiative (GDI) partnered with the Center for Open Exploration (C4OE) this past Earth Day weekend to carry out the inaugural Gasp - Our Beads of Tampa Bay Survey and Clean-Up Project. On Sunday, April

Earlier this month a group of NAUI Headquarters staff, NAUI Business Institute (NBI) participants and NAUI affiliates convened in the Florida Keys for a long weekend filled with diving, business development and fun. Organized by NBI faculty, the Familiarization (FAM) Trip to the Florida Keys was developed to reinforce the NBI core course and webinar

Tampa, Fla. (March 28, 2017) - The National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI Worldwide), looks forward to the return of its International Conference on Underwater Education (ICUE, or IQ) and the opportunity to honor some of the NAUI leaders who established and grew this educational event, the first of its kind in the dive industry.

  Tampa, Fla., (March 21, 2017) -The National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI Worldwide) has a rich tradition of being where leaders dive and receive their advanced training, and in supporting Ya-yu Monica Hew, Yasmeen Smalley-Norman and Kara Wall, to become NAUI leaders, NAUI proudly continues this tradition. The Leadership Training Grants, the first of

Tampa, Fla., (March 6, 2017) - The NAUI Green Diver Initiative (GDI), in partnership with the Center for Open Exploration (C4OE), has been awarded a Tampa Bay Estuary Program (TBEP) grant to fund a surveying and coastal clean-up project (Gasp-Our Beads of Tampa Bay) in partnership with the Hillsborough 100 Conservation Challenge during the week

NAUI Executive Director Elected to the DEMA Board of Directors Tampa, Fla., (February 28, 2017) -The National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI Worldwide) is excited to announce its Executive Director, Dallas Edmiston, as a newly elected member of The Diving Equipment & Marketing Association (DEMA) 2017 Board of Directors. 'As a lifelong diver and committed

  NAUI Instructor Honored as Beneath The Sea Diver of the Year Tampa, Fla., (February 28, 2017) - The National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI Worldwide) is excited to announce Bernie Campoli, NAUI Instructor ,1900, of Panama City Beach, Florida, as one of the Beneath The Sea Divers of the Year for Service. According to

  NAUI Offers Technical Training Lectures and Panel Discussion During Emerald Seas Symposium Tampa, Fla., (February 7, 2017) - The National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI Worldwide) will offer a series of technical diving lectures as part of the Emerald Seas Symposium in conjunction with the Scuba & H2O Show in Tacoma, Washington, on March

  NAUI Reestablishes ICUE; Speakers & Topics Announced Tampa, Fla. (January 31, 2017) - The National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI Worldwide), is excited to announce the return of its International Conference on Underwater Education (ICUE, or IQ) and its list of speakers and topics. The conference will take place May 6 and 7, in

  NAUI Finland Develops and Introduces 3D Photogrammetry Specialty Course Tampa, Fla., (January 10, 2017) - The National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI Worldwide) is proud to announce its new 3D Photogrammetry Specialty Course, designed to provide an advanced level of understanding of the more visual aspects of scuba diving. The latest addition to NAUI's

  NAUI Expands Its Reach with New Dive Destinations   Tampa, Fla., (January 3, 2017) - NAUI is excited to announce seven new NAUI Dive Destinations among its growing slate of worldwide locations where its members and divers can enjoy fun and adventure in 2017. In no particular order, Red Sail Sports (Grand Cayman), Neal

Tampa, Fla., (December 13, 2016) - NAUI is pleased to announce that Terrence Tysall, NAUI 16627, has assumed the role of Assistant Director of Training and will transition to the position of Director of Training, effective February 1, 2017. After more than 22 years at NAUI Headquarters, Randy Shaw, NAUI 9102, will be retiring effective

Tampa, Fla., (November 1, 2016) - The National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI Worldwide) is excited to announce the addition of the aquaSketch Minno to its suite of training support products. Joining the ranks of NASA, the U.S. Military, search and recovery teams and marine scientists, NAUI is the latest in a long-line of organizations

Tampa, Fla., (November 1, 2016) - The National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI Worldwide) continues to increase the audience attracted to the sport of diving. To further support this effort, the NAUI Board of Directors (BOD) approved a motion by Board Member Lonnie Sharp (NAUI 18314) to provide a grant through the Women Divers Hall

After more than 22 years of support to NAUI, Michael van Niekerk has announced his retirement as Manager of NAUI Services Southern Africa, to be effective June 30, 2016. In addition to his management of operations in Southern Africa, van Niekerk, NAUI ,16899, served as a member of the NAUI Board of Directors during two

NAUI Worldwide is seeking NAUI professionals with expertise and leadership roles in diving who would be willing to become a continuing contributor to provide an article/blog piece for our Sources magazine. NAUI has developed a detailed marketing plan designed to increase annual awareness and reach from an audience of just under 100,000 to more than

NAUI's Green Diver Initiative (GDI), in collaboration with the Center for Open Exploration (C4OE), conducted a scientific survey of the downtown Tampa harbor and channel waterways on Friday, May 27. The survey was in preparation for a diver clean-up event focused on the impact Gasparilla Festival waste, specifically plastic party beads and trinkets, have on

We are pleased to announce the launch of a new insurance program offered exclusively to NAUI members. Effective immediately, NAUI members will be able to purchase professional and general liability insurance coverage through the Divers Alert Network (DAN) Risk Retention Group, a DAN subsidiary. DAN's expertise in risk mitigation and incident prevention has contributed to

The NAUI Board of Directors has taken the next step in the evolution of this gas use and has amended the NAUI Enriched Air Nitrox Diver standards as follows: Add 'Junior certification for ages 10 - 14 years is allowed. See 'Policies Applying to All Courses: Junior Certification' as reflected in both the SCUBA Diver

NAUI SEES INTERNATIONAL EXPANSION NAUI experiences excellent international reach through its membership. Tampa, Fla., (April 22, 2016) - The National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI Worldwide), a leader in recreational scuba diver training and certification, continues to experience excellent international reach through its membership. NAUI Executive Director Dallas Edmiston and Training Director Randy Shaw are

41-year NAUI veteran leader to head the Association The National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI Worldwide), a worldwide leader in dive training and education, is proud to kick-off DEMA Week with the official announcement of its new Executive Director, Mr. Dallas Edmiston on Nov. 6, 2015. In February of this year, the NAUI Board unanimously

      With a commitment to dive safety through education, National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI) joins Divers Alert Network (DAN), the industry's largest dive safety association, to promote and extend the reach of dive safety programs. The centerpiece of this joint initiative willsee DAN and NAUI come together to offer DAN's first-aid training

This entry was originally published in the NAUI Sources magazine - First Quarter, 2015 and on the SeaTrek BVI Island Times blog - February 2015. This past summer, from June to July, I got up close and personal with the Bahamas to gain a better understanding of lionfish and what local dive operators and Bahamians