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 the first NAUI Instructor Certification Course (ICC) was held in Houston, Texas.

‘NAUI Week celebrates NAUI’s past and present – from ‘The Quality Difference’ to the ‘Definition of Diving,’ NAUI has upheld its core value of Dive Safety Through Education for nearly 60 years. And in looking to the future, NAUI is poised to continue its role as an industry innovator and leader,’ said NAUI Executive Director Dallas Edmiston.

During NAUI Week, social media and other industry outlets will be used to tell the NAUI story and bring NAUI members and divers together to not only honor the rich history of the Association, but to look ahead and work together to grow NAUI’s reach and influence across the industry. Beginning in 2018, NAUI Week activities will include the debut of a NAUI Week Dive Getaway, as well as Show Your NAUI Pride media campaigns.

The idea for an association of underwater instructors dedicated to diver safety and quality training was first conceived in a simple memo written by Al Tillman (NAUI ,1), Sports Director of the Los Angeles County Parks and Recreation Department, in 1952. Known as The Memo That Started It All, Tillman wrote, ‘A new sport – skin diving – is becoming popular in the area. …This activity falls into the sports category and I propose that my department get involved in this sport and provide training classes. I believe that diving will grow in the future and we have an obligation to make the sport as safe as possible.’

That first ICC in Houston began with 72 instructor candidates and after what was described as ‘Hell Week,’ with 53 graduating; along with their staff instructors, they became the very first instructor members of NAUI. NAUI incorporated in 1960 in California as a not-for-profit 501 (c) (6) educational association with Al Tillman (NAUI ,1) serving as the first president and Neal Hess (NAUI ,3) as executive secretary. NAUI ICCs were conducted throughout North America in the 1960s, including the second one ever in Toronto in 1961. NAUI then began significant international expansion in the ’70s. NAUI Worldwide continues to expand globally, with active members and regional representatives in more than 102 countries. This includes NAUI Enterprises Japan and NAUI Service Centers firmly established in Africa, the Middle East, Europe, Brazil, and Asia Pacific.

As a membership association focused on diver safety, instructor training and leadership development, innovation is at NAUI’s core. Throughout its 57-year history, NAUI and its members and industry partners have developed many of the programs and concepts accepted throughout the industry. Whether in the establishment of scuba instructional standards, equipment development, advancements in diving research or dive training innovations, NAUI leaders have paved the way for scuba divers around the world.

‘NAUI has experienced more positive change and growth in the past 18 months than at any time in its last two decades. NAUI is now fully engaged in the diving industry and is re-asserting its role as an industry leader and innovator. NAUI now has more communications, marketing and business support capabilities and materials than at any time in its history,’ said Edmiston.

Visit www.naui.org to find out more about becoming a NAUI diver or member and follow along all week as NAUI Worldwide celebrates its defining role in diving during NAUI Week!

Visit and engage with NAUI on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Google+!

Aug. 20: Day 1 – ‘Happy Birthday, NAUI!’

• DID YOU KNOW that the very first NAUI Instructor Certification Course (ICC) held in Houston, Texas, the week of August 20, 1960, marked the birth of NAUI?
• The idea for an association of underwater instructors dedicated to diver safety and quality training was first conceived in a simple memo written by Al Tillman (NAUI ,1), Sports Director of the Los Angeles County Parks and Recreation Department, in 1952.
• Known as The Memo That Started It All, Tillman wrote, ‘A new sport – skin diving – is becoming popular in the area. …This activity falls into the sports category and I propose that my department get involved in this sport and provide training classes. I believe that diving will grow in the future and we have an obligation to make the sport as safe as possible.’
• That first ICC began with 72 instructor candidates and after what was described as ‘Hell Week,’ with 53 graduating; along with their staff instructors, they became the very first instructor members of NAUI.
• Get Motivated with NAUI Worldwide! https://youtu.be/nys5VSoKiGw?list=PLTDLMJqHB7tw95Q4Gc-gcvLi8scJr-EhE

Aug. 21: Day 2 – ‘An Association of Innovation’

• DID YOU KNOW that in its 57-year history, NAUI and its members have blazed a trail, developing many of the programs and concepts accepted throughout the industry?
• In 1981, NAUI introduced its recreational NAUI Dive Tables. Two decades later, NAUI published the only set of Reduced Gradient Bubble Model (RGBM) recreational no calculation tables from sea level to 10,000 feet.
• NAUI introduced the industry’s first Oxygen First Aid program.
• In 1992, NAUI was the first recreational training agency to sanction Nitrox training.
• In 1997, the Association published standards for teaching technical diving.
• In the early 2000s, NAUI produced award-winning, state-of-the-art, fully integrated educational systems for diver education and training.
• Today, NAUI continues to innovate – stay tuned for exciting announcements and updates!

Aug. 22: Day 3 – ‘Where Leaders Dive’

• DID YOU KNOW that from the beginning and still today, NAUI Leaders have been known and respected across the industry for the quality of their teaching, concern for the individual student, and emphasis on diver safety?
• Find out what NAUI Leaders are all about: https://youtu.be/5mMVh32Hbx4

Aug. 23: Day 4 – ‘NAUI Goes Global’

• DID YOU KNOW that by 1979 NAUI had certified over 5,000 instructors and a decade later over 12,000, demonstrating significant growth in NAUI membership worldwide?More NAUI ICCs were conducted throughout North America in the 1960s, including the second one ever in Toronto in 1961. NAUI then began significant international expansion in the 70’s. Japan hosted its first NAUI ICC in 1970 and NAUI Canada was organized as a separate corporation in 1972.
• In 1995, NAUI solidified its commitment to global expansion and began doing business as ‘NAUIWorldwide.’ In 1997, NAUI Headquarters moved to Tampa, Florida and members from Europe and Asia were elected to the Board of Directors for the first time.
• NAUI Worldwide continues to expand globally, with NAUI Enterprises Japan and Service Centers firmly established in Africa, the Middle East, Europe, Brazil, and Asia Pacific.

Aug. 24: Day 5 – ‘What’s Your Dive IQ?’

• DID You KNOW that the first International Conference on Underwater Education (ICUE, or IQ) was held in 1969 at Santa Ana College in California?
• IQ served as a venue for NAUI members and other industry professionals to meet and exchange ideas and have a forum to present information on diving skills and safety, teaching techniques, diving physiology, physics, and other diving and marine sciences.
• In 2017, after nearly two decades of silence, ICUE re-emerged at the Long Beach Scuba Show with a loud and definitive statement that NAUI’s commitment to quality education for divers has not diminished.
• If you missed out on your chance to attend in 2017, stay tuned as NAUI prepares for ICUE 2018 at the Scuba Show on June 23 & 24. More information will be available soon at https://www.naui.org/about/icue/.

Aug. 25: Day 6 – ‘Dive Safety Through Education’

DID YOU KNOW that NAUI was the first training agency to create a divemaster designation and conduct a divemaster certification course, the first being held in 1976 in Kingston, Ontario, Canada?

Aug. 26: Day 7 – ‘The Definition of Diving’

DID You KNOW that throughout scuba diving’s history, it is NAUI leaders, pioneers and trend setters who have defined the sport?

• Whether in the establishment of scuba instructional standards, equipment development, advancements in diving research or dive training innovations, NAUI leaders have paved the way for scuba divers around the world.
• NAUI’s hallmark is leadership and learning. Our divers truly understand the concepts and principles of diving, so they, too, can further enhance diving’s definition and leading touchstones.
• NAUI is now fully engaged in the diving industry and is re-asserting its role as an industry leader and innovator.
• NAUI is where diving leaders are made and scuba diving is defined. Go beyond the ordinary and choose to be extraordinary!

Find out more about becoming a NAUI diver or member by visiting www.naui.org or by calling +1 813-628-6284. Use our Locator Tool to find a NAUI facility or Instructor near you: https://www.naui.org/locate-dive-centers/.

Thanks for following along all week as NAUI Worldwide celebrated its defining role in diving during NAUI WEEK! Stay tuned to www.naui.org and official NAUI social media sites for exciting NAUI Week 2018 announcements and events!

Visit and engage with NAUI on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Google+!