HDSUSA ADVISORY BOARD

JoDH # 55, Volume 16, Issue 2, Spring 2008

The Development of Commercial Helium Diving—A paper from the HDS 2008 Conference by Christopher Swann. In the middle of the 20^th century, the world's quest for off shore oil forced the commercial diving industry into ever deeper water. With the increased depth came increased risks. Some of the blue collar entrepreneurs of the California abalone diving industry who had migrated to the oil patch started to tackle these new challenges. In this paper, which was presented at the 2008 HDS Conference in Monterey, California, Chris Swann traces the arrival and rapid spread of commercial helium diving. (Pg 9)
Bob Evans: Force Fin Man—Mark McDermott. When he was nine years old Bob Evans received a gift that would change his life. It was a simple surf mat that had a clear window which allowed Bob to peer down at the sea life in the Mediterranean. Those first glimpse's were the seeds for an inspiration that eventually blossomed into Bob's vision. To help people feel as free in the water as the creatures which inhabitant it. Those water creatures in turn became the inspiration for Bob's Force Fin designs. Now, after decades of industry misinformation and battles, Force Fins have emerged in a clear light and are used and endorsed by leading international divers as well as several international military units. In this article Mark McDermott guides us down parts of Bob Evans historical path. (Pg 18)
In Depth with Bob Evans—An interview, by Leslie Leaney (Pg 33)
Helmets of the Deep—Joe Savoie "Super" Helmet by Leslie Leaney (Pg 34)
The Submarine Lens—US Navy Model A25 Underwater camera (Fenjohn) by Sid Macken (Pg 36)
Vintage Scuba—The Commeinhes Scuba Apparatus, 1935 - 1943 by Nick Icorn including The Back Story to the article by Leslie Leaney (Pg 38)
Cover Story—The Conquest of the Deep by Henry Siebe 1874 addressed by Peter Jackson (Pg 40)
Books In Depth—Subacquea, by Faustolo Rambelli, reviewed by Nyle Monday (Pg 42)
Auction Report—Helmets, Cameras (Pg 44)
Classic Diving reports—Weeki Wachee Historical Dive by Captain John Gallagan (Pg 46)
HDS USA—Quarterly report and Board of Directors meeting report (Pg 49)
HDS Canada—Santa Barbara Bell Systems by Phil Nuytten with photos of different bell systems mainly from the 1960's (Pg 50)Vintage Patents—Short and Bradford's Submarine Explorer by James Vorosmarti, MD. (Pg 52)

Other items:
With the name change from Historical Diver Magazine, Leslie Leaney returns as Publisher and Executive Editor being joined by Daron Jones as Managing Editor and Art Director
Dr. Drew Richardson joins the Society Board of Directors
USS Squalus Commemorative Mk V Helium Helmet tag design competed
The Diving History Library - books available from HDS

In Memory
André Galerne, Norma Jean Hanson, Drago "Jack" Prodonovich, Dr. Hugh Bradner, Jim Cahill, Jack Birns

Click here to go to our order form.

JoDH #56, Volume 16, Issue 3, Summer 2008

Lotte Hass —Diving's International Leading Lady; a pictorial by Michael Jung. As a young teenage girl, Lotte Baierl grew up among the wreckage of WWII Vienna, avoiding Russia soldiers and other potential disasters. In 1947 she landed a job as secretary to Hans Hass, who at the time was Europe's foremost scuba diver and underwater filmmaker. Working in secrecy behind Hass' back, she learnt to dive and take underwater photos in the River Danube, hoping to be able to talk herself on to an upcoming Hass expedition. Hass rejected the idea, but circumstances eventually dictated Lotte's inclusion on a dive expedition to the Red Sea. The expedition changed both their lives and set up Lotte as the world's premiere female scuba diver. We present a portfolio of pictures from her early career, many of them published for the first time in America. (Pg 10)
A Girl on the Ocean Floor—The 1970 book by Lotte Hass addressed by Leslie Leaney (Pg 18)
The California Sea Urchin Diving Fishery—A Perspective, (A paper from the HDS 2008 Conference) by Tom Kendrick. During the later part of the 20^th century the California abalone diving industry declined, and professional fisheries divers faced an uncertain future. But help was on the way from across the Pacific. Again. Just as they had provided a major market for abalone, the Japanese now provided one for uni, which were the gonads, or roe, of a sea urchin. In this article we present an edited version of the paper delivered at the 2008 HDS Conference in Monterey, California, by urchin diver and author Tom Kendrick, in which Tom outlines the free market rise and eventual regulation of the urchin diving industry along Americas west coast. (Pg 20)
HDS 2008 Conference Report—Monterey, California (Pg 28)
HDSUSA Internet Services—Carl Roessler (Pg 31)
International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame—Inducts the Class of 2008 (Pg 32)
Helmets of the Deep—Hagenuk 3 – bolt / 12 bolt by David Dekker (Pg 34)
The Submarine Lens—The Hans Hass Akustische Housing by Sid Macken (Pg 36)
The Pechter's Historic Shot—Hans Hass and Jacques-Yes Cousteau together, January 1997 including The Back Story—Leslie Leaney (Pg 38)
Cover Story—20,000 Leagues Under The Sea by Jules Verne addressed by Peter Jackson (Pg 40)
Books In Depth—Monturiol's Dream: The Extraordinary Story of the Submarine Inventor Who Wanted to Save the World by Matthew Stewart reviewed by Nyle Monday (Pg 42)
Auction Report—Helmets, Scuba & Cameras (Pg 44, 46 & 47)
Vintage Patents—Finch's Underwater Telephone by James Vorosmarti, MD
Vintage Scuba (Pg 48)
The Scott Hydro-Pak—Ed LaRochelle (Pg 50)
Beneath The Sea and HDS—Honor Dr. Sylvia Earle with the Legend of the Sea Award (Pg 52)
HDS USA—Quarterly Report and HDS Web Bulletins (Pg 54)
HDS Canada—The Ogopogo Skin Divers by Phil Nuytten (Pg 55)
Classic Diving Reports—International Shallow Water Helmet Meeting 2008 by Kees de Jonge (Pg 56)

Other items:
Ed LaRochelle joins the JoDH staff
Bev Morgan and Bob Meistrell to lead HDS 2009 Great White Shark Dive Photos of a fully completed USS Squalus Mark V Helium Helmet

In Memory
Mort Pechter
Ben Chapman - "The Gill Man" of The Creature From The Black Lagoon

Click here to go to our order form.

JoDH #57, Volume 16, Issue 4, Winter 2008

The Divers of John Steinbeck's Cannery Row by A.L. "Scrap" Lundy
Recognized as one of America's leading authors and cultural figures, John Steinbeck had a strong connection to the sea. His books The Pearl, Cannery Row and Log from the Sea of Cortez can be found on the shelves of many diving libraries, both in America and overseas. His contributions are internationally recognized by a Pulitzer Prize and a Nobel Prize, among many others. Steinbeck's adventures with Ed Ricketts combine both science and philosophy, while providing a west coast record of marine biology before recreational and scientific scuba divers probed deeper into the shallows of the shoreline. His 1945 Cannery Row became one of Steinbeck's most beloved novels, featuring a cast of low-lifes and misfits surviving on the central California coast. In this paper from the Society's 2008 Conference, A.L. "Scrap" Lundy presents the commercial diver's nonfiction story that records their contributions to the construction, expansion and ultimate success, of the real Cannery Row. (Pg 12)
The MSA Regulator—A trio of articles review MSA and CG regulator design circa WWII, by Peter Dick and Keith Gordon, with diagrams by Bob Campbell. In 2003, an Italian film crew recovered a cylinder and breathing regulator from a World War II American Sherman tank that had sunk in the Bay of Naples. Their interest in this unknown equipment eventually lead them to the editors of the Society publications in UK and USA. The editor's requests for information eventually yielded responses from Keith Gordon in New Zealand and also the late Reece Discombe in Vanuatu. And thus another chapter of international detective work into diving history began. The information supplied by Keith and Reece was reviewed and presented by Peter Dick, editor of the UK's Historical Diving Times. To give further perspective Peter added information on the WWII development of Cousteau and Gagnan's 1943 regulator. To expand this latest chapter of regulator research even further, UK scuba historian Bob Campbell provided supporting diagrams for the MSA. (Pg 19)
The Five Fathom Club—One of the Nation's First High School Diving Clubs by Larry Clinton with photos from Paul Gugliemino. High School recreational diving from New York to Florida in the early 1950's (Pg 26)
U.S.S. Carl Brashear Launched—by MDV James Costin; a report on the launch on the new USN vessel named after the famed African-American USN Master Diver whose life was the subject of the film Men of Honor (Pg 28)
Books in Depth—Spear fishing in Hawaii; a pictorial history by Sonny Tanabe reviewed by Nyle Monday (Pg 31)
Cover Story—Under The Waves or Diving in Deep Waters by R.M. Ballantyne with research by Peter Jackson (Pg 32)
Helmets of the Deep—The Low Isles Helmet and Mel Ward Helmet from the Langley Collection by Ed Slaughter of the Queensland Museum, Australia(Pg 34)
Vintage Scuba—The AGA Deviator 324 System, by Ed LaRochelle (Pg 36)
The Submarine Lens—The Calypso Camera by Sid Macken. A Calypso camera sells for $12,000 (Pg 38)
Vintage Patents—Campbell's Diving Dress by James Vorosmarti, M.D. (Pg 40)
Auction Report—Diving Helmets by Leslie Leaney, Scuba equipment by Ed LaRochelle along with Underwater Cameras and Housings by Sid Macke (Pg 43)
HDSUSA Report—Early American Scuba rigs at DEMA. E.R. Cross Sport Diver, Sea Horse and Diluter regulators (Pg 48)
HDS Canada Report—Kingston Underwater 2008 by Ben Davis and George Burt (Pg 49)

Other items:
Bob Hollis joins HDS Advisory Board
2008 HDS Nick Icorn Diving Heritage Award presented to The Lockwood Pioneer Scuba Diving Museum, Love's Park, Illinois
Commemorative Plaque honoring André Galerne dedicated in Marseille
Classic Diving report on Vince Scarponi of New Jersey

In Memory
Jacques Piccard
Bob "Frogfoot" Weller and
Walt Deas

Click here to go to our order form.

JoDH #58, Volume 17, Issue 1, Spring 2009

Lambersten and O₂: The Beginnings of Operation Physiology—Recognized as the Father of the America’s Combat Swimmers, our Advisory Board member Dr. Christian J. Lambertsen holds a unique position in the nation’s diving history. Encountering the familiar WWII disinterest by senior ranks in almost any new underwater idea, Dr. Lambertsen persevered and eventually found a welcome reception at the Office of Strategic Service, whose leadership grasped the potential of his concepts. Dr. Lambertsen assisted with the formation of the Operational Swimmers Groups as a branch of the OSS Maritime Unit. This group became America’s first combat swimmers and many of the tactics they developed were used later when UDT and SEAL units were formed. In this article Dr. Richard Vann records some of Dr. Lambertsen’s WWII work with O₂ rebreathers that pointed the way forward. Presented by R.D. Vann (Pg 8)
The Langley Collection at Museum of Tropical Queensland, Australia—During an active career in the Australian diving fisheries industry, Greg Langley assembled one of the finest collections of diving helmets in the country. Helmets from various nations, used for different underwater tasks, were added to his Tasmanian based collection. Sometimes working with nautical antiques dealer Mike Meadows, Greg shepherded his collection to include helmets of national significance and also one-of-a-kind examples. Greg and his wife Helen then donated the collection to the Museum of Tropical Queensland, and the exhibit was opened to the public in 2008. Former HDS SEAP President Bob Ramsay details the collection and the exhibit opening. (Pg 17)
Hans & Lotte Hass—Early Leica Underwater Camera Housings presented by Michael Jung (Pg 20)
Cover Story—Peter Jackson examines the prolific author, Percy F. Westerman (Pg 23)
Vintage Scuba—DESCO's 1950s Sport Line for Skin and Scuba Divers presented by Ed LaRochelle (Pg 24)
Books in Depth—German Combat Divers in World War II; Nyle Monday reviews German Combat Divers in World War II, by Michael Jung. Atgeln, PA: Schiffer Publising Ltd. 2008 (Pg 26)
Helmets of the Deep—Siebe & Gorman Helmet serial #2221, circa 1878-1880 (Pg 28)
Helmets of the Deep—Update presented by Leslie Leaney (Pg 31)
Submarine Lens—The Focascaphe Camera presented by Sid Macken(Pg 32)
Vintage Patents—The First Closed Diving Dress presented by James Vorosmarit, MD (Pg 34)
Auction Report—Diving Helmets by Leslie Leaney with Rare Panerai Knife (Pg 36)
HDSUSA Report—HDS GWS Dive 2008, Underwater Intervention 2009 and Beneath the Sea 2009 (Pg 42)
HDS Canada Report—Ocean Legend Eugenie Clark Pilots a Flying Submarine on her 87^th Birthday (Pg 44)

Other Items:
Hannes Keller joins HDS Advisory Board
Hass Celebrates 90^th Birthday
Honoring the Williamson Brothers, Pioneering Underwater Filmmakers
Sea Hunt Stars Sculpted in Granite
Photos from HDS Great White Shark Dives

In Memory
Bill Giannotti
LCDR Roy H. Boehm
William P. Fife
Larry Schumaker, U.S.N.


Click here to go to our order form.

JoDH #59, Volume 17, Issue 2, Spring 2009

The Salvage of the USS Squalus—The historic salvage of the USS Squalus and the rescue of a majority of its crew drew the world’s attention to submarine rescue and the task of navy divers. The drama remained front page news for months, and the work of four U.S.N. divers, William Badders, Orson L. Crandall, James Harper McDonald, and John Mihalowski, was recognized by the awarding of the Congressional Medal of Honor. The success of the rescue bell, developed by the famed “Swede” Momsen, raised the hopes of submariners around the globe, especially as 170 more trapped lives were lost in sunken submarines while the Squalus salvage was under way. The operation also thrust the use of helium to the forefront of deep diving and set a proven foundation for its safe use in future American military and commercial operations.
In this issue our late Advisory Board member, E.R. Cross, details parts of the diving operations that led to one of the greatest salvage feats of all time. The underwater operations are brought to life by E. R.’s inclusion of some of the actual divers’ reports. To support E.R.’s text we have tried to stay away from the usual Squalus story images that are familiar to diving historians, although we have included some. To bring a new visual life to the well - recorded history of this milestone in U.S. Navy diving history, the Journal recruited images and items from the personal archives and collections of Nyle Monday and Leslie Leaney, plus original water color paintings by famed maritime artist Arthur Shilstone from Tim Beaver’s collection at Global Diving and Salvage. For historians seeking a fuller accounting of the Squalus story Nyle Monday has provided a side bar section on Books on the Salvage of USS Squalus. Presented by E.R. Cross (Pg 9)
Editorial—American Anniversaries presented by Leslie Leaney (Pg 3)
2008 E.R. Cross Award—Steve and Kristine Barsky (Pg 4)
2008 Nick Icorn Diving Heritage Award—The Langley Family and the Museum of Tropical Queensland (Pg 5)
2008 HDS Pioneer Award—US Navy Legend Bob Barth receives HDS Pioneer Award (Pg 6)
In the News—Bonnie Cardone elected as AUAS Fellow in Arts, 1950s Frogmen Muster, A new book by Bob Kirby, Sal Zammitti receives 2009 California Scuba Service Award, Lifetime Achievement Award for Jim Stewart and Mark V Statuette (Pg 7)
In the Mail—Chino Program, A Job That Must Be Done, Divers Entangled in Propellers, Scuba Auctions Column and Teddy Remick (Pg 8)
Bill McDonald—Underwater Photographer, Marine Activist and All-Around Nice Guy presented by Steve Barsky (Pg 18)
International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame—Inducts Class of 2009, Kimiuo Aissek, Howard Rosenstein, Geri Murphy, Larry Smith and The Williamson Brothers (Pg 22)
Helmets of the Deep—An Augustus Siebe Helmet Surfaces from Down Under presented by Leslie Leaney and Bob Ramsay (Pg 24)
Cover Story—Books on Pearl Diving presented by Peter Jackson (Pg 26)
History on My Wrist—Technical Development Executive along with PADI AND DSAT presented by Karl Shreeves (Pg 28)
Vintage Scuba—How the Public Came to Embrace Scuba Diving in the 1950s presented by Ed LaRochelle (Pg 30)
The Submarine Lens—US Navy Leica Camera System presented by Sid Macken (Pg 33)
Vintage Patents—Stone’s Vapor Bath presented by James Vorosmarti, MD (Pg 34)
More on the Richards and Wolcott Bell—presented by James Vorosmarti, MD (Pg 35)
Books In Depth—Illustrated History of Russian Diving by Pavel A. Borovikov in Moscow printed by Morkniga Publishing 2008 ISBN 978590308042 reviewed by Nyle Monday (Pg 36)
Auction Report—Diving Helmet Auctions presented by Leslie Leaney (Pg 38)
Auction Report—Scuba Equipment presented by Ed LaRochelle (Pg 40)
Divers Training Academy Inc., Kendall, FL—presented by Frans P. Carlson (Pg 42)

Other Items:
Navy Cinemariners (Pg 39)
HDS USA Quarterly Report (Pg 43)
The Diving History Library (Pg 44)

In Memory
James "Gunner" Overall
Rigden C. Crawford, Jr.
Clyde Lawrence Olcott
Steve Drogin
Victor Vacquieer, Sr.


Click here to go to our order form.

JoDH #60, Volume 17, Issue 3, Summer 2009

Editorial—(Pg 3)
Steve Kushner Joins the Board of Directors—(Pg 4)
In the Mail—(Pg 5)
Nyle Monday Appointed Senior Editor—(Pg 8)
Tom Ingram Receives Major Business Award—(Pg 8)
Benoit Rouquayrol and Auguste Denayrouze—One of the most distinctive looking pieces of production diving equipment is undoubtedly the Rouquayrol and Denayrouze copper “groin” snout mask and demand regulator/reservoir backpack. This diving equipment was developed from the mine rescue self-contained reathing unit and originally manufactured in the early 1860’s. Surviving examples are very rare indeed, but diligent researches have located units other than those housed in the inventors home town museum, in Espalion, France.
Dutch diving historian and collector David Dekker, spends a lot of time traversing western and eastern Europe searching for equipment, and has built up a large file of personal contacts and friends. One of these friends recently opened the door for an historical adventure that ended up with David and his colleague Rob Krull recreating Rouquayrol and Denayrouze’s demand regulator equipment and a small series of functional groin snout masks. With great attention to detail, the equipment that they built was also functional and they took it diving. In this article David details highlights of his work with Rob and their adventures diving the replica equipment that they made. Presented by Jacques Michel—(Pg 16)
Rouquayrol-Denayrouze Diving Equipment Listed as a Part of the National Heritage of France presented by Leslie Leaney—(Pg 18)
International Legends of Diving Gather on Grand Bahama Island—(Pg 20)
Helmets of the Deep—Another Early Siebe Helmet is Discovered in England by Leslie Leaney—(Pg 21)
Vintage Scuba—Scuba Sport is Here to Stay A Look Back to the 1960s by Ed LaRochelle—(Pg 24)
The Submarine Lens—Kurt Schaefer, Pioneer of Underwater Film & Photography by Michael Jung—(Pg 27)
Cover Story: Treasure! by Peter Jackson—(Pg 30)
Books In Depth—Legend of the Lake reviewed by Nyle Monday—(Pg 32)
International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame—Inducts Early Scuba Diving Pioneers—(Pg 33)
Henri-Germain Delauze Collection at the Cherbourg Maritime Museum by Christopher Swann—(Pg 34)
Vintage Patents—An Early Self - Contained Diving Apparatus by James Vorosmarti, M.D.—(Pg 36)
Auction Report—Diving Helmets by Leslie Leaney—(Pg 38)
Auction Report—Scuba Equipment by Ed LaRochelle—(Pg 39)
Diving History at Long Island Maritime Museum—Janice Raber—(Pg 40)
HDS USA Quarterly Report—(Pg 41)
HDS Canada—Remembering Walter Cronkite by Dr. Joe MacInnis—(Pg 43)
In Memory—Capt. William Franklyn “Bill” Searle, JR. USN (RTD), Edwin White, Vern Pedersen, Al Warriner, Harry Ruscigno, Richard Alan Quittner, Lex Barker, Joe Strykowski, James W. Vernon, James (Jimmie) Dexter Ellis, and Carlo Traglio—(Pg 44)
Classifieds—(Pg 48)


Click here to go to our order form.

JoDH #61, Volume 17, Issue 4, Fall 2009

Santa Barbara Maritime Museum—(Pg 4)
In the Mail—(Pg 5)
In the News—(Pg 7)
FUKURYU: The Crouching Dragons of Japan by Nyle Monday
The story of Japan’s Fukuryu (“Crouching Dragons”) is one of the tales of World War II that has gone virtually unnoticed for more than half a century. In the waning days of war, Japan found itself fighting a defensive war with fewer and fewer resources. Capitalizing on the resources it did have – mainly the fierce determination of her soldiers and sailors – she began a war of attrition which she hoped would prove so costly to the Allies that they would not be able to achieve their ultimate goal, the unconditional surrender of Japan. Using the willingness of her troops to sacrifice themselves in such no-return weapons as Kamikaze aircraft and manned torpedoes, Japan embarked on a “war without mercy” on her enemies.
Now, author Nyle Monday explores the history of this fascinating band of men and the equipment and tactics they used. Using official United States Navy sources as well as newly translated material from Japan, we are given our first detailed look at the last-ditch weapon that might have met Allied troops off the beaches of Japan had the invasion of that nation become a necessity.—(Pg 9)
The DOXA Sub by Ty Alley—(Pg 19)
Books In Depth: U.S. Navy SEALs in San Diego reviewed by Nyle Monday—(Pg 21)
Helmets of the Deep: Buie Recirculator by Leslie Leaney—(Pg 22)
Vintage Scuba: Dive Watches by Ed LaRochelle—(Pg 24)
The Submarine Lens: The History of Underwater Photography and Cinematography in Italy by Sid Macken—(Pg 28)
Cover Story: Young Scientists by Peter Jackson—(Pg 31)
Art Broman, Torrance Parker, Gus Clemens and the Commercial School of Deep Sea Diving by Jim Broman—(Pg 33)
Vintage Patents: Phillip’s Diving Armor by James Vorosmarti, MD—(Pg 36)
Auction Report: Diving Helmets by Leslie Leaney—(Pg 38)
Auction Report: Scuba Equipment by Ed LaRochelle—(Pg 39)
HDS USA Quarterly Report—(Pg 40)
HDS Canada: Helmet Inventor Bob Ratcliffe Inducted into Commercial Diving Hall of Fame—(Pg 41)
In Memory: Walter “Duke” Pierce, Charlie Pierce, William “Fred” Aichele, Major A.R. “Tony” Aylmer, Kenneth W. Wallace, Cyril J. Tuckfield and Wilbur J. “Jerry” O’Neill—(Pg 42)
Classifieds—(Pg 44)

Click here to go to our order form.

 

 

 

 

We appreciate the support
of the industry leaders
who sponsor us!