Diving Pioneer Award

The Award recognizes the career achievements of individuals for their life-long contributions to the field of diving and underwater arts, science, and technology.

Recipients

• 2025: Hermann Stelzner, Germany
• 2025: Sir Robert H. Davis, England
• 2024: Commandant Yves Le Prieur, France
• 2024: George D. Stillson, USN, USA
• 2023: Egidio and Nanni Cressi, Italy
• 2023: Mike Pelissier and Jerry Peck, USA
• 2022: Sheck Exley, USA
• 2022: Edwin Link, USA
• 2021: CAPT (ret) Frank Butler, M.D., USA
• 2021: Ian Koblick, USA
• 2020: Guy Gilpatric, USA
• 2020: Founders of Oceaneering, USA/Canada: Lad Handelman, Gene Handelman, Mike Hughes, Johnny Johnson, Kevin Lengyel, Phil Nuytten, Bob Ratcliffe
• 2019: Dottie Frazier, USA
• 2019: Al Warriner, USA
• 2018: Jim Gatacre, USA
• 2018: Mark Banjavich, USA
• 2017: Georges Beuchat, France
• 2017: Charles Isbell, USA
• 2016: Jack Lavanchy, Switzerland
• 2016: George Wiswell, USA
• 2015: Dr. Eugenie Clark, USA
• 2015: Bob Kirby, USA
• 2014: Dewey Bergman and Carl Roessler, USA
• 2014: Alan Krasberg and Jenny O’Neil, USA
• 2013: Captain F. Bond, USN, USA
• 2013: Nick Icorn, USA
• 2012: Torrance Parker, USA
• 2012: Leonard Greenstone, USA
• 2011: Bob Hollis, USA
• 2010: Hugh “Dan” Wilson, USA
• 2010: Stanton Waterman, USA
• 2009: Dick Bonin, USA
• 2008: Bob Barth, USA
• 2007: Dr. Sylvia Earle, USA
• 2006: George Fletcher Bass, Ph.D., USA
• 2005: Bev Morgan, USA
• 2004: Henri Delauze, France
• 2003: Lad Handelman, USA
• 2002: Andreas Rechnitzer, Ph.D., USA
• 2001. Prof. Luigi Ferraro, Italy
• 2000: Dr. Christian J. Lambertsem, USA
• 1999: Andre Galerne, France
• 1998: Captain Philippe Tailliez, France
• 1997: Jacques Yves-Cousteau, France
• 1997: Ellis Royal Cross, USA
• 1997: Prof. Hand Hass and Lotte Hass, Austria