George Purifoy

[JayJudge]

I got a call last night from a captain, stating George Purifoy had passed away. From what I was told, he was operating the Olympus when it happened. I have no details more than that, and I waited for it to be confirmed on NCdivers. I am sure thousands of you have dove with George, the wreck diving community has lost one of the great hunters. Some of us have lost a friend, mentor, idol, you name it. We will miss him dearly, our condolences go out to his family.
-J

[Saturation]

I'm sorry to hear this. I knew George and his son Bobby, and have dove with his operation many times. My condolences to the Purifoys.

NCDivers.com • View topic - Tragedy in Morehead today. (http://www.ncdivers.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=6267&p=84550&hilit=purifoy#p84550)

Olympus is one of the best dive operations I've been with.

One rare event in 2007 was a whale shark came to us at the Papoose, or Hutton, diving off the Midnight Express. I reported it to the UNC Shark authority Dr. Frank Schwartz; its one of 5 or 6 seen in the last 100 years. I am the diver in the upper left.

More photos are the Olympus site:

http://www.olympusdiving.com/PhotoGallery/tabid/56/Default.aspx

Seeing the photos is, IMHO, a good way to remember how George lived and the industry he helped create in NC. There are a number of plaques regarding his operation in the NC Aquarium in Morehead City.

[PhilEllis]

What a loss to the dive community. George was a first class guy, a real diver, and has contributed greatly to wreck diving in the Atlantic. When you dive a North Carolina wreck in the future, it is very possible that George made it possible for you to identify the wreck. He certainly did much to move the names correctly over the "wreck site" previously identified by the Navy after WWII.

To his family, please accept our sympathy and we hope they have good days ahead.

Phil Ellis

[jscott099]

I'm so stunned. Things can happen so unexpectedly in this world. The Carteret County News-Times says that he had a heart attack Sunday evening while on board the boat.

[SelkieDVM]

Sincerest condolences to the family and friends of this legend of North Carolina diving. A tragedy indeed.

Carteret County News-Times > News-times > News > Community loses diving legend (http://carteretnewstimes.com/articles/2008/09/15/news-times/news/doc48ce7a44cb398999817855.txt)

[Bill Fisher]

George Purifoy was one of the nicest divers I've ever met. If you'd take the time, he would love to talk to the divers that came to his shop or on his boats.
He will definitely be missed...

[fireflock]

Carteret County News-Times > News-times > News > Community loses diving legend (http://www.carteretnewstimes.com/articles/2008/09/15/news-times/news/doc48ce7a44cb398999817855.txt)

[Teamcasa]

moved to passings...

[DeepSeaGoddess]

I've been in shock all morning long over this. I have dove with them for the past 9 years and just can't get over it. It is a horrible tragedy. Deepest sympathies to the family and Olympus crew. From the Olympus website, I saw this message:

George G. Purifoy 1/08/1945 - 9/14/2008
The Olympus Family would like to thank everyone for their support and sympathy in our difficult time. The Purifoy family has established a fund through DAN in memory of George Purifoy and his passion for diving. You can call 1-800-446-2671 ext 9445 to make a donation in lieu of flowers in support of the family.
Service Information is sitll pending.

[Steve, SDI/TDI HQ]

Very sad to hear this. George was a great guy and always ran a tight operation. NC diving will simply not be quite the same without him as part of it. All my best to his family and friends and hoping that the shock will soon pass.

[atxdiver]

One of the best parts of an outstanding dive trip with them last year was getting to the boat way before everyone else and just having a chance to visit, listen and learn. Great operation and nice guy. Thanks George, for making diving better for a lot of folks.

[MEDTEAM6]

I've been upset all morning over hearing news of his passing.

I had called the shop to schedule some diving next week and got the news.

I read about george in magazines and articles about the U-352 long before I did my first week of diving with Olympus 14-17 July This year.

Needless to say as a diver I looked up to Him.

In person words cannot describe the mans charm personality and character.

I took some footage of George 15 July 2008 while doing my first dive on the U-352.

while I was going down the line he was on his way up.

Old school dive mask - Crowbar and goody Bag in his hand. I thought to myself.

I have to get this on tape because I am diving with a Legend.

My heart Goes out to Bobby and his family.

Captain Purifoy you will be deeply missed.

Chief Brian Hilt HMC (FMF) US Navy Active

[scubapolly]

I was said to hear about his. Probably really hit until my next trip on the Olympus when someone is sitting in the captains chair.

[DST]

Wow...sincerest condolences to Bobby, and the entire Olympus family. We were just remarking yesterday that George, Bobby and Olympus were really the "gold standard" when it came to dive operations, only to hear this sad news today. Our thoughts and prayers go out for those left behind.

[MEDTEAM6]

I've been upset all morning over hearing news of his passing.

I had called the shop to schedule some diving next week and got the news.

I read about george in magazines and articles about the U-352 long before I did my first week of diving with Olympus 14-17 July This year.

Needless to say as a diver I looked up to Him.

In person words cannot describe the mans charm personality and character.

I took some footage of George 15 July 2008 while doing my first dive on the U-352.

while I was going down the line he was on his way up.

Old school dive mask - Crowbar and goody Bag in his hand. I thought to myself.

I have to get this on tape because I am diving with a Legend.

My heart Goes out to Bobby and his family.

Captain Purifoy you will be deeply missed.

Chief Brian Hilt HMC (FMF) US Navy Active

[jamiep3]

I never felt like a "customer" on George's boat (or Bobby's either), always like somebody who was a guest for the day.

He will be missed.

[Moby Dick]

A sad day indeed. He is a legend. Always a smile and willing to talk. My heart and prayers go out to the Olympus family. Bobby not only lost his father but a close friend.
George will be dearly missed. The only silver lining in Georges passing is that he died doing something he loved so much, helping other people.
Rest In Peace George.

[charlie123]

To the Purifoy family my prayers are with yours.I am so blessed to have knowned George.

[plot]

My first wreck dive in the ocean was off of George's boat just last year... my most recent dive was off of George's boat just two weeks ago. His passion for it is one of the reasons I've been hooked ever since.

When that man splashed with his crowbar... it was magical.

[JayJudge]

George was always great to us (Atlantic Beach Diving). When we were going to the same wreck, he'd offer us first choice on where to hook, give us dive reports, and just general support. He boosted our confidence when we needed it, and gave advice when asked. Anyone who dives the coast is indebted to George for either locating or identifying the wrecks. Our deepest condolences to his family, crew, and friends.
-J

[Walt Stearns]

I just spoke to Nima at the shop this morning and was told the basic details about George’s passing

Although my experiences with Olympus Dive Center only goes back a few years, I am still in shock over this. I will miss those conversations on finding the wrecks they visit and his continued enthusiasm for diving them. His presence will be deeply missed.

Olympus Dive Center (http://www.olympusdiving.com) has posted a photo tribute on their website.

Also, instead of sending flowers, the Purifoy family as set fund through DAN. To contribute, 1-800-446-26
71, press 9 then ex 445

Walt Stearns
Editor-in-Chief
Underwaterjournal (http://www.underwaterjournal.com)

[Carolina_Mike]

George was a great leader, mentor and friend. Whether you ever dove off the Olympus or not, George's reach touched every diver in North Carolina and beyond, and instilled in many of us our passion for the wrecks off Morehead City and their history. I thank the lucky stars that I met George over 30 years ago and had the opportunity to spend 3 of the last 4 weekends with him on ther Olympus. My thoughts and prayers are with Bobby, his family and the entire Olympus crew.

George - you will be missed and always remembered.

[ScubaRich]

A sad time for the diving community indeed. You will be missed George! And best wishes and prayers for the Purifoy and Olympus family.

[pir8]

Sadness

[JimmyC]

I am saddened and stunned to lose a friend and fellow diver and mentor. I will miss talking to George in the shop or on the dock. My prayers and condolences go out to his family.

[antonioe]

Unbelievable; two months ago I didn't know who George Purifoy was; I made the very first dive in my life on August 8, and on Sunday, September 15 I was on the Midnight Express for my first ever boat dive; Bobby Purifoy was the skipper. During the surface interval he told me the complete story of his father, U-352 and Loran C. Around 3 pm we returned to the dock, said goodbye and left for the drive back to Washington, D.C. Monday night I went back to the Olympus website to confirm the name of one of the wrecks we dove, and... wow! He really must have been an outstanding individual.

[SelkieDVM]

I just saw over on TDS that George's last dive was on the U-352. How very fitting.

:depressed:

[RiverRat]

Wow........condolences to the Purifoy family. I dove with George and crew maybe 3 or 4 years ago. It was a tough time weather wise and we had to dodge storms due to a few hurricanes passing up the coast at the time. Due to his fantastic navigational skills and determination we got to dive 2 out of the 4 days of our trip. My tank took a dive to the deck on the rough ride out, bent my reg yoke and he was kind enough to tear down his own reg so I could salvage a dive. He really went the extra mile for us all on that trip. I also remember him jumping in with his doubles and a crow bar and coming back on deck with a guage or something. I was still a faily new diver at the time and was like "wow this guy is hardcore!". I'm glad I got to meet him and dive the wrecks with him and his crew.

God Bless

[crum]

Wow this is sad news and unexpected. It has been a couple years since I have dove with Olympus, but I used to go out with them about 4 times a year. I remember doing lobster dives with George and him giving me some tips on catching the bugs. I remember one trip in particular when about 10 of us went down and nobody got a bug, then after all the passengers were on board George dove in and came up with 2.. he was such an amazing diver and a great person. We will miss you.

[SDE Dennis]

Some of my memories with George over the years.

The ocean was really bad and he asked if we still wanted to go out, we said yes. Most of the divers were losing their lunch, half went in on the first dive. There were large sharks every where, the next dive most divers went in and no sharks.

After two good dives I had two nice grouper and a couple flounder. George came up with more and larger fish in one dive, and he went in after everyone was done diving.

Being on the bridge and listening to his stories about the best dives of the year, and stories of how he found the U352 and kept it secret from other dive operators for awhile.

What I'll miss

Talking, learning, sharing, and seeing him.

Knowing him has enriched my life!

Dennis Kaleta

[rawls]

George's funeral service was today and what a wonderful send off for him. Family and friends as well as all of those people who worked so hard and diligently with George through the years to make Olympus Diving the first class diving operation it has been and will continue to be, gathered to pay tribute to a great man. After the service there was a gathering at Olympus which was a service in and of itself...A service for a man who gave his utmost dedication of service to the dive community...to us...for so many years.

May you have fair winds and following seas George Purifoy...

http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii201/rjr63059/George20in20water20edited.jpg

[Tanked2.0]

My thoughts, and prayers are with George's family, and fellow divers. He made every one of my trips to North Carolina an unforgettable experience. He will be missed.

[divenutny]

Very sad news. George is an outstanding person. He will be sorely missed. Always a smile, always approachable. Thanks to George, Morehead is a "Must See" place to dive. My thoughts and prayers to his family and friends.

[BUGBAGGER]

I've been struggling with what to post since I learned last night that George died. Simply enough I'll send my deepest sympathy to Bobby and the rest of George's friends and family, they are many. Though I I can't say I knew George well, I held George as one of the legends that inspired me to follow diving as my passion. My experiences in Moorehead with Olympus were some of the most exhilerating and grounding dives in my repetoire. George, Bobby, Linda, and in the years I was there, Brad, Don, Natalie and many others of the Olympus family taught me invaluable lessens and never ending curiosity. George you touched yesterday, today, and will forever be a part of tomorrow.

[Diversauras]

I am still reeling from the untimely and unexpected loss of my good friend George Purifoy of Olympus Diving in Morehead City. To most people George was a diver and explorer and there were thousands if not tens of thousands of divers that had met him on one of his dive boats. To me and perhaps those that knew him a bit he was a lot more.

As a human being he was unquestionably a good man. He routinely went out of his way to help others and even when others might not be aware of his watchful eye it was paying attention to them and their safety.

As a business owner he had insight into what the industry needed even if the industry was not yet aware of it, and for the day to day operation of his diving business he relied heavily on his son Robert Purifoy who was always his closest confidant and best friend.

George was not someone that would typically surface amongst the ranks of the technical specialists at DAN as he was neither doctor nor lawyer, though in the Sport Scuba Diving industry he was and is a driving force. What George gave us was more subtle than an article or manual or check list of how to do some part of the diving business, George led by example. He made the developmental mistakes associated with all advancements and demonstrated the results for all to see. And his results were tested daily, year after year, on Olympus’ dive boats in what is arguably one of diving’s toughest environments. Whether George invented something or just refined it did not seem to matter; he was looking for results and not recognition.

George had 7000 plus dives yet was never a victim of DCS, and in the 20 years that I knew him I cannot think of a single incident that happened to him while in the water. His knowledge of diving, both the physics and the equipment angles, was intuitive, and I dare say that dozens of divers are here today and still diving because of his uncanny ability to spot problems in advance.

George’s internal fire drove him to search out many of the wreck that are now dived along the North Carolina Coast. Where once there was no common knowledge of the bounty that lay on the sea floor there is now “World Class” wreck-diving. George didn’t invent diving or dive boats but he made them both accessible to many that would not have had the opportunity otherwise.

I’ll miss you old friend.

Greg

[kratzdiver]

George was awesome!! I have been on chartres with them for 4 or 5 years. it's was a sad day for Diving, and diving history... Maybe where he is now he can look down and see all of the wrecks he has been searching for.. RIP..

[kmitch]

We've added a guestbook to our site to help collect memories of George. Please take a moment and share your fond memories of George with the Olympus and Purifoy family.
Memories of George (http://www.olympusdiving.com/Home/AboutOlympus/RememberingGeorgePurifoy/MemoriesofGeorge/tabid/144/Default.aspx)

Thanks,
The Staff and Crew of Olympus Dive Center