LA Co Underwater Instructor Certification Course

The Los Angeles County's 52nd Underwater Instructor Certification Course Graduation Banquet was held 2 April at The Los Angeles Athletic Club to acknowledge the hard work put forth by both candidates and staff during this years program. Over the course of this years 14-week program, these candidates spent hundreds of hours in pool, lecture, and ocean time, not to mention additional hours preparing their own lectures and academic paperwork. It's no small accomplishment as more than a few of you know from firsthand experience. I just wanted to take a moment of your time to acknowledge and introduce to you the graduates of 52 UICC:

Robert Atchinson
Louis Emile
Dave Harper
Salim Jordan
Rebekah Mills
James Reinheimer
Shannon Sullivan
Tom Weber

The following awards were also announced:

UICC Awards:
Outstanding Watermanship: James Reinheimer
Outstanding Academics: Tom Weber
Outstanding Graduate: Dave Harper

LA County Underwater Instructors Association Awards:
Education Award: Paul Meister
Golden Snorkel: Kevin Liu
Presidents Award: Jim McMicken
Safety Award: Ken Kurtis and Billy Wright
Outstanding Instructor: Tim Tarry

LA County Department of Parks and Recreation Awards
Bill Lidyoff and Pat Burke

For any of you former UICC graduates who would like to help out with future programs or just support the program in general, go to lascuba.com. The Advanced Diver Program starts in early July.

Congratulations to the new LA County Instructors!

This is an excellent certifying and teaching organization and in my opinion one of the best places to learn to dive.

Although I was certified in 1979 though NAUI, I went through an excellent course at Cal State Northridge with Dick Stride (UICC #17) in 1985. The reputation of the program was what drew me to it and I have to say that I consider it the best investment in diving I've ever made.

I understand that the bar remains high for anyone wanting to become an LA County Instructor. You all deserve our respect and acknowledgement for passing what I've been told is quite a rigorous program for instructors.

Christian