Who is the oldest active diver on SCUBA BOARD?

[Osvidar]

Way to go Mom!

 

[davdiver1]

At 66 still active, remember the days of Lloyd Bridges and have dove with National Geographic - see my name in July 70 issue re White Mist Cruise looking for Revolutionary wrecks in Lake Champlain - have dove Maine, Carolina, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Texas, Bonaire, Costa Rica, Bahamas etc - trying to sell some of my U/w photos- need to get wet -PADI OWSI #451 usually dive with son but he is tied up with new job- so have to take a trip with group - next is Cayman in April.

 

[Sam Miller III]

I am one who on occasion drops in on The SCUBA board but seldom venture past the OC section where I can keep up on the exciting bubble blowing adventures of those who frequent the Catalina dive park or fearlessly travel into Tijuana.

Yesterday I did some surfing and I was surprised to see my name associated with this thread.

Perhaps a certain amount of clarification and explanation is in order less the rumors run rampant.......

The Sea Hunt threads are a nostalgia trip for me. I watched it religiously in high school (1964 grad).
At 61 I doubt I'm the old man of the sea but it'd be interesting to see who is out there.
Are you more ancient than me?
An LA County Instructor, I am a graduate of LA County 20 UICC.

*** The 20th UICC (Underwater Instruction Certification Course- The term SCUBA was not in common usage; Instructors were certified rather than licensed -- now you know) UICC was under the direction of Dr Glen Egstrom with Tom Ebro as the LA Co Lasion and Bill Mc Donald as the UW specialist. . I am still in frequent contact with Glen, Tom and Bill.

The teams were established by districts within the sphere of LA county influence, Ventura, LA & OC, and under the direct supervision of a "Dive Master" ( now you know where the term originated - LA County)

I was the Dive Master of the wild and woolly yet very conservative Orange County section during that UICC. Sorry Osvidar but I do not recall you- too many years.

A note to all you late model tube sucking bubble blowers:...During the time fame Osvidar became certified as an instructor very few options were available to would be instructors. The very prestigious and unbelievably demanding LA County Under water Instructors Certification Course. (UICC) was and still is the choice of those who demand the best . It is three totally committed months of a combination of USMC boot camp, doctorate level studies in oceanography, physiology, medicine and physics of diving, Olympic swimming and SEAL level scuba diving, topped by a by a graduate level defended research dissertation. Since the rigorous entrance requirements were a challenge and acceptance rate was low only the creme of the creme of the applicants were accepted. Since the course drop out rate was high Osivdar is to be commended for his accomplishment and dedication to recreational diving

Is Zale Parry a member here? I'd be surprised if Sam doesn't still dive.

*** Zale is not a member. She has some health concerns and received a special permit from her doctor to make a brief public relations dive at Portage Quarry's "Legends of diving" week end several years ago.

Rest assured that I still dive,but not as often or as deep as I once did

I don't know, but Sam Miller is one candidate.

*** Thank you
Walter you and I go way back - long before this board..appreciate your continued friendship and comments.

I don't think Sam still actually dives though

*** I don't know this person-never met her. I do recall two contacts 1) I had a brief contact with her when I was looking for some one from our mutual home state of Indiana to write an article about --I was only born in Indiana to be near my mother for I am a true Californian. 2) Posted information on diving between San Francisco and Los Angles for her which she did not acknowledge---So I question the basis of her comment--

I would question when SCUBA Jennifer has the time to dive since she has made 10, 387 posts for an average of 7.85 posts per day! Wow!

64 and counting

*** One of my dear friends whom I have known, admired and above all respected for a long time. (except when LSU plays USC) It is devastating to me to realize that I began diving (goggling) 2 years prior to the Captain's birth

yeah... I don't know that Sam actually dives... or just reminisces about it

*** I have no idea who this gentleman is- never met him since he lives in the South East US-- certainly not one of my vacation destinations and a long way from California therefore we will probably never meet . As with many on this board Mike speaks with great authority about a subject which has absolutely no knowledge

I think Sam still dives with his son.

*** By gum! Bingo! Surprised that you knew since I am not a social diver who frequents the Catalina dive park

Ron Merker, who was your basic instructor,also trained Dr. Sam IV about a year before you took up diving .

Dr Sam IV is a ER & Hyperbaric qualified doctor as well as NAUI (life) and PADI instructor, a Pro 5000 diver, and has been one of my diving buddies for 40 years. When he was a small lad I and assisted him, now I am in my dotage and he helps me. I some how fell very secure diving with him.

Most often I free dive/spear fish way down in Baja- 600 miles below Tijuana- for fish and other sea food with my wife, a diver of 40 plus years. One would assume that spear fishing is a component of diving, since spear fishing is the way recreational diving began. I don't recall seeing any of you in Baja.

So Yes I do still dive and FYI I am approaching 80

FYI-- a little about me..

I began my career in 1943 as a result of a very serious eye infection contracted by swimming almost daily in a poorly chlorinated YMCA pool --I became a "Goggler."

In 1948 read the "Last of the men fish" (--or was it the First of the men fish?) by James Dougan--still have the torn copy, same year tried to make a diving unit...a few years later made a re breather-- both worked but very dangerous.

By 1950 I had aquired a set of Churchills and a Sea Net

First SCUBA dive May 31 1950 or 1951- can't pin the date down.

Pioneer diving instructor...2 digits in LA county & NAUI and equally low numbers in the rest of the instructional alphabet

Featured in a number of diving books, authored and published diving articles in national and international periodicals , including the first guest editor of Skin Diver Magazine- almost 50 years ago.

Numerous local, national and a few international awards and honors.

For additional information please consult my SCUBA board profile or check Scuba Diving and Recreation Center in Northwest Ohio - Portage Quarry "Legends of Diving"

Thank You
dr sam,111

 

[Rick Inman]

Thank you, Sir, for the post and the clarification.

I would question when SCUBA Jennifer has the time to dive since she has made 10, 387 posts for an average of 7.85 posts per day! Wow!

 

[Teamcasa]

I am one who on occasion drops in on The SCUBA board but seldom venture past the OC section where I can keep up on the exciting bubble blowing adventures of those who frequent the Catalina dive park or fearlessly travel into Tijuana.
<snip>
So Yes I do still dive and FYI I am approaching 80
Thank You
dr sam,111

Good to know Sam, thanks for checking in on us! We (most of us anyway) are all approaching 80, some of us are just closer to that magic number, some of us may never make it and some will go past it and still dive!

I always enjoy your posts Sam, thank you!

 

[Sam Miller III]

Dave

I miss those golden days of yesteryear when we often did verbal battle with no winners and no losers-but had fun!--and concurrently thrilled a portion of the readers and bored a portion of the readers --

Recalling a phrase from one of my long forgotten articles
"Them wz th Daz!"

Maybe some day we will both be honored to meet up close and personal,

sdm

 

[SCUBAJENNIFER]

*** I don't know this person-never met her. I do recall two contacts 1) I had a brief contact with her when I was looking for some one from our mutual home state of Indiana to write an article about --I was only born in Indiana to be near my mother for I am a true Californian. 2) Posted information on diving between San Francisco and Los Angles for her which she did not acknowledge---So I question the basis of her comment--

Oh my...no disrespect intended Mr. Miller...I wasn't stating anything as fact by any means. I just didn't think that you did by a some things that I read in the past. I'm very glad to hear that you still do!!

I would question when SCUBA Jennifer has the time to dive since she has made 10, 387 posts for an average of 7.85 posts per day! Wow!

LOL...Man, I think that's going to leave a mark!! Most of those post are VERY old...New job, less vacation time, and a few other things occupy my time these days.

Thanks for setting us all straight!!

 

[SCUBAJENNIFER]

Thank you, Sir, for the post and the clarification.

You hush!! :mooner:

 

[Sam Miller III]

"SCUBA JENNIFER

Oh my...no disrespect intended Mr. Miller...I wasn't stating anything as fact by any means. I just didn't think that you did by a some things that I read in the past. I'm very glad to hear that you still do!! "

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I did not consider it disrespect, rather uninformed...and a uninformed person can often make statements that are repeated and unfortunately often unintentionally magnified with every repetition. I would like to direct you attention to my profile or Scuba Diving and Recreation Center in Northwest Ohio - Portage Quarry for additional information about me.

Regarding uninformed; my respectful title is "Doctor." However you will note I seldom use the title on this or any board, since boards should be a level playing fields with out titles or class distinctions. To use the title "Doctor" is rather vain; but on occasion I do use the title as I have with the original post and for you on this submission.

Please bear in mind that the title of Doctor in the basic sense represents "one who is well learned." It does also identify one who was blessed with a certain amount of grey matter and a tenacity to absorb through the cranium as much as the bottom can endure and of course the finances will allow, Nothing less- nothing more.

< I suspect we will be friends until Jefferson beats Reitz in football-that will never happen! >

dr sam

 

[drbill]

My original title of "Doctor" was conferred on me by members of the boat tour and fishing community who appreciated my sharing of knowledge about the marine world with them back in the early 80's. A decade later I decided I should return to grad school and get my doctorate so the title was appropriate. I must admit that I value the first "docorate" even more than the second!