@abnfrog
"SAM is the best source of FIRST hand diving history bar none we are VERY lucky to have him on this site "
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Appreciate you comment and complement-- interesting not a pep from the op
@urmaddad
Dive history -- or any history -- should be documented - possibly the poorest documented history is the very short history of recreational diving.
Some will say recreational diving began with Gilpatric in 1938- others much earlier- in the 1920s with Sturgil or the 1930s with the Bottom Scratchers-but the majority popped up after WW11. The first generation of Sturgils and Bottom Scratchers (See Jim Stewart - the last Bottom Scratcher ) have departed for the big reef in the sky, now the second generation is aging an rapidly dwindling in numbers
Last week I had lunch and a long visit with Barbara Allen. Who is Barbara ? She is the second oldest female dive instructor in the world,
FYI
When the first UW instructor program The LA Co UW Instructor Program was established in 1954 it was a very involved and difficult program -- and still is-many apply -some are selected - only a very few pass
Dottie Frazier came along in 1955 and became the worlds first female Certified UW instructor (she 96 ! )
1956 Barbara Allen - worlds second female Certified UW instructor (82- travels the world)
1957 Azalea Bevins -- better known as Zale Parry- worlds third Certified UW instructor -( 86 DEMA)
1960 Lyn Chase - worlds fourth female UW instructor -- (88 sad --has Alzheimer's )
Now you know a little more history of female UW instruction
Stay warm way up there in the frozen north
Sam Miller, 111
LA Co UW Instructor #11
NAUI Instructor # A 27
PADI Instructor # 241
@Akimbo
