Members of the Women Divers Hall of Fame

Do you know a woman you believe belongs on this list? It's time to start thinking of nominations for 2003! Use our nomination form.

Danielle Alary

Danielle was certified in 1982. She is an award-winning speaker, writer, photographer and multimedia producer. Danielle is currently an underwater photography columnists for Diver magazine. She has co-authored more than 450 articles. Danielle was the recipient of the Diver of the Year Award for the Arts at Beneath the Sea (in 1995) and has also won the coveted Silver Diver Award at the Antibes World Festival of Underwater Images (in 1997). In addition she chaired the photo jury at the 2000 edition of that prestigious event.

Susan Bangasser, Ph.D.

Susan investigated and wrote articles on the physiological aspects of women divers during the late '70s and '80s. She co-authored Women Underwater, the first book about women and diving. Her interest in safe diving for women resulted in surveys of divers and promotion of investigation of controversial issues of diving during pregnancy and susceptibility to decompression sickness. Susan also established a support hotline to help resolve issues and concerns for women divers.

Monique J Bellefeuille

Monique started diving in 1982 (PADI). She is co-founder of the Ottawa chapter of Save Ontario Shipwrecks and is an active speaker at many US and Canadian scuba shows. Monique has donated thousand of hours to marine archeology research and studies. She has had hundreds of articles published in both Canada and the USA (in French and English). She is founder of several non-profit photo contests. She states "I want to take commercialism out of contests; it is art, ecology, preservation and sharing with others the love of the sea and its inhabitants."

Janet Bieser

Janet was first certified in 1977. She is a SSI Platinum Pro 5000 diver and is certified as a PADI divemaster (1000 logged dives), an IANTD nitrox diver and an NSS-CDS Apprentice Cave Diver. In 1981 Janet was the first woman to dive the Republic and the second to dive theAndrea Doria. She is an experienced trimix diver, avid spearfishermen, heavy salvage diver, and holds a 100-ton Master Captain's license. She captains theR/V Wahoo and manages Custom Breathing Media in Rocky Point, NY.

Commander Debra Bodenstedt

Deb has been a United States Navy diving and salvage officer since 1983. She's been a commanding officer of a diving unit responsible for underwater ship repair and a diver during the salvage of the space shuttle Challenger. Deb also was the first woman to qualify as a submarine rescue chamber operator and the director of the Atlantic Fleet Diving School. She has dived on the historic USS Monitor at a depth of 240 feet and is a qualified scuba and surface-supplied mixed-gas diver.

Rena M. Bonem, Ph.D.

Rena is a professor of geology and biology at Baylor University. Her research centers on the development, human impact, and recovery of living coral reefs. Rena's diving activities began with certification in 1971, and in 1975 she became an instructor for YMCA and PADI. She chaired the YMCA Coral Reef Specialty in 1977 and has been a member of their National Advisory Committee since 1989. Rena is a fellow of the Geological Society of America and the American Association for the Advancement of Science and a life member of the American Academy of Underwater Sciences.

Mary J. Bonnin

Mary's diving career has spanned 24 years and she currently holds the position of Master Chief Petty Officer in the US Navy. After graduating at the top of her class (in both air and mixed gas diving), she went on to become the only woman in the US Navy to qualify as Master Diver. Mary has trained over 1,000 military divers and worked in ships' husbandry, salvage and rescue. During her last tour she served as the leading naval diving safety authority. The Naval Undersea Museum in Keyport, Washington has dedicated their meeting room as the Mary Bonnin room.

Dr. Jolie Bookspan

Jana Bradley

Jana was certified in 1978 and became a member of the Underwater Society of America and the Midwest Diving Council that same year. She has held offices for a total of 52 different terms on the local, regional and national level. Jana chaired the Freediving/Scuba Nationals in 1990 and published the 40-year history of the MDC in 1999. She is a scuba skills competitor, boat driver for spearfishing competitors and her honors include the MDC Diver of the Year and President's Award.

Tamara Brown

Tamara began her diving career in 1982. She learned the trade of commercial diving and in 1987 she took over her father's operation of Divers Academy of the Eastern Seaboard, Inc. (Camden, NJ). Tamara is certified in underwater bridge inspections, ROV operations, non-destructive testing and underwater welding. She is an advocate for commercial diving safety and has assisted writing training standards for such. She is past President of the Association of Commercial Diving Educators.

Bonnie J. Cardone

Bonnie was certified in 1973. She wrote over 900 articles and published thousands of photos during her 23-year tenure at Skin Diver Magazine. For 7 years Bonnie has written about women diving pioneers for the Historical Diving Society's magazine. She is co-author of Shipwrecks of Southern California and Fireside Diver and is still an active writer/editor for many periodicals. She is the recipient the WSA's Women Diver of the Year Award and the St. Brendan Corp.'s California Scuba Service Award.

Toni L. Carrell

Toni is an underwater archaeologist who has worked on sites from the Great Lakes to the Western Pacific and from World War II to early man. She served as the first woman regional dive officer for the National Park Service and worked with US Navy MDSU divers directing the first archaeological documentation of shipwreck sites in Palau. In 1993 Toni assumed the highest elected position in her field, chair of the Advisory Council on Underwater Archaeology. Recently she directed the excavation of a ship lost by the explorer La Salle in Texas.

Jennifer Carter

Jennifer is the first woman to dive theTitanic and to achieve record-breaking height (skydiving from 12,500 feet) and depth (diving to 12,500 feet). She authored the book Titanic Adventure, produced National Geographic's The Sharks,The Great Whales (Emmy Award-1978) and IMAX films Across the Sea of Time, Titanica and Mark Twain's America. Jennifer has done saturation hard-hat diving and has scuba-dived worldwide, including in the search for the legendary monster of Loch Ness.

Cathryn Castle

Cathryn was certified in 1983. She holds instructor ratings from NAUI, PADI, SDI/TDI and DAN. Cathryn has a USCG 100-ton master captain's license and is medically qualified as an EMT and hyperbaric chamber tender. Her occupations have included co-owner of Dive In (St. Thomas), scuba instructor, boat captain, yacht crewmember, EMT, photojournalist, sales associate for Uwatec USA, and underwater model. Since 1997 Cathryn has held the position of editor at Dive Training Magazine. In addition, she owns Good Fortune Farms in Oregon where she raises alpacas.

Cathy Church

Cathy has been writing about and teaching underwater photography since 1967. She has an MS degree in marine zoology from the University of Hawaii and received the NOGI award in 1987 (arts) and the DEMA Reaching Out Award in 2000. Cathy's weeklong super courses are offered each summer since 1972, and several times a year she runs underwater photo tours to the South Pacific with her husband Herb Rafael. She has inspired more students to take better pictures than any other teacher in the world.

Dr. Eugenie Clark

Eugenie is an ichthyologist with a special interest in sharks. She has served at great institutions such as Scripps Institution of Oceanography, the New York Zoological Society, the American Museum of Natural History, and the Mote Marine Laboratory. Eugenie has authored three books and over 160 scientific papers, holds three honorary degrees, and has received awards from National Geographic, the Explorers Club and the Underwater Society of America. She is a Senior Research Scientist at the University of Maryland.

Cecelia A. Connelly

Cecelia (mother of 10) was certified in 1972, became an instructor in 1976 and is currently YMCA's oldest active female instructor. She's a Gold Star instructor who has trained over 500 student and logged over 1000 hours underwater on 2000+ dives. Her most memorable accomplishments include diving the Andrea Doria, testifying at Gentile vs. NOAA USS Monitor hearings, working with the Atlantic Alliance (Cross Creek, NJ), doing underwater archaeological work in Caesarea, Israel, and helping recover the only intact canal barge in the US.

Cindi Courter

A diver for nearly 20 years, Cindi was the second woman SSI Instructor Trainer worldwide and one of the first 100 Instructor Evaluator/Master Instructors. She's taught hundreds of young people to dive and educated groups on diving and the underwater environment. Since 1991, she has been the Director of Sponsorship and Development for Divers Alert Network. Cindi is an accomplished underwater photographer with a BFA from Maryland Institute and a Masters from Duke University.

Cathie Cush

Cathie has been scuba diving and sharing her experiences with readers since 1981. Her articles on shipwrecks, scuba diving and ocean-related issues have appeared in Sports Illustrated, Outside, Caribbean Travel & Life, N.J. Monthly, NY Outdoors, Underwater USA, and numerous other publications. She is the author ofShipwrecks. Cathie was certified as a scuba instructor in 1986. She has participated in expeditions to the wrecks of theAndrea Doria and the USS Monitor.

Helen T. Davis

Helen established Medical Seminars, Inc. over 22 years ago to meet the need for physicians to be educated in diving medicine. Because of her efforts there are now more than 5,000 physicians trained to provide medical advice and treatment of diving accidents. Helen has received a NOGI Award for Education and an Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society Award in Education. She continues to enjoy scuba diving in addition to providing seminars for physicians of all specialties.

Sue Drafahl

Sue is a professional undersea journalist, lecturer and audiovisual producer. She has co-authored over 500 articles that have been featured in numerous dive publications, wildlife/nature publications and photographic publications. Sue has produced DEMA's Reaching Out Awards Program for 10 years and has participated in film festivals from coast to coast. She is the recipient of the Beneath the Sea Diver of the Year (1996) and a Platinum Pro 5000 Diver with over 25 years of diving experience.

Evelyn Bartram Dudas

Since 1961 Evelyn has been diving the wrecks off the East Coast. She was the first woman to dive the Andrea Doria, one of the first women to use mixed gasses in diving, and also launched her own custom wet suit company when none could be found commercially. After the untimely death of her husband in 1982 she continued to expand Dudas' Diving Duds into a full service dive facility and raise 4 children on her own. She is an active wreck and cave diver who continues to instruct to this day.

Dr. Sylvia Earle

Sylvia is a marine biologist, lecturer, consultant, author (including Sea Change & Wild Deep), former Chief Scientist at NOAA, and founder and chairman of Deep Ocean Exploration & Research. She led the first team of women aquanauts in 1970 and holds the record for solo diving to 1,000 meters. She is presently National Geographic's Explorer in Residence and leader of the Sustainable Sea Expeditions. Sylvia serves on various BODs and holds innumerable degrees, honors and awards.

Mary Ellen Eckhoff

Mary Ellen's twenty-four year diving career focused on education and cave exploration. She was heavily involved in cave exploration throughout Florida, and joined cave exploration teams in Mexico, Lanzarote, Belize, Turks and Caicos Islands, and other states. She taught NSS-CDS cavern and cave diving courses in Florida. She is a Fellow of the National Speleological Society. Mary Ellen's professional interests include Learning Disabilities, Adult Education and Literacy.

Mary Jo Ferris-Fischer

Mary Jo has been playing Underwater Hockey since 1984. She was first introduced to the sport while working out with a Masters Swim Program in Chicago, Illinois. Mary Jo has played in all of the Underwater Hockey World Championships since 1986 and has been the team captain for five of those tournaments. After 11 years of being President of a Chicago team, she relocated to the Bay Area of California where she continues to play with the Club Puck team in San Jose.

Dolores E. Fisher

In 1953, Dolores fell in love with both her husband Mel and the ocean. Together they opened the first dive shop in the USA. She has helped invent prototypes of underwater cameras, spearguns and salvage equipment. In 1959, Dolores beat the World's Underwater Endurance Record (submerged for 54 hours and 37 minutes) and still holds that women's record. She's done expeditions worldwide and helped create the salvage teams that discovered the 1715 Plate Fleet and theNuestra Senora de la Atocha.

Dr. Caroline Fife

Caroline has worked as surface support for Hydrolab II, as a diver at Catalina Marine Science Laboratory, as a technician at TAMU (using hydrogen & oxygen gas mixes) as well as at the Divers Alert Network. She has supervised 10,000 dives (to 140-200 feet) for the Institute of Nautical Archaeology. As a practicing dive medicine physician and lecturer, she conducts hypobaric decompression research for NASA and is currently the first woman president of the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society.

Susie Fletcher

Susie dove actively from 1961 to 1975. Her most important work was done behind the scenes in the area of instructor training. Susie completed applications, schedules, test results and reports from NAUI instructor training courses in the USA and Europe. She helped her husband direct 37 IT courses and 13 with other directors. Susie was always there to listen and offer encouragements and advice to both the staff and the candidates. Later in her career she received two Special Service Awards. Susie played a pivotal role in the developments of diving instruction.

Joan M. Follmer

'Joanie' holds a 500-ton USCG captain's license and scuba instructor certifications. She became a diver in 1972, an Instructor in 1976, a captain in 1978 and began her own charter operation in New Jersey in 1980. In 1981 she sailed her boat, the Lady Cyana, south to Florida, landed in the Florida Keys and forgot to go home. There she founded and until 1991 operated Lady Cyana Divers in Islamorada. She then returned to diving and charter projects in New Jersey, Florida and the Caribbean.

Dottie Frazier

Dottie grew up on the sea; she learned to swim by age 3, donned a home-made mask by age 10 and by her teenage years had become proficient at spear fishing. She began entering and taking prizes in skin diving contents, as the only female competitor! Dottie began teaching skin diving in 1940 and became the first female scuba instructor in the US in the early '50s. She spent 2 years as a hard hat diver, manufactured wetsuits for the Navy & the general public, and operated Penguin, a dive shop for 15 years.

Regina Franklin

Regina is the first female executive director of DEMA (Diving Equipment & Marketing Association). Her management expertise and approach to implementing change is successfully bringing the scuba diving industry together in a united effort to increase awareness. Regina has a B.S. from Oral Roberts University and a M.A. from the University of West Florida. She has been involved in the industry for seven years and has held positions at Scuba Times magazine and SCUBAPRO.

Lynn Funkhouser

Lynn is an internationally published photographer, author, lecturer, environmentalist, adventuress and dive travel leader. Lynn's underwater images and lectures reflect her commitment to foster action through awareness and appreciation. In 1986 she founded International Marine life Alliance (IMA) and continues to serves as its Vice President as well as being an Advisory Director for Ocean Voice International. In 1994 she received the SeaSpace/ PADI Environmental Awareness Award.

Frances Gaar

Frances was supervisor and soloist of the famed "Sea Hunt" show at the NY World's Fair. The only performer to combine scuba with water ballet, she also gave exhibitions on cruise ships, enabling her to pioneer and popularize underwater tours in the Caribbean. Founder of the Aqua Lung School of NY, where she trained thousands of instructors and students, Fran became PADI's first woman master instructor. As PADI's first Mid-Atlantic regional director, she conducted its first Instructors' Institute along with PADI's president (and co-founder) Ralph Erickson.

Anne Giesecke, Ph.D.

Anne is an underwater archaeologist. She drafted the Abandoned Shipwreck Act and has advised on the International Convention for the Protection of Underwater Cultural Heritage. Anne is active in engaging sport divers in government discussions about the management of shipwrecks. She began doing archaeology in the 1960s and began diving in 1979. Anne is a member of the Underwater Society of America and elected to the Advisory Council on Underwater Archaeology.

Martha Watkins Gilkes

Owner of FantaSea Island Divers in Antigua, Martha is a PADI Master Instructor, teaching for 20 years. She is a Platinum Pro 5000 diver, member of the American Society of Media Photographers, and author of A Diving Guide to the Eastern Caribbean and Shipwrecks of the Caribbean. As 10-year president of the Eastern Caribbean Safe Diving Association she was instrumental in obtaining the first chamber for the eastern Caribbean. She has served as diving officer for the Antigua and Barbuda Historical Society since 1990, is a member of The Explorers Club and has worked on films with Stan Waterman for over 20 years.

Linda Gray

Linda started her competition career in the US Annual National Free Diving Spearfishing Championships and won the women's national title in 1973. She has won 4 more championships since then, for a total of 5 of the 8 that she competed in. Linda was ranked #11 diver in the 1980 Nationals, which put her above about half the men! She lives in Southern California where she is a commercial sea urchin diver. Besides Linda's love for the sea she has a keen interest in wild and domestic animals.

Brigit K. Grimm

Brigit has been playing underwater hockey since 1984. She's been a member and captain of all USA Women's Teams participating in World Championships around the world from 1986 until present (except 1994, when she was pregnant with her second son). Brigit is a leader in developing women's hockey in the USA by organizing and conducting skills clinics and tournaments. She's been Athlete of the Year in underwater swimming from US Olympic Committee, (1989) and Athlete of the Year from USOA (1990).

Erika-Leigh Haley

By the age of 24 Erika had become one of the first female trimix instructors in the world and held the position of National Director of Operations at IANTD Canada. She was the leader of the TransPac Expedition (1995) and Mission Impos (1996). Erika is certified as an EMT/DMT with approximately 150 hyberbaric chamber runs. Currently she is the dive operations manager at Sunset House, Grand Cayman (the first women to hold that position) and serves on the board of advisors for IANTD.

Michele Hall

In 1991, Michele left her career in pediatric nursing and entered the field of documentary filmmaking. She has co-produced 7 award-winning television documentaries, including Shadows in a Desert Sea, Secrets of the Ocean Realm (PBS) and Jewels of the Caribbean (National Geographic). Michele's interest in large-format filmmaking was sparked in 1994 when she was the Location Manager for IMAX's first underwater 3D film, Into The Deep, and she has since produced Island of the Sharks.

Norma Hanson

Norma began hard hat diving in 1949. By 1957 she'd made over 4,000 dives in heavy gear and was the second woman to join California's Piledrivers, Bridge & Dockworkers Union (Local 2375). Norma held the women's world depth record for diving to 220 feet on air in the 1950s and also performed for the glass bottom boats at Catalina Island. In her 50 years as a commercial diver she served as foreman and tender on pile-wrapping and harbor maintenance jobs, did harbor inspections and traveled the world training other commercial divers.

Lotte Hass

Lotte has been called First Lady of Diving, she was the first underwater model and one of the first female underwater photographers. Her career began in 1949 as the only woman on Hans Hass' crew during the filming of Adventure in the Red Sea, during which Lotte dove using a Drager closed circuit rebreather - which she learned to operate in the water! She has co-produced numerous films and co-written many books that document the adventures aboard their research vessel Xarifa.

Hillary Hauser

Hillary has been writing about the underwater world for over 30 years, emphasizing adventure, exploration, travel and marine life. She's published numerous books, written for multiple magazines, and been a marine reporter for the Santa Barbara News-Press and an editor of Skin Diver magazine (late 1960s). She has worked as an underwater consultant for television network films and written the Compton's Encyclopedia listing on the History of Diving. Hillary is the director of Heal the Ocean in Santa Barbara, California.

Joyce Hayward

Joyce, the "Lady of the Lakes," has served as an officer in national, regional and Canadian organizations and was appointed by the governor of Ohio to advise shipwreck management in that state. She does underwater photography, creating and presenting multi-projector programs at major conventions where she is frequently the only woman shipwreck speaker. Joyce also organizes courses in underwater archaeology. She was featured on a PBS special, "The Great Lakes In Depth," for her work in shipwreck and marine biology education.

Mehgan Heaney-Grier

Mehgan never planned on becoming a champion freediver, but in October 1996 that is just what happened. At age 18, she formally introduced the sport of freediving to the United States. On one breath of air she plunged to 155 feet, establishing the first-ever constant weight freediving record for both men and women in the USA. Less than one year later, in August 1997, she challenged the depths again, setting a new USA freediving record in the constant weight category at 165 feet.

Jill Heinerth

Jill is a PADI Master Instructor and an IANTD Trimix, Rebreather and Technical Cave Instructor. She has taught extensively in Canada, the Cayman Islands and the USA. Jill's photographs and stories can be seen in numerous diving publications. She is also the editor and founder of the magazine Women Underwater. She has participated in cave exploration projects in Mexico and North Florida. Jill volunteers on the Board of Advisors for IANTD and Board of Directors for the US Deep Caving Team.

Edith D. Hoffman

Edith was certified in 1978. She initiated the USS San Diego's Aqua-Women dives (1980) and directed that project for six years. She is a past president of the Long Island Diver Association and produced their film festivals (1984-1992). Edith helped gain access to the first NY State property for diving and is an activist in protecting the oceans and the ability of divers to police themselves without government intervention. She is a recipient of the BTS Diver of the Year Award (1986).

Maria Hults

Maria began diving in the 1950s. She was one of the first women NAUI instructors and later became a NAUI instructor trainer. She is a PADI instructor as well, and certifies over 100 divers per year. She's trained Green Berets, Fire Department Rescue Teams, and FBI Underwater Evidence Teams. As a photojournalist, Maria has contributed her photographs to leading travel and dive magazines. Her book Great Dive Destinations of the World is a result of images captured on her photo-adventure tours.

Paula Jerman

Paula is president of the Long Island Divers Association and produces their annual film festivals. She has been a PADI specialty instructor for 10 years. Paula is dedicated to promoting all aspects of scuba diving; she lectures at dive clubs and seminars, coordinates charters (including AquaWoman dives), and has helped to preserve important local dive sites. She has been actively involved with the Moriches Reef Project and serves on their board. Paula has been featured in various articles related to dive education, safety, conservation and general promotion of the sport.

Connie Johnson

The first woman to hold the position of magazine editor in the Petersen Publishing library of action male-oriented magazines, Connie, as managing editor of Skin Diver magazine from 1956 to 1987, was an active participant in the evolution of diving. As a journalist she documented the events of diving for over thirty years and was involved in the development of the many facets of the sport. These transitions over time included the formation of organizations, the advancements in equipment and technology, and changing directions of divers' interests.

Susan R. Kayar, Ph.D.

Hooked on diving since the age of 16, Susan is a biologist, teacher, science writer, and life-long student of natural history. Her doctoral dissertation in 1978 was on the respiratory physiology of sabellid fanworms. She has spent the past 10 years in the Environmental Physiology Department of the U.S. Naval Medical Research Center, where she is currently the head of the decompression sickness research program. She is the patented inventor of biochemical decompression and principal investigator on several research projects for reducing decompression sickness risk.

June Kieser

June started diving in 1952 with her husband, became a volunteer scuba instructor at the YMCA in 1954; served on the CNCA scuba committee; first woman nationally certified instructor in 1959; first female member of the YMCA National Scuba Committee; founding member Underwater Society of America and the American Littoral Society. She pioneered setting standards for diver and instructor certification. June instructed sport divers, police, fire departments, US Merchant Marine Academy cadets, and lectured extensively on the importance of diver training.

Lise Kinahan

Lise is dedicated to safety, education and conservation as both a diver and an instructor. Her determination inspired hyperbaric chamber and diver safety programs, club diving safety standards, and first aid and CPR for divers courses and an annual harbor clean up. Lise has held positions with the Ontario Underwater Council, NAUI Canada, UHMS (Great Lakes), and the Our World Underwater Scholarship Society. For 23 years she has been an executive member and program director for Underwater Canada.

Jennifer King

Jennifer became certified in 1980 in Micronesia and is a NAUI, PADI and LA County instructor. After a year at UNEXSO (Bahamas), she served as the only woman president of the LA County UIA. In 1993 Jennifer formed the Women's Scuba Association and WETT (Women's Equipment Test Team). She has authored numerous articles on equipment, travel, and family issues. She's currently working on a beach/boat diving book, tests and consults on equipment and is the niche markets director for DTRG.

Captain Marie E. Knafelc, M.D., Ph.D.

Marie entered the Navy in 1980. Since then she has been responsible for the diagnosis & treatment of diving related illnesses, evaluating diving and life support systems, planning compression and decompression schedules for saturation divers, and demonstrating a working knowledge of submarines and their related medical and psychological aspects. Marie is an Undersea Medical Officer with the Navy Experimental Diving Unit and qualified in scuba, mixed gas and saturation diving.

Commander Karen Kohanowich

As a Navy midshipman, Karen supported 1000 FSW saturation dives at the Navy Experimental Diving Unit. After completing Navy Salvage and HeO2 Diving School in 1983, she served onboard USN and Canadian diving ships in the West Pacific, Caribbean, and North Atlantic. She became a NAUI instructor in 1989, and qualified as a pilot of the "Pisces IV" submersible in 1993. As an Oceanographer, she is the Navy's liaison to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and coordinates ocean policy and diving issues.

Dr. Ann H. Kristovich

Ann is the co-leader of The Proyecto De Buceo Espeleologico Mexico Y America Central and has been involved in cave exploration since 1988 in Mexico, Belize and Central America. In 1993, she set a women's cave diving depth record of 554 feet. Ann is an instructor for IANTD, NSS-CDS, NACD, NAUI, and TDI and teaches technical, deep, cave and mixed gas diving. Ann's articles and photos have been published internationally. In addition, she is an oral and maxillofacial surgeon.

Barb Lander

After only 3 years of diving Barb was a veteran of theAndrea Doria, Wilkes Barre and the infamous mudhole wrecks of NJ. The following year she joined the Monitor team, led expeditions by 1993 and was key in opening that wreck to sport divers. Barb participated in the explorations of the U-869, Norness, Billy Mitchell, and Lusitania (1995). She is a PADI and IANTD instructor and certified as an NSS-CDS full cave diver and has published over 100 articles and photographs.

Marie Levine

Marie was certified in 1969. For the past 30 years she has promoted marine conservation through photographs, magazine articles and books. Marie is Founder and Executive Director of the Shark Research Institute (SRI). SRI focus is on creating value for sharks as living resources for the dive tourism industry. Under Marie's leadership the organization expanded its operations to South Africa, Seychelles, Honduras and Mexico. In October 1999, as a direct result of SRI's work in Honduras, that government declared the whale shark a protected species in their territorial waters.

Mary Edith "Mel" Lillis

Mel is a founding member of the Underwater Society of America and co-author of the first international SCUBA triathlon rules. She was the first woman to receive a NOGI award in 1963 for her sports involvement, and in 1994 received a second NOGI (one of two women) for distinguished services. Since 1960, of the 166 award presentations, only nine women have been so honored. Mel is past president of the Academy of Underwater Arts and Sciences and has been their executive secretary for the past 30 years.

Capt. Karin Lynn

Karin joined the US Navy's Civil Engineer Corps in 1977. In 1983 she graduated from the Navy's deep-sea diving school and went on to specialize in diving and underwater systems. She has an ME in Ocean Engineering and she is head of the Navy's Ocean Facilities Program - overseeing about 250 professional military divers and ocean engineers worldwide. Karin is an active member of the Women's Aquatic Network, the Marine Technology Society and related professional associations.

Audrey Mestre

Audrey was born to live in the water. At the age 2, she won a swimming competition. By the time she reached the age of 13, she began scuba diving. Audrey's free-diving career started in 1997, after high school, with a dive to 80 meters, which was then followed by three world records: 115 meters in 1998, 125 meters in 2000, and 130 meters in 2001. Currently, Audrey has the honor of the 5th deepest descent, preceded only by 4 men.

Lisa A Mitchell

Valerie Moore

A diving instructor, Valerie has combined writing, production and expedition logistics to pioneer new underwater horizons. The first Western woman journalist invited onboard the Russian R/V Keldysh, she is one of the world's deepest diving women in the Mir submersibles. She has worked many film, salvage, and scientific expeditions, including Jim Cameron's deep dive unit for the film Titanic. Valerie served as director of marine operations for RMS Titanic Expedition 2000. She's a member of the Explorers Club and the Deep Submersible Pilots Association

Connie Lyn Morgan

Connie grew up in the diving and surfing industry. Her father, Bev, opened one of the first dive shops in Southern California, Dive 'N' Surf, and was instrumental in the creation of diving certification programs. She is named after Conrad "Connie" Limbaugh, first diving officer at Scripps Institution of Oceanography. She received her LA County underwater certification in 1971 and since then has worked various dive jobs from tour guide to her present position as president of Kirby Morgan Dive Systems, Inc.

Ella Jean Morgan

Ella Jean is an educator, lecturer and author who has co-written When Women Dive. She is a NAUI/Los Angeles County instructor who has taught all levels of diving and specialty certifications. She is also a certified cavern/cave diver. As an underwater researcher she has conducted underwater surveys and helped to establish trails for underwater parks. Ella Jean is currently an instructor and department chair at the College of Oceaneering (a commercial diving school) in Wilmington, California.

Devonna Sue Morra, Ph.D.

Sue learned to dive in 1969. She continued her training and ultimately became one of the first women PADI course directors in 1978. Sue has scuba-dived and trained divers throughout the world. She is currently Director of Marine Biology at Saint Francis College where she teaches coral reef ecology, aquaculture, and research diver methods along with general biology courses. Sue conducts coral reef research studying coral/algae dynamics in the Florida Keys and Caribbean.

Denise J. Morrissette

Denise is a Course Director with TDI/SDI and a Technical Instructor Trainer with NAUI and has co-authored and/or provided graphics and artwork for various training manuals for these agencies. Additional product development includes co-inventing the NAUI OCEANx calculator and designing scuba diving equipment. She is also a photojournalist for Dive Training, holds a USCG 100-ton Master Captain's License and is the vice president of Underwater Dynamics, Inc.

Patti Mount

Patti began diving in 1976 and is certified as a rebreather, cave and trimix diver. She holds instructor status up to the level of Technical Nitrox. Patti is the author of The Complete Guide to Underwater Modeling and the NAUI Student Workbook for Underwater Modeling. She has co-authored numerous articles and her photos have been published in magazines worldwide. Patti was one of the first women to receive the SSI Pro 5000 card (1993) and is the president and on the BOD of IANTD.

Geri Murphy

Geri is a professional photo journalist with more than 30 years of diving experience. She was certified as an instructor in 1969. She was the first underwater script supervisor for the movie The Deep. Geri was the first to ever photograph and name Grand Cayman's Stingray City. She has produced more than 180 magazine cover photographs and thousands of articles and photos on travel & photography. She authored two PADI books, Macro and Camera Basics. Geri is presently a contributing writer and photographer for Sport Diver magazine.

Jan Neal

Jan's diving career spans a quarter century and has focused on education both as an instructor and author. Her background is in teaching, with a BS degree from the University of Florida and multiple agency ratings as an instructor, course director and workshop director with NAUI, PADI, TDI, SDI, ANDI, IANTD and DAN. Jan has authored thirteen texts and other products, has written for several magazines, and is currently a regular contributor to Dive Training magazine.

Patty Newell-Mortara

Patty's quest is to inspire and promote the accomplishments of women divers. This is evident in her role as a journalist, as publisher of Women Underwater magazine and as a founder of the WDHOF. Patty is certified as a NSS-CDS Full Cave Diver, an IANTD Trimix Diver and is a PADI MSTD instructor. Her notable wreck dives include theUSS Bass, USS Saratoga, and USS Wilkes Barre. Patty served as deep support diver and operations manager for the 1998/99 Wakulla2 Expedition.

Erin O'Neill

Betty Orr

Betty was certified in 1975 while attending graduate school at Wright State University. She is director of insurance services for DAN Services and has developed and introduced training programs, edited and co-authored periodicals, training manuals and textbooks, lectured at the most prestigious diving conventions on topics regarding diving fitness and specific to women in diving, and conducted workshops on dive accident statistics, dive safety, oxygen first aid and the diving environment.

Zale Parry

Zale began diving in 1951 using one of the first imported Aqualungs. She helped run the first hyperbaric chamber for civilian divers in California; set a woman's depth record to 209 feet (1954); and became the third female instructor to graduate from the LA County UICC program. She is best known as the underwater damsel in distress in the TV series Sea Hunt. She is currently working on a book about the roots of diving in America. In 1999 she received WSA's Woman Diver of the Year Award.

Carolyn Pascal-Guarino

Carolyn is current publisher of Sport Diver magazine. She focuses on dive market development and creating multimedia programs that contribute to industry growth. Over her 20-year dive career, Carolyn has traveled extensively working to increase dive tourism. She is an active member of the Caribbean Hotel Association, the Caribbean Tourism Organization, and has led many dive seminars and roundtable discussions. Carolyn has also played an active role in the development of diving events, and has been involved in photojournalism both behind and in front of the camera.

Alese Petcher

Alese is a renowned underwater photojournalist. Her work has appeared in most scuba magazines, on internet websites and in general interest publications. She co-wrote the award winning book What's in the Deep? (an ocean-oriented book for youngsters). Alese is an active photographer, writer, teacher, diver, lecturer and marine ecology advocate. Her contact and work with the industry, public and media has helped to change the "macho" image of scuba. She is an elected Fellow National in the Explorer's Club.

Ellen J. Prager, Ph.D.

As a marine scientist, Ellen has participated in diving expeditions throughout the Pacific and Caribbean, and has lived and worked in an undersea laboratory in the Florida Keys. In 1995 she was the resident director of the National Undersea Research Center in the Bahamas. Ellen has been interviewed on NBC's Today show, written dispatches for MSNBC and worked with the National Geographic Society. McGraw-Hill will publish her book The Oceans with Dr. Sylvia Earle in the spring of 2000.

Marianne Preker

Marianne left her counseling career in 1987 to open Underwater Safaris Scuba Center in Chicago. A PADI master instructor and Handicapped Scuba Association course director, she dreamed of teaching people with disabilities to scuba dive. In 1991, Marianne created Project TIDE which has trained hundreds of teens with disabilities to dive in Chicago and the Caribbean. Currently a foundation of Underwater Safaris supports TIDE, scuba programs for inner city teens, and educational programs in Roatan and Papua New Guinea.

Janice Raber

Janice is vice president of the Long Island Divers Association and co-produces their annual film festivals. She's been diving since 1986, is an instructor, and serves on the Suffolk County Leisure Services Advisory Board. Janice's efforts opened 15 county and state park dive sites, fostered the purchase of a historic shipwreck site, and helped designate a local marine park. She arranges beach cleanups, fund-raisers, seminars and exhibits at dive expos, museums and county functions. Janice has published numerous dive articles and is a contributer to Long Island Boating World.

Sherry A. Reed

Sherry has been a research specialist at the Smithsonian Marine Station in Florida since August 1983 and a Smithsonian Dive Officer since 1989. In 1990, she was elected to the Smithsonian Institution Scientific Diving Control Board. In 2001, she was elected to the board of directors of the American Academy of Underwater Sciences. She is a PADI Scuba, Medic First Aid, Oxygen Administration and Hazardous Marine Life Instructor. Sherry is also a PSI Cylinder Inspector, ScubaPro Repair Technician, AED Instructor and holds a US Coast Guard Captain's License.

Vreni Roduner

Vreni learned to dive in 1974 and became the first female divemaster of The Scuba Sports Club (NY) in 1980. In 1986 she participated in Repex, a NOAA-sponsored saturation excursion program for the purpose of predicting the longterm effects of oxygen exposure. She is the recipient of BTS Medal of Excellence and their 20 Year Award for loyalty and dedicated service, as well as the TSSC Diver of the Year Award. Vreni was also a participant in the Aqua Women expeditions from 1981 to 1993.

Carol Taylor Rose

Carol has been totally involved in organized diving even before she was certified in 1973. She is a charter member and has held offices for the Amphibian Dive Club; been past everything for Cen Cal Council Diving Clubs; is a representative for the World UW Federation; is secretary and an international referee for the World UW Hockey; and president and editor of the Underwater Society of America. Carol is the author of How to Form A Dive Club and How to Start UW Hockey.

Kathy Rothschild

Kathy learned to dive in 1987 and has been hooked ever since. In response to the tremendous growth of the dive industry, she created Rothschild Dive Safaris and developed dive travel programs to exotic destinations worldwide. Kathy has dived all over the world and logged more than 1,000 dives. She was instrumental in opening up the Philippines, South Africa, Malawi, and Jordan as dive destinations for the US market. Kathy is strongly committed to the environment, and volunteers for the Shark Research Institute, Center for Marine Conservation, and several other organizations.

Norine Rouse

Norine was the first women hired by UNEXCO (1967), not only to show that women could dive, but that they could instruct as well. She has trained more than 1000 students. Norine has taught marine patrol, worked for conservation and preservation of habitats, introduced tourist diving to the Palm Beach, Florida, area, and helped establish its artificial reef committee. She was the only person to gain permits to swim with turtles. Norine is a board member of the Marine Technology Society.

Betsy Royal

Betsy began diving while in college in the waters of the Northeast. Following graduation she obtained a position in New York marketing the resort Cap'n Don's Habitat (Bonaire). Continuing to dive locally and abroad, she became the Northeast Advertising Manager of Skin Diver and in 1982 moved on to a management position with Henderson Aquatics. In 1996 Betsy was named Vice President of Sales & Marketing for Mares-America, Corp. She has served two successive terms on the BOD of DEMA.

Lorraine Bemis Sadler

Lorraine has been underwater since the 1960s. She holds instructor status with SSI, DAN, LA County, NAUI, and PADI, and has also worked as a stunt diver. She is a founding member of Women's Scuba Association and holds the position of Equipment Director for WETT - where she helps to design and evaluate equipment for diving manufacturers. Recognized for her expertise on equipment, hyperbaric chamber operations and marine biology, she is invited to lecture quite frequently.

LCDR Erica Sahler

Erica is a 1987 graduate of the US Naval Academy, a member of the Naval Ocean Facilities Program and serves in the Navy Civil Engineer Corps. In 1996 she received her Basic Diving Officer qualifications from the Naval Diving & Salvage Training Center. Erica holds a master's degree in civil engineering (ocean engineering emphasis) and has served as a engineering project officer for ocean construction projects and diving officer at NAVSEA Coastal Systems Station, Panama City, Florida. She's currently the commanding officer at Underwater Construction Team TWO in Port Hueneme, California.

Susan Sammon

Susan has mobilized more than 100 diving expeditions for CEDAM International in support of marine conservation and science. With other volunteer divers, she has participated in 40 expeditions, mapping reefs, collecting fish and studying marine ecosystems. Susan also works with husband, Rick Sammon, capturing underwater images for books and magazines. During an assignment to Siberia, she became one of the first women to dive Russia's legendary Lake Baikal. Currently, she is special projects director for CEDAM International and the Academy of U/W Arts & Sciences.

Dee Scarr

Dee is dedicated to helping people better understand marine animals and their behaviors. She has directed numerous conservation and awareness programs. Dee is a contributing writer for Dive Training magazine, and has written Touch the Sea, The Gentle Sea, and Coral's Reef. Her recognitions include Beneath the Sea's Diver of the Year Award for Environment, the Boston Sea Rover's Diver of the Year Award, and the PADI-SeaSpace Environmental Awareness Award.

Commander Bobbie Scholley

Since 1983 Bobbie has been a US Navy Diving and Salvage Officer. She was the commanding officer of a US Navy Diving & Salvage Ship (1992-1994), the diving officer assigned to the TWA Flight 800 recovery operation (1996), and the first women to be the US Navy Supervisor of Diving. Bobbie is attending the National Defense University's Industrial College of the Armed Forces. Upon graduation, she be the first women to take command of the US Navy Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit (Atlantic Fleet).

Nancy Sefton

Nancy was certified (in duck feet) in 1961 and later was the first woman to publish an article and undersea photographs in Skin Diver magazine. As a resident of the Caymans, she founded the islands' Conservation Association and became a proponent of coral reef preservation. Most of Nancy's 300 published articles have emphasized marine biodiversity. She is a winner of the 1985 NOGI Award for Arts, and she continues to foster marine science education by producing CDs and award-winning videos for regional schools.

Claudia Serpieri

Claudia is an instructor trainer for PSA, co-founder of the agency SOLO, PADI staff instructor and founder/editor of the technical diving magazine Captain Nemo. Since 1994, she's obtained women's records for trimix diving in the sea (687 feet), cold water/altitude (586 feet), and wreck in sea (455 feet). She holds the Italian women's record for deepest dive in a sinkhole (341 feet) and cave (283 feet), and leads the exploration team at the sinkhole Merro (651 feet). She is co-director of team BioHazard, which has partnerships with space agencies, hyperbaric researchers, universities and the Navy.

Kim Reed Sheckler, R.N.

Kim has been diving for 17 years and has worked extensively with her husband Dale in diving, writing and underwater photography. In 1984 she co-founded California Diving News and has co-authored several books including Southern California's Best Beach Dives. Since 1988, Kim has been executive director of the SCUBA Show, the largest consumer dive show in the western USA. In addition to her diving credentials, she is a registered nurse who is an active member of the UHMS and has served as a board member of the Catalina Conservancy Divers.

Jeanne Bear Sleeper

Jeanne became a NAUI Instructor in 1971. She has served as NAUI's Mid-America Branch Manager, Special Projects Director and Editor of NAUI News. Jeanne has edited numerous publications and co-authored the book Women Underwater. She is the recipient of NAUI's Service Award for directing five IQ Conferences and redesigning their instructor training courses. Jeanne was the first woman Instructor Course Director. She has been Contributing Editor to Skin Diver for the last five years.

Marguerite St. Leger-Dowse

Marguerite began diving in 1983. She became associated with the Diving Diseases Research Centre in Plymouth (UK) in 1989 and initiated the study "Men and Women in Diving." In 1996 Marguerite launched, as Research Coordinator, the second phase of "Women in Diving," to conclude in 2001. She has presented at numerous international conferences and contributes regularly to UK diving journals. Marguerite is the recipient of the BSAC award (1995) and the Duke of Edinburgh's Prize (1995).

Andrea Stockert

Andrea began her dive career in 1988 and is currently a PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer. She has found her niche in the film business as a safety diver for wet sets. Andrea has worked as a divemaster on numerous videos, commercials and feature films, including Simon Birch and The Perfect Storm. She is one of the few women divemasters in Hollywood. Her love of storytelling has enabled her to field produce a television series about diving for Animal Planet and her articles appear in a variety of on-line and off-line publications.

Tanya Streeter

As a teenager snorkeling for conch at home in Grand Cayman, Tanya always knew she could dive deeper than the others. However, in 1998 and 1999 she proved she could go deeper that almost everyone on earth when world records (some previously held by men) began tumbling. Her achievements have raised the profile of freediving worldwide and her personality has changed its death-defying image. She enjoys sharing the wonders of freediving and is endearing to press and fans alike.

Dr. Maida Taylor

Maida has been diving since 1975. Her contribution to the industry has been primarily through research. She authored a chapter in Bove's and Davis' text Diving Medicine. Maida studies the interactions and influences of hormones, menstruation, menopause and pregnancy on fitness, and in particular the effects of hormonal changes in diving performance. Her current area of concern is the effects of low estrogen states on the incidence and severity of decompression illness.

Valerie Taylor

Valerie is a marine conservationist, underwater photographer, videographer, scriptwriter, and painter. In 1969 she played herself in the film Blue Water White Death and has twice graced the cover of National Geographic. Valerie, together with her husband, has captured live shark footage and successfully tested mesh suits for shark bite protection and an electronic barrier against sharks. She is the recipient of the American Nature Photographer of Year (1997) and the Golden Palm Award at Antibes, France (1998).

Mia Jean Tegner, PhD

Dr. Tegner was a world-renowned expert on kelp forest ecology. In 31 years as a research marine biologist at Scripps Institution of Oceanography she focused on near-shore marine resources, specializing in abalones, sea urchins, and the kelp itself. She was instrumental in closing California's abalone fishery and in dealing with sewage pollution problems off San Diego. Mia's work studying and protecting the marine environment earned her many honors, including a Pew Fellowship, Cooper Ecology Award, and University of California, San Diego, Distinguished Alumna of the Year Award.

Bridget K. Thomas, R.N.

Bridget was certified in 1982. In 1990, she left her career in nursing education to pursue the development of the International Society of Aquatic Medicine. ISAM offers diving related medical seminars whereby physicians and staff can be brought up-to-date on the latest technology and sciences of undersea exploration while also exploring the conditions found in the Caribbean, South Pacific, and Middle East. Under Bridget's direction, the membership has more than tripled and the number of medical conferences increased from one to five per year.

Donna M. Tobias

Donna was the first woman to become a US Navy deep sea (hard hat) diver in 1975. She worked on search & salvage operations, underwater repairs of surface ships and submarines, and on the conversion of two YFN (barges) into diving and salvage liftcraft. Donna also served as a submarine escape instructor, hyperbaric chamber operator, and a scuba instructor at a Navy scuba diving school. In the late 1970s she participated in leading-edge hyperbaric treatments for medical purposes and the evaluation of one-person portable recompression chambers.

Sue J. Trukken

Sue entered the Navy in 1978. To ensure an at-sea assignment, she became the first female diving officer and the first female mixed gas diver to graduate Naval School, Diving and Salvage, Washington Navy Yard. Later while at Navy Experimental Diving Unit she became the first female saturation diving officer. For most of her career she was the only female diver assigned to her command. During her Navy career Sue was a ship husbandry diver, experimental diver, salvage diver, diving safety officer and hyperbaric diver.

Ruth Turner, Ph.D.

Ruth is one of the most academically published female marine researchers. She was the first female scientist to use Alvin, the deep submersible research sub for ocean research. Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute recognized Ruth as the foremost female "Pioneer in Oceanography." She was a biology professor, curator in malacology at Harvard University, Boston Sea Rovers Diver of the Year (1992), and the female aquanaut who logged the most hours in the Alvin. Ruth also worked with the US Navy Office of Oceanographic Research.

Dr. Karen Van Hoesen

Karen has been a diver for 20 years and a NAUI instructor for 17 years. She attended Duke University where she conducted research with DAN and their hyperbaric center. Karen is the recipient of the 1988 Our World Underwater Scholarship, and has been secretary of the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society and president of its Pacific Chapter. She publishes and lectures internationally on diving medicine. Karen is director of UCSD Diving Medicine Center in San Diego, California.

Eveline Verdier

Eveline is a very experienced French and Swiss instructor trainer. For 15 years she has been actively involved with training dive instructors in Europe for various agencies (PADI, TDI, CMAS & DAN). Amongst other qualifications, Eveline is one of the few female trimix instructor trainers worldwide. In 2000, she became the deepest female closed circuit rebreather diver in Europe while diving on the Protee, a French WWII submarine wreck that lies in 130 meters of water. Eveline is also the regional manager for DAN Europe in France.

Hillary Viders, Ph.D.

Hillary is an internationally acclaimed author, speaker, educator and consultant who's noted for her work in marine science, conservation, diving physiology, hyperbaric medicine, dive safety and emergency dive accident management. Hillary founded NAUI's Environmental Project and created NAUI's Environmental Enrichment Award. She is an active member of over 20 BODs. Hillary is the recipient of numerous awards and recently the first woman to receive DAN/Rolex Diver of the Year.

Sally A. Wahrmann

CCertified in 1978, Sally soon became an avid Northeast wreck diver. She attained seven specialty certifications, in addition to divemaster and master diver. As crew on the R/V Wahoo, she has logged 60 dives on the famed wreck of the Andrea Doria (all using air); often sets and pulls the hook; and is always willing to introduce a new diver to the mysteries of Northeast wreck diving. Her love of diving has taken Sally to dozens of globally challenging dive sites from the East River of NYC to Scapa Flow to Truk Lagoon and the Great Barrier Reef.

Kay Walten

Renee Westerfield

Renee worked in the editorial department at Underwater USA, a monthly newspaper serving the dive industry, from 1989-1993. While there she learned to dive, receiving her open water certification in 1990. Westerfield joined DAN in 1993. Currently the DAN communications director, she continues to dive, snorkel and hike. Westerfield is active in her local Rails-to-Trails organization and explores caves topside as a member of the National Speleological Society.

Scarlett Watts

Scarlett has been diving for 26 years. She received her open water certification at the age of 12 and became a diving instructor by the age of 18. Scarlett is a world record holding, expert, veteran, and specialty diver. In March 1999, she set the world record for women's deep air diving, to the depth of 425 feet in Cozumel, Mexico. Scarlett holds expert training credentials from Scuba Schools International and the Professional Scuba Association Deep Air Institute; these include nitrox and cave diving. At present she is the manager of Mr. Scuba in Orlando, Florida.

Kathy A. Weydig

Kathy has been a NAUI instructor and course director for 15 years. She holds a USCG captain's license and is as an EMT/DMT. She has held the positions of training director at the City Island Hyperbaric Chamber, chairman of the NAUI Elections Committee and North Atlantic Branch Manager for NAUI. Kathy has made over 2,500 dives which include theUSS Monitor, USS Wilkes Barre, and Andrea Doria. She serves on the NAUI Technical Diving Advisory Board and is President of Scuba Training + Travel, Co.

Birgitte Wilms

Birgitte was born in Denmark, and began her diving career after moving to the United States in 1987. She started underwater photography after meeting her future husband, Chris Newbert. They founded Rainbowed Sea Tours, Inc., and have been leading divers around the world ever since. Birgitte co-authored In a Sea of Dreams, winner of the World Grand Prize for underwater photography books. Her photos have appeared in dozens of magazines internationally. Presently, Birgitte is working on a series of childrens' undersea books.

Laurie J. Wilson

Laurie applies her 20 years of hotel & tourism experience to market diving to the travel industry. She is co-founder of the Dive Travel Resource Group, developed numerous seminars, and presents her business expertise to travel professionals & resort operators worldwide. Laurie is an accredited travel industry trainer who since 1997 has produced the DEMA/DTRG Selling Dive Travel Conference. Her work has directly contributed to the increase in dive travel professionalism and expanded its ability to attract "fresh fins" through the mainstream travel industry.

Frankie Wingert

Frankie started her career with the YMCA National Scuba Program in 1976 as a part-time employee. She soon worked her way up through the ranks of Office Manager and Assistant National Director. By 1986 Frankie attained the position of National Director, which she held until her retirement in 1994. She was certified as a diver in 1978 and holds the status of an Assistant Instructor. Frankie is a member of the YMCA National Scuba Committee and is the recipient of several awards.

Jill Yager

Jill has been cave diving since the mid 1970s. She is certified as a full cave diver with NACD and NSS-CDS. While exploring Bahamian caves, Jill collected and named the Remipedia, an unusual animal that represented a new class of crustacean. Since her biological discovery she has explored caves throughout the Bahamas, Turks & Caicos, Mexico & Cuba, and discovered many new species of cave adapted animals. Jill is currently is a Professor of Environmental and Biological Sciences at Antioch College.

Andrea Zaferes

Andrea teaches over 1000 police, fire, EMS and sport divers worldwide on an annual basis in everything from underwater vehicle extrication, sport diving rescue, and field neurological evaluations, to homicidal drowning investigations. She is Vice President of Lifeguard Systems and RIPTIDE, a course director, instructor trainer, well-published author, noted public speaker, award winner, magazine editor, on-line discussion group manager and one of the leading trainers in the water rescue and recovery industry today.

Julianne Ziefle

Certified in 1985, Julianne is an award-winning speaker, photographer and media professional. She first appeared in dive magazines in the late '80s when she met Stephen Frink. She worked on Cousteau's Campaign on Rights of Future Generations in 1994. She co-chaired the Hans Hass Film Festival and was co-creator of the Dive Industry Awards Gala in 2000. She has been helping schools in the South Pacific since 1992 and teaches in her local school district. In 1999, she was recognized by D.A.N. with the Outstanding Volunteer of the Year Award.

JoAnn Zigahn

JoAnn began diving in 1981 in the Northeast and many destinations abroad. For the past 20 years she has played a major role in the Beneath The Sea underwater exposition and is currently their vice president of administration. JoAnn has worked endlessly to promote the sport of scuba diving and ocean awareness and conservation to the general public, young and old alike. She is a director of BTS's national Ocean Pals Project, which for 15 years has encouraged young people to become aware of and share their concerns for the marine environment.


Founding Sponsors & Executive Committee Of The WDHOF

Beneath The Sea
Hillary Viders, Ph.D.
Underwater Society Of America
Women's Scuba Association
Women Underwater Magazine

We would like to acknowledge Fuji Film USA, Inc for their contribution to the WDHOF Wall of Fame