Welcome to this course. I am Bert U. Eriksson and I will be your instructor
for this diving specialty course named Dive Historian. I am PADI instructor number
97792.
My inspiration to this course came from Ralph Dolk Erickson (one of the co founders of PADI, CD-0)
I received my Dive Historian Instructors' certification by doing some research into the subject and submitting my course outline.
Although I am a relative newcomer to this topic, I am a member of the Historical
Diving Society - USA.
How many of you got involved with diving within the past two years? Five
years? Ten years? Twenty-five years?
We are going to talk about diving history. I will first talk a little about ancient
diving, then go on to talk about the history of diving during middle ages. We will
then look at some of the ideas of Leonardo da Vinci and diving through the 1800's.
We are going to talk a little bit about the modern concept of Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus diving; The
first SCUBA units; Emile Gagnan and Jaques-Yves Cousteau and their regulator;
How the diving manufacturers came about; Their conflicts, (and they have them)
conflicts between the diving stores which still exist. The equipment used in
diving, (meaning Mask, Fins, Snorkels, Cylinders, Suits etc.) The rise of diving clubs as
an effective thing in diving; The rise of instructional agencies and the conflict
between instructional agencies which still exist.
Please bring out paper and pencil, and take notes. Please, do not hesitate to
ask questions during the presentation. Remember, the one who is afraid to ask a question
is ashamed of learning. I may not have the answers right off the bat, after all, I am
a relative newcomer to this industry. But be assured, I will find the appropriate
answer for you. If there is any thing you may have that can add to this meeting, by all means feel free to do so, and I will include it next time around.
