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dean miller
Nomad
Posts: 456
Registered: 1-28-2004
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65 years of diving
FYI;
I made my frist trip to Ensendada BAJA in December 1951 to search for clear warm water --I found clear but certainly not Warm water.
We no longer travel to Baja- age and lack of good medical care has confined us to crusing --URG!
For you who are fellow members of the Underwater World of Baja I offer this as a testimony of my life as a "Diver."
dm
65 years of diving
The local news paper is in the process of writing an article on my long term involvement in the underwater world..They asked for a CV to guide the
reporter.. this was my response...
60 Years of Spear fishing & SCUBA diving
SCUBA (Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus) was developed in France in 1943 and first imported into the US by a NYC company about 1948
reaching the west coast about 2 years later. It was almost immediately acepted by the young sun loving beach going aquatic southern Californians. I
was no exception I had been " Goggleing" for a number of years previously.. I made my frist SCUBA dive at Divers Cove on May 31 1951 using bowered
equipment, clad in the costume of the era, a baggy bathing suit, covered with surplus long underwear, which was inturn held in place by another baggy
bathing suit with my torso covered with a wool WW11 kakhi shawl sweater, a pair of green Churchill fins on my feet and a crude oval Sea Net mask
covered my face, with the admomnition "exhale when you come up" I entered the water for my first SCUBA dive and from that time to the present my life
has been devoted to the underwater world. (>> Instruction, wet suits, SPGs were 4 years away, PFD many years in the future)
Some of the highlights of 60 years of Spear fishing SCUBA and over 65 plus years of diving;
Instruction:
LA County Underwater Instructor
* The frist and most prestigous civilian diving program
National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI) # 27
*I am the oldest NAUI instructor in California; one of the 5 oldest in the world (age and lenght of membership)
Professional Asociation of Diving Instructors
( and most of rest of the Instructor alphabet)
Honors:
Outstanding contributions to Underwater Instruction - 1963
* developed much of the current training programs including Instrutor classification)
Outstanding Underwater instructor of the year - 1969
Over the reef gang
Diving dinasauers
Whos who in SCUBA diving (AMSUR)
SSI Pro 5000 diver ( must have made over 5000 dives-- I have about 7000)
Father of free diving and fishing 2000
* only about 60 honored world wide- a huge honor!
West coast legend of diving
*Frist person to be so honored by the magazine "Dive Chronicles"
Legend of diving *(Scuba Diving and Recreation Center in Northwest Ohio - Portage Quarry)
*First person selected for the honor
PERSONAL LIBRARY
I have a complete bound set of "Skin Diver Magazine" (SDM) (1951 to it's demise) including every diving equipment catalog published and all Underwater
Film Festival programs. This is the only set of its kind in existence any where in the world.
In August 1960 appeared on the cover of SDM
In February 1960 selected, featured and honored as the frist guest editor of SDM
I also have a extensive collection of Skin Diver magazine covers inscribed to me by Art Pender, (1954) Ron Merker (1955) Bev Morgan (1961) Jack
Prodanovich (1953) Wally Potts (1957) and numerous other diving notables as well as personalities such as singer John Gary movie stars Lloyd Bridges
and Tony Francioso ,
All of the famous diving artist John Steel SDM covers have been inscribed to me, I also own several of his pictures, incuding one of me spearing a
fish as a young 20 year old at Catalina (John and the picture was featured in SDM)
I also have complete bound sets of “Dive”, “NDA News”, American Scuba Diver”, Aquarius”, "Water World", "Underwater", "Fathom", "Sport Diving”,
"Underwater Photographer",” California Diver,” “ Pacific Diver”, “SCUBA PRO Diving and Snorkeling”, “Diving and Snorkeling Quarterly” “Ocean Realm”,
all of which are no longer published. Maintain and bind current sets of “Dive Training”, “Sport Diver”, Historical Diver” (USA), “Historical Diving
Times” (UK), and “HDS Notizie” (Italy).
Have the only known complete set of “Pacific and Atlantic Underwater News”, published from 1966 to 1971. It was the first newspaper devoted entirely
to the underwater world. Appeared in numerous issues of this publication
I also have what is considerd the largest and most complete set of civilian dive training manuals begining with the Spaco manual of 1949 to about
1980.
I also have all the USN diving manuals beginning with the original 1905 "Manual for Divers" to the conversion to electronic format
I have published approximately two hundred articles on sport diving in the NAUI News, Los Angeles County Underwater News, Skin Diver, Dive, Discover
Diving, Aqua Corps, Historical Diver, Hawwian Skin Diver, Arizona Diving News, Southwest Diver Magazines, Historical Diving Times (UK), Free Diving
and Spear Fishing News (Australia). Surprisingly my first published article in 1964 was a six page-two part article on diving Jade Cove in Monterey
County, even though I lived at the time in Orange county.
From June 1999 to August 2002 I wrote a twice-monthly column “Dive Bubbles” for the five cities Times Press Recorder (TPR) newspaper. It is reported
that this column was the first and only regularly scheduled diving newspaper column in California and possibly the United States. I also had dedicated
columns in Discover diving "The way it was" Historical Diving Journal "Diving facts from Sam's Almanac," Arizona diving news "Our diving heritage,"
South west diver "Our diving heritage"
I have collected and maintain an extensive 1000 plus volume historical diving library, the majority of which are rare and out of print. Many have been
personally inscribed by the authors who were also friends and diving companions,in addition to being noted diving authorities;Leon Lyons, Dr. Bruce
Halstead, F.M. Roberts, Bill Royal, John Reseck Jr., Dr. James Dugan, Clint Degn, John D. Craig, Dick Schroeder, two (2) Eugenie Clark, two (2) by
Bill Barada & Lloyd Bridges, two (2) by Dr. Terry Mass, two (2) by Francis "Doug" Fane and (6) six by Sir Arthur C.Clarke, six (six) by Dr. Hans
Hass, five (5) by Lotte Hass, seven (7) by Clive Cussler and seven (7) by J.Y. Cousteau and many more too numerous to list
I have a bound edition of James Dugan's 1948 "First of the menfish" which introduced J.Y. Cousteau and self contained diving to the US.
My library which conumes an entire room and part of a hall in my home is considered the the worlds largest, most compete, and since I began collecing
over fifty years ago the most prestine diivng Library by the diving world's leading diving bibliophiles.
In May 1996 I organized and hosted the very first US diving bibliophile meeting in my Pismo Beach home. It was attended by diving bibliophiles from
the western US and via telephone from through out the US. The event was covered and featured on the front page of the Wednesday May1, 1996 edition of
TPR.
In 1999 to celebrate the passing of J Y Cousteau I was requested to place a book/equipment display in the Arroyo Grande Library. This month long
display was also featured in front page article in the TPR) complete with a full color picture in Friday,June 25,1999 issue .
Recreational diving
Spear fishing has always been a pasion,
My personal best are;
* Yellow tail 27 pounds
* Halibut 38 pounds ( record)
* White sea bass 49 pounds
* Black Sea Bass 345 pounds ( Now protected)
* Lobster 17 pounds ( On display at Depth Perceptions in SLO)
Consultant
Was an equipment consultant for four major diving equipment manufactures.
Was the official US Divers (Aqua Lung) company Instructor
Prefessional diving
* Deep Submergence
- I was the Cheif Diving Officer for the Deep Diving Submarine (DDS) "Beaver"
* Apollo program
- I was the Cheif Diving officer for the Apollo testing program
Currently I devote my retirement time to historical research, writing a book and I am involved as a guest lecture and occasional consultant for the
SLO County Sheriffs Underwater Search and Rescue team
And the list continues..so many adventures, so many stories......
Now in my eight decade of life I often take time to reflect back to that sunny day in 1951-- 60 years ago-- when I made my first SCUBA dive...
Now you know...
sdm
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BajaGringo
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3882
Registered: 8-24-2006
Location: La Chorera
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Mood: Let's have a BBQ!
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Quite a history! Congratulations and thanks for sharing it. Any photos?
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Ken Bondy
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3326
Registered: 12-13-2002
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Mood: Mellow
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You've had a great run Dean!! Congratulations!!
carpe diem!
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jenny.navarrette
Banned
Posts: 275
Registered: 3-3-2011
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You must have known Wayne Baldwin.
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Mulegena
Super Nomad
Posts: 2412
Registered: 11-7-2006
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You helped pave the way
for us modern-day recreational divers.
I have only a small knowledge of the history of the development of the sport. Thanks from me to you and other divers of your era who pioneered the
application of scientific knowledge to developing technology. Diving is now a safe and easy activity for many, many people from all over this blue
planet.
"Raise your words, not your voice. It's rain that grows flowers, not thunder." ~Rumi
"It's the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it." ~ Aristotle
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dean miller
Nomad
Posts: 456
Registered: 1-28-2004
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Wayne Baldwin
| Quote: | Originally posted by jenny.navarrette
You must have known Wayne Baldwin. |
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
EVERY ONE KNOWS WAYNE BALDWIN!
Actually I don't recall ever meeting him -but know him by reputation from years past, as I suspect he me, since we were essentially of the same era in
diving.
We both have a life time of memories and a house full of dive related "goodies" that we refuse to part with...
Some day I will visit him in Santa Barbara or invite him to visit me in Pismo Beach...better be darn soon for our DOC (date of Croking is around the
corner...)
Thanks for the memories..
dm
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Vince
Nomad
Posts: 445
Registered: 10-17-2006
Location: Coronado
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Dean- I enjoyed reading your profile, it brought back many good memories of my early years here in Coronado. I got "certified" in 1952. Was lucky
enough to have some friends whose fathers were on the UDT team here, so the guys taught us kids first in the Amphib base pool, then went out to the
Coronado Islands in a landing craft for the ocean work. You went with it and had an impressive lifetime of diving, wheras I did it sporadically and
am still diving. I recognize a few Bottom Scratchers in your list of friends. Prodanovitch was a friend and patient (I went into medicine). I loved
the Skin Diver Magazine! My older brothers had their photos in it several times, along with many friends from around here. We had a skin diving club
here called the CORONADO *******S. Met monthly in the Red Cross building here. Appropriate name for back then. Most of my diving was done in La
Jolla, Point Loma and all along the Rosarito to Ensenada area. We would combine a surfing and diving trip, when we didn't have an innertube with a
gunnysack, we would just stick the ab onto the board and they would stay on. We had some great luau type parties on the beach near where Calafia is
now (K38?) and cook up the abalone and lobsters. Now when we SCUBA, it is on a cruise or just for looking. Thanks for your memories.
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Vince
Nomad
Posts: 445
Registered: 10-17-2006
Location: Coronado
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Looks like someone blanked out the name of our old skin diving club, but back then we all got our backs, arms, head and legs wet in the Pacific.
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dean miller
Nomad
Posts: 456
Registered: 1-28-2004
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Vince,
I knew your club way back then. Yep! I recall how damp your backsides were. They were a very popular dive club with that unique name. I was a Socal
Skin diver, LB Neptune & Sea Sabre- only the Neptunes survive.
Was also in medical area...son is now a ER/Hyperbaric doc. Had a fellowship to Scrips general for Hyperbaric med.
dm
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Von
Senior Nomad
Posts: 961
Registered: 10-1-2006
Location: Poway-Rosarito
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Mood: getting ready!
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Pleasure to meet you my friend
READY SET.....................
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Pompano
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8194
Registered: 11-14-2004
Location: Bay of Conception and Up North
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Mood: Optimistic
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| Quote: | Originally posted by dean miller
Vince,
I knew your club way back then. Yep! I recall how damp your backsides were. They were a very popular dive club with that unique name. I was a Socal
Skin diver, LB Neptune & Sea Sabre- only the Neptunes survive.
Was also in medical area...son is now a ER/Hyperbaric doc. Had a fellowship to Scrips general for Hyperbaric med.
dm |
Dean, thanks for all the background information and experiences. You've had one helluva ride so far! Kudos to you.
As you know, your late cousin, Jake, was a very good friend of mine for many years and a nieghbor in Coyote Bay. He was a true 32nd Degree Baja
Character and is missed by all that knew him.
Maybe your son knows another Baja friend of mine? They're in the same business. Another Coyote neighbor's son is also a hyperbaric doctor in San
Diego. Brad Bailey, M.D., Associate Medical Director, Department of Wound Care Center and Hyperbaric Medicine. Brad is at the Palamar Pomerado
Health Center. He's kinda the head honcho there and gives a good video lecture on hyperbaric oxygen therapy using the chamber.
Here's a good diving photo of Dr. Pat Flynn...courtesy of his brother, nomad Vince...and yet another Coyote
neighbor! Coyote spearfisherman...1969. Pat, I'm sure, belonged to the same Coronado dive club.
Wow, Pat sure looks young! Guess we all did back then!!
I do what the voices in my tackle box tell me.
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capt. mike
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8085
Registered: 11-26-2002
Location: Bat Cave
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Mood: Sling time!
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did you know Bill Kelly from either LA or PHX areas?
similar pedigree.
formerly Ordained in Rev. Ewing\'s Church by Mail - busted on tax fraud.......
Now joined L. Ron Hoover\'s church of Appliantology
\"Remember there is a big difference between kneeling down and bending over....\"
www.facebook.com/michael.l.goering |
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Vince
Nomad
Posts: 445
Registered: 10-17-2006
Location: Coronado
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Brother Pat is still diving some in Mulege area. I think that snapper was taken off one of the Islands near Coyote Bay. He was in that dive club, they
made Skin Diver magazine many times with their catches. Some of the other Baja divers were Peter Glynn, Tom Carlin, Bud Bernhard, John Elwell (who is
diving right now from his boat in Loreto area),Marv Nottingham, John Kurtz, Steve Flynn. Steve still dives, mostly around Guymas, San Carlos. Peter
Glynn, Phd is a world renown coral reef researcher for Miami U., still an active scuba diver.
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BajaBlanca
Select Nomad
Posts: 13165
Registered: 10-28-2008
Location: La Bocana, BCS
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yours is an inspiring life story and will make an excellent read once the book is written...be sure to let us all know when it is published. congrats
of being such an avid collector - will you donate your collection to a museum some day ?
for anyone who comes to la bocana, I have a book of underwater photographs taken all over the world by my dentist in Brazil who is an avid diver. It
is just spectacular. ask me to show it to ya.
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dean miller
Nomad
Posts: 456
Registered: 1-28-2004
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| Quote: | Originally posted by capt. mike
did you know Bill Kelly from either LA or PHX areas?
similar pedigree. |
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I can't recall him...I was stationed at Luke AFB during Korea, was active in the diving circles at that time but don't recall a Bill Kelly.
If he is still around I would like to meet him at least electronically..as I have Vince after all these good years
DM
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durrelllrobert
Elite Nomad
Posts: 7393
Registered: 11-22-2007
Location: Punta Banda BC
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Mood: thriving in Baja
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Did you know a Jesse Dean who lived here in Punta Banda until his passing last July? He was a commercial diver for ten years; he spent thirty five
years as the owner and operator of Aqua Tech Dive Center in San Diego which is known as one of the best antique diving nautical museums in the world.
He contributed greatly to the diving industry by being the inventor and patent owner of commercial diving burning rods.
Bob Durrell
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Vince
Nomad
Posts: 445
Registered: 10-17-2006
Location: Coronado
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Roger alludes to the fact that the late Jake, of Coyote Bay, was your cousin. I met him several times, our house is on the beach below him. We had a
few beers together, but always at his place, he kept to himself. Are you also known as Sam Miller? I'm looking up more of your articles.
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dean miller
Nomad
Posts: 456
Registered: 1-28-2004
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| Quote: | Originally posted by durrelllrobert
Did you know a Jesse Dean who lived here in Punta Banda until his passing last July? He was a commercial diver for ten years; he spent thirty five
years as the owner and operator of Aqua Tech Dive Center in San Diego which is known as one of the best antique diving nautical museums in the world.
He contributed greatly to the diving industry by being the inventor and patent owner of commercial diving burning rods. |
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I never met Jesse Dean, but visited his shop on several occasions.
Last time I spent time in SD was about 5 years ago. The had a new owner, and the collection was intact.
His collection was certainly world class and one reeking with dive history.
Sorry to learn of his passing.
dm
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woody with a view
PITA Nomad
Posts: 15937
Registered: 11-8-2004
Location: Looking at the Coronado Islands
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WOW Dean. quite a lifetime of accomplishments. you are a true waterman!
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dean miller
Nomad
Posts: 456
Registered: 1-28-2004
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Vince
Roger alludes to the fact that the late Jake, of Coyote Bay, was your cousin. I met him several times, our house is on the beach below him. We had a
few beers together, but always at his place, he kept to himself. Are you also known as Sam Miller? I'm looking up more of your articles.
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yes Bob "Jake" and often referred to as "Crazy Jake" Jacobs was my cousin. Did you happen to know his wife Cathy? They divoriced many years ago..
Yes I am Sam Miller, my cover has been blown. I have authored a number of diving articles over the years in just about every national and local
magazines ...seem to have the desire to document. I sincerely hope you enjoy the articles.
FYI there were four of us, I am 111, son who is ER/Hyperbaric is of course # IV...what a name for a Doctor, Sam IV.
SDM
[Edited on 6-4-2011 by dean miller]
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