I wanted to share with you (in text
and a few photos) the most exciting event and honor I have ever had in the world of scuba
diving (at least TOPSIDE; some of the underwater adventures I have been fortunate to
experience could never be topped).
I am so very excited about it all
and feel this will open many new doors in my life.
The trip started with a whirlwind
visit flying from Antigua TO ENGLAND...(bit of round about way to get to New York, where
the ceremony was being held... but it worked; Had 5 short days in London, then across the
Atlantic to New York to take part in this exciting weekend. The last leg of the triangle
brought me back to Antigua from New York...
During the weekend of March 22nd,
at a formal ceremony, I was inducted into the Women Divers Hall of
Fame during the annual BENEATH THE SEA Convention. My only sadness with this event was
that it conflicted on the SAME SATURDAY NIGHT as my Annual
Explorers Club Dinner which I have shared with most of you over the past few years. I
can't say I missed eating the pig eyes and other "exotics" they serve but I DID
MISS JIM FOWLER of the WILD KINGDOM sharing his BABY GRIZZLY BEAR with us!! I missed out
on that exciting evening for the first time in 3 years! Next year these two events are a
week apart so I have two action packed weekends to look forward to!
Click on image for larger photo
Stan Waterman, my long time dive buddy with whom I have traveled
the world on exciting diving trips, proposed me for this very special award. Attached is a
photo of Stan with me on the evening I was inducted. Since it was a "fishy"
weekend I tried to pick a dress that looked like FISH SCALES!
The Women Divers Hall of Fame is
"an international non profit organization established to recognize the elite and
outstanding women divers whose achievements have enriched the world-wide scuba diving
community and to provide educational and financial resources and mentorship support for
women divers of all ages, particularly those who are preparing for professional careers in
diving. Members are leading women divers in the world whose contributions include the
arts, sciences, medicine, sports, exploration, archaeology, media, safety, educations,
service, business, environment and conservation."
Click
on image for larger photo
The list of outstanding famous
women divers is truly amazing and I had the pleasure to meet most of these women. Attached
is a photo with ZALE PERRY; she was the female star of the TV series SEA HUNT (and in fact
taught Mike Nelson, the STAR, TO DIVE). She is a lovely, fabulous lady and I was honored
to get to know her.
Also met Kim Fisher, son of Mel
Fisher... treasure hunter who discovered the Spanish shipwreck THE ATOCHA off of Florida.
Photo of us attached showing him DRIPPING IN GOLD from the Shipwreck. (if I could just
find MY WRECK!)
In addition to the many social
activities held for those being honored during the weekend, there were outstanding
speakers. After the dinner and induction on Sat. night RALPH WHITE, an award winning
underwater film maker (who holds THE RECORD for the MOST dives on THE RMS TITANIC in
submersibles, shared parts of an IMAX film on the TITANIC which comes out in September.
Another fab video of DIVE THE BISMARCK was aired by Emory Kristof (a heavy weight award
winning National Geo photographer since 1963). BISMARCK, the most powerful NAZI battleship
in WW II lies in 15,617 feet of water! The film was very gripping as he took us on our own
personal tour on film.
Click on images for larger photos
And finally, as if the above was
not enough excitement, I ended on Sunday by going into the city to The Explorers Club for
Sunday afternoon activities. This included an amazing slide show by three explorers who
are mapping the underwater Bel Ha Quintano Roo Caves in Mexico. The slides were magical
and it appears you swim into the center of a crystal chandelier underwater as one enters
these amazing underwater caves. This has wetted my appetite to join the exploration! So
maybe Mexico is my next stop!
Thanks to long time friend Suzie
Campbell, who I unexpectedly ran into after 12 years, for all of these great photos. My
camera packed up so without her I would not have all these great memories documented!
Now I am back in Antigua trying to come down and live "normal life" from my BIG
HIGH. Sorry you could not ALL HAVE BEEN WITH ME!!
So... for my divers... LET'S GO DIVING SOMEPLACE EXOTIC!
