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| Board Member, Patti Gross Photographed in Mark V Dive gear |
The stated mission of the History of Diving Museum is to “tell the story of man’s quest to explore under the
sea.” Members of the museum’s Board of Directors recently got an opportunity to
bring that mission to life.
A group of professional and commercial divers from around
the country gathers annually at Disney’s EPCOT theme park for an exhibition of
vintage and antique diving gear. The
intention of the program is to educate both guests and staff members about
historic diving equipment while providing a spectacular display of living
history. The program also as provides Disney Castmembers with an opportunity to
dive in vintage gear.
HDM board member Jon Hazelbaker – a lifelong commercial
diver – has participated in this educational program for the last six years,
diving in his Yokohama hard hat helmet. This year, Hazelbaker was joined by
board president and museum founder Dr. Sally Bauer along with board member
Patti Gross, of Islamorada’s Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 13-08, who acted as Safety Response person.
Both
she and Dr. Bauer dove in historic gear: the traditional Navy Mark V “Deep Sea
Diver” outfit. They also tended the lines – which extended up to 300 feet - and
assisted other divers in the process of donning the cumbersome apparel. Some of
the vintage outfits can add up to 200 lbs. of weight and require two “tenders”
to aid in suiting up. Altogether, the
group carried nearly 2 tons of equipment to and from the tank’s platform over
the course of the exhibition.
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| Board Members Jon Hazelbaker, Patti Gross, and Dr. Sally Bauer (dressed in gear) |
Epcot’s Caribbean Coral Reef aquarium in
which the group dove holds 5.7 million gallons of saltwater and is home to over
6,000 sea creatures ranging from turtles and dolphins to eagle rays and sharks. Guests at the
adjacent Coral Reef Restaurant were able to watch the divers from their tables
while other spectators gathered at the 56 panoramic viewing ports for the
demonstrations of historic diving gear.
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| Diver being lowered into Epcot's Caribbean Coral Reef Aquarium |
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| Immerse Yourself! |
