Dive industry mourns tech pioneer Bret Gilliam

The global diving industry is mourning the loss of technical diving pioneer Bret Gilliam, who died yesterday (8 October) aged 72. Earlier this year he had suffered a significant stroke that led to a form of vascular dementia, and he had sadly not been well for some time.

Gilliam is perhaps most famous for being one of the co-founders of training agency Technical Diving International (TDI), but he also had a hand in many other dive-related businesses, most notably Uwatec and G2 Publishing, which produced Fathoms magazine.

Bret Gilliam was born in February 1951 at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, and had two siblings (tragically, his younger brother Chris was murdered aged 16 at a concert in Puerto Rico in 1972).

He started dive training in 1959 with the YMCA, while his family were stationed at Naval Air Station Key West.

In 1971, Gilliam became a diving supervisor for Vocaline Air Sea Technology, and during his stint with them he developed their nitrox and decompression procedures, as well as nurturing an interest in underwater photography.

He was applauded for heroism by the US Virgin Islands' Governor in 1972 after going to the aid of his dive buddy Rod Temple, who was attacked and killed by oceanic whitetip sharks off St Croix. Gilliam ended up having to do an out-of-air ascent from great depth after the abortive rescue attempt, and had to be evacuated to Puerto Rico for treatment for DCI.

1972 also saw the creation of his consulting company Ocean Tech. The year after, he founded dive resort VI Divers Ltd in St Croix, and as well as catering for recreational divers and scientific dive teams, he also set up a division for filming and studio support, which saw him involved in films and documentaries including The Deep, and Abyss, National Geographic and Discovery Channel.

In 1977 he founded AMF Yacht Charters Ltd, specialising in providing luxury vessels up to 115 metres in length.

Both AMF Yacht Charters and VI Divers Ltd were sold in 1985, and then in 1988, Gilliam set up Ocean Quest International, which became the world's largest sport diving operation before he sold up in 1990.

In 1991, he joined the late-Tom Mount, Billy Deans and Dick Rutkowski on the board of directors for International Association of Nitrox and Technical Divers (IANTD), before joining Mitch Skaggs and Tanya Burnett in 1994 to form the training agency Technical Diving International (TDI).

Gilliam took over as president and CEO of Uwatec USA in 1996, and was instrumental in assisting Uwatec's founder and owner Heinz Ruchti with the sale of the company to Johnson Outdoors the following year for nearly $50 million.

He was also the author, or co-author, of more than 70 books, and had produced over 1,500 magazine articles.

He received innumerable awards over the years, including a NOGI for sports/education in 2012, and Legend of the Sea at Beneath the Sea for nine years in a row from 2005-2013.

This week on the podcast, a fairly damning report on the Red Sea Authorities following the Sea Story sinking. A couple of new records including a photoshoot at 50m and an underwater walking distance record. And a Malaysian dive resort has had its licence officially revoked by the government.

https://divernet.com/scuba-news/health-safety/efforts-to-coerce-sea-story-diver-survivors-reported-by-bbc/
https://divernet.com/photography/photographers/underwater-model-shoots-just-went-into-deco/
https://divernet.com/scuba-news/wrecks/latest-shipwreck-discovery-dives-raise-questions/
https://divernet.com/scuba-news/freediving/female-freediver-steps-up-for-absolute-record-walk/
https://divernet.com/scuba-news/malaysian-dive-resort-has-licence-revoked/

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The information in this video is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional SCUBA Training or recommendations for every manufacturer. All content, including text, graphics, images, and information, contained in this video is for general information purposes only and does not replace training from a qualified Dive Instructor or specific requirements from equipment manufacturers.

This week on the podcast, a fairly damning report on the Red Sea Authorities following the Sea Story sinking. A couple of new records including a photoshoot at 50m and an underwater walking distance record. And a Malaysian dive resort has had its licence officially revoked by the government.

https://divernet.com/scuba-news/health-safety/efforts-to-coerce-sea-story-diver-survivors-reported-by-bbc/
https://divernet.com/photography/photographers/underwater-model-shoots-just-went-into-deco/
https://divernet.com/scuba-news/wrecks/latest-shipwreck-discovery-dives-raise-questions/
https://divernet.com/scuba-news/freediving/female-freediver-steps-up-for-absolute-record-walk/
https://divernet.com/scuba-news/malaysian-dive-resort-has-licence-revoked/

#scuba #scubadiving #scubadiver

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Damning Report on Red Sea Authorities #scuba #podcast #news

Thailand Dive Trip Extras w/ @AggressorAdventures  #scubadiving #thailand 

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@fredr1 
#AskMark - hey Mark. Thanks for all your great content. Can you please discuss the ins and outs of Partial vs Continuous Blend (and “banked” - if that’s different) nitrox? I know you need an 02 cleaned cylinder for PB but not for CB? Can you go back and forth between air and nitrox fills with CB or banked? Thanks!
#scuba #scubadiving #scubadiver

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We partner with https://www.scuba.com and https://www.mikesdivestore.com for all your gear essentials. Consider using the affiliate link above to support the channel.

The information in this video is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional SCUBA Training or recommendations for every manufacturer. All content, including text, graphics, images, and information, contained in this video is for general information purposes only and does not replace training from a qualified Dive Instructor or specific requirements from equipment manufacturers.

@fredr1
#AskMark - hey Mark. Thanks for all your great content. Can you please discuss the ins and outs of Partial vs Continuous Blend (and “banked” - if that’s different) nitrox? I know you need an 02 cleaned cylinder for PB but not for CB? Can you go back and forth between air and nitrox fills with CB or banked? Thanks!
#scuba #scubadiving #scubadiver

Become a fan: https://www.scubadivermag.com/join

GEAR PURCHASES: https://www.scubadivermag.com/affiliate/dive-gear

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OUR WEBSITES

Website: https://www.scubadivermag.com ➡️ Scuba Diving, Underwater Photography, Hints & Advice, Scuba Gear Reviews
Website: https://www.divernet.com ➡️ Scuba News, Underwater Photography, Hints & Advice, Travel Reports
Website: https://www.godivingshow.com ➡️ The Only Dive Show in the United Kingdom
Website: https://www.rorkmedia.com ➡️ For advertising within our brands
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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We partner with https://www.scuba.com and https://www.mikesdivestore.com for all your gear essentials. Consider using the affiliate link above to support the channel.

The information in this video is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional SCUBA Training or recommendations for every manufacturer. All content, including text, graphics, images, and information, contained in this video is for general information purposes only and does not replace training from a qualified Dive Instructor or specific requirements from equipment manufacturers.

YouTube Video UEw2X2VCMS1KYWdWbXFQSGV1YW84WVRHb2pFNkl3WlRSZS45MTRCQjE3QzVGNDREODIz

How Do You Make Nitrox? #AskMark

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