Nick Icorn Award 2016

 

Historical Diving Society USA Nick Icorn Award

 

Dear Andrés and Enrique,

It gives me great pleasure to inform you that you have been chosen to receive the Historical Diving Society USA’s Nick Icorn Diving Heritage Award for 2016.  The Nick Icorn Diving Heritage award is presented annually by vote of the Board of Directors to an individual, group, or organization who have promoted the importance of the history of diving to the public. The promotion of the history of diving may not be the primary focus of the nominee’s career or organization. It must be outside of their normal professional capacity.  You were nominated for your efforts in promoting the history of underwater photography as noted in the commendations below.  My hearty congratulations to you both.  The award is normally presented at the HDS Conference which will take place in Tacoma, Washington this coming September.  We don’t expect you to make the trip, unless you want to, and we can designate someone to receive the awards on your behalf, or try to make arrangements to present the awards to you at an event more convenient for you.  Please let me know your wishes.

Nick Icorn Diving Heritage Award: Dr. Andrés Clarós and Enrique Dauner, Barcelona Spain, for organization of the 1st (2012, Tossa Del Mar, Spain) and 2nd (2014) international Meeting on Vintage Underwater Cameras and the vintage underwater camera exhibit at the Barcelona Maritime Museum (2014-2015).  Dr. Clarós and Enrique spent two years developing the 2014 meeting and the display at the Maritime Museum.

Dr. Clarós is a plastic surgeon and otorhinolaryngist.  He, his brother, and sons operate Clinica Clarós.  Dr. Clarós and his family also operate Foundation Clarós which conducts humanitarian medical missions to Africa.  Foundation Clarós has served over 3000 patients, provided over 750 hearing aids and installed over 40 Cochlear implants.  Andrés’ love of underwater cameras is evident in his massive collection and his dedication to, and promotion of, the history of underwater photography.

Enrique Dauner received his education in biology with a special interest in reptiles.  He is the author of over 200 articles and reports published in various magazines, and how-to books on terrariums and aquariums.  He is a diving instructor, an accomplished aerial and underwater photographer, and teaches underwater photography in universities.  His most recent book is Fotografia Subacuatica (Underwater Photography). Enrique is a dedicated diving historian and sits on Board of Directors for HDS Spain.

NIck Icorn was a former US Navy Underwater Demolition diver who became a highly regarded professional in the uS diving industry.  He amassed an amazing collection of diving equipment and displayed it at dive shows around the country.  Nick’s collection had a major impact on the public’s awareness of the history of diving.  The collection is now housed in a museum in Tacoma, Washington and will be on display there on September 23-25, 2016 in conjunction with the annual HDS conference

Again, the HDS USA congratulates you on this prestigious award.

My very best regards,

Sid

 

More about who was Nick Icorn:

 

Nick Icorn, has been called the “Keeper of the Flame” for preserving diving’s illustrious history through his collection of sports diving gear. His diving career includes experience in numerous aspects of diving, including working as a design engineer with US Divers, Healthways, Cavalero, Airco Cryogenics, Sherwood Selpac, and Ocean Dynamics.

After serving in WWII Nick was accepted for training as a Swimmer Scout in the 1st Beach Reconnaissance Platoon of the Marine Corps. In 1950 he began his recreational diving career and was part of the first formal underwater instructors course conducted at Scripps Institute of Oceanography in 1953. The following year Nick began working with the Los Angeles County Instructor training program and served on its board of directors for twelve years. He continued with his education in diving and was certified as an instructor by NAUI, SSI, YMCA and NASDS, providing him with a very wide perspective on the quality and contents of all the training programs in the United States.

In 1970 Nick became PADI’s first and only executive director. At the time PADI had only 234 instructors, a number that increased to 12,000 worldwide under his watch. The next year he conducted a survey on diving classes throughout the U.S. and wrote the first “Standards and Procedures Manual” for instructors, followed very shortly by his manual “The Basic Scuba Course” which was a step-by-step comprehensive training manual for basic diving certification. Nick’s third manual, “Open Water Training” probably changed the diver training more than any other publication. It was the first effort to incorporate multiple open water dives in the training process which was key to making the sport safer.

Nick formulated a dive training program for PADI consisting of five open water dives and then implemented it under the new certification of “Open Water Diver.” He went on to write a series of specialty courses for those who wanted more advanced or specialized training, but who were not necessarily interested to proceed on the path to instructor. The industry benefited enormously from the influx of more experienced, confident divers who were safe in open water conditions, continued diving and training throughout their lives.

Over the years Nick has assembled a museum of historical diving equipment that is unequaled. The Historical Diving Society recognised Nick’s immeasurable contributions by creating The HDS Nick Icorn Diving Heritage Award, which is presented annually.