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Legends of Diving Articles |
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Andreas Rechnitzer
Legendary Diver and Trieste Proponent

Dr. Andreas Rechnitzer with the USS Yukon in the background
shortly before the ship was scuttled as an artificial reef in
2004 off the the coast of San Diego, CA.
Andreas Rechnitzer was born on November 30, 1924 in
Escondido, California. He enjoyed exploring the natural areas
and all of the waterways in the area. He began diving in 1942 as
a free diver in La Jolla California.
In 1945 Andy graduated from the US Navy Midshipman School at
Fort Schuyler, NY. He received his BS Degree from Michigan State
in 1947 and a Masters Degree from the University of California,
Los Angeles (UCLA) in 1951.
While attending college at UCLA he started his diving career in
1949 along with his friend Connie Limbaugh. They both
transferred to the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in 1951.
While attending Scripps Andy and Connie pioneered the use of
scuba diving in ocean science. In 1951 Andy and Connie
coauthored the very
first scientific diving manual which was the first
civilian scuba training curriculum and safety rules. This
entitled Diving Training and Field Procedures Syllabus. This
later was used as the basis for training diving instructors
for the sport diving community.
The Los Angeles County Parks and Recreation Department finally
recognized that the sport of diving was growing they set up a
special Underwater Unit. Those that attended were Al Tillman
(manager in the Los
Angeles Parks and Recreation Department) and
Bev Morgan (lifeguard for Los Angeles County). They came to
Scripps for guidance with Andy and Connie trained them in the
safe use of scuba and other aspects of diving. The Los Angeles
County provided the first sport diving training course for
Diving Instructors in the United States in 1954.
Andy was also a Research Staff Member at Scripps while he was a
doctorate student from 1951 " |

Andy Rechnitzer early in his diving career |
1956. Andy and Connie developed all types of diving
techniques to conduct their scientific diving projects. Other
members that were selected in helping to pioneer them were
Willard Bascom, Jim Stewart, Wheeler North,
Ken Norris, and Dr. Hugh Bradner.
Andy finally earned his Doctorate Degree from Scripps
Institution of Oceanography in 1956 specializing in Ichthyology.
After receiving his doctorate Andy joined the Naval Electronics
Laboratory in San Diego. He was the Deep Submergence Research
Program Coordinator and Oceanographer. While he worked at NEL
Andy recognized the tremendous research potential of the
bathyscaph Trieste. He was also instrumental in proposing that
the US Navy buy the Trieste. The Office of Naval Research agreed
and bought the bathyscaph and assigned the Trieste to NEL for
operations.
Angeles Parks and Recreation Department) and
Bev Morgan (lifeguard for Los Angeles County). They came to
Scripps for guidance with Andy and Connie trained them in the
safe use of scuba and other aspects of diving. The Los Angeles
County provided the first sport diving training course for
Diving Instructors in the United States in 1954.
Andy was also a Research Staff Member at Scripps while he was a
doctorate student from 1951 " 1956. Andy and Connie developed
all types of diving techniques to conduct their scientific
diving projects. Other members that were selected in helping to
pioneer them were Willard Bascom, Jim Stewart, Wheeler North,
Ken Norris, and Dr. Hugh Bradner.
Andy finally earned his Doctorate Degree from Scripps
Institution of Oceanography in 1956 specializing in Ichthyology.
After receiving his doctorate Andy joined the Naval Electronics
Laboratory in San Diego. He was the Deep Submergence Research
Program Coordinator and Oceanographer. While he worked at NEL
Andy recognized the tremendous research potential of the
bathyscaph Trieste. He was also instrumental in proposing that
the US Navy buy the Trieste. The Office of Naval Research agreed
and bought the bathyscaph and assigned the Trieste to NEL for
operations.
Andy was also recognized by President Dwight D. Eisenhower for
his leadership as Technical Director and Scientist in Charge of
Project Nekton. President Eisenhower also presented Andy with
the Distinguished Civilian Service Award.
As an outgrowth of Scientific Diving Consultants, it was
recognized that there was a large need for a retail store that
would support their diving
requirements. So a group of divers got together to launch The
Diving Locker. It was named after the very small, cramped
facility at Scripps

Andy Rechnitzer with a 355 lb California
Black Sea Bass in 1956. He speared the fish
off Coronado islands in 25 feet of water. Also pictured
is daughter Andrea and son Martin.
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used for diving
equipment storage. The group was made up of Dr. Andreas B. Rechnitzer, Chuck Nicklin and others. Wheeler North, Emil
Habeker and Jim Stewart provided evening diving instructions at
the Diving Locker. Bev Morgan began as the store General
Manager. Then Chuck Nicklin took over as General Manager and
eventually bought out all of the partners. Nicklin later
expanded the operations of the Diving Locker to include four
scuba retail and training facilities in the San Diego area.
Dr. Rechnitzer also provided valuable support and expertise to
the newly formed National Association of Underwater Instructors
(NAUI). When the first NAUI Instructor Certification Program was
held in
Houston, Texas in 1960, Dr. |
Rechnitzer lectured on
several aspects of diving and marine sciences. Dr. Rechnitzer
also received NAUI Instructor #57. He served as a member of the
NAUI Board of Advisors from 1960-2000.
Dr. Rechnitzer was Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive
Officer of Gyrotor of San Diego (1960-1963).
In 1963, Dr. Rechnitzer became Director of Ocean Sciences at the
Ocean Systems Operations Division of North American Aviation
(which evolved into Rockwell International). The new group of
ocean scientists, engineers and technicians was initially based
at the Autonetics Division in Anaheim and then the Space
Division in Compton. Finally the Ocean Systems Operations
Division got there own facility in Long Beach, California.
After leaving Rockwell in 1970, Dr. Rechnitzer was with the
federal government for 15 years in Washington, DC. He was the
Senior Civilian Science and Technology Advisor to four
successive Oceanographers of the Navy. Some of the positions Dr.
Rechnitzer held with the U.S. Navy included: Science and
Technology Advisor, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations,
Deep Submergence Systems Division (1970-1973); Head,
International and Interagency Affairs Branch, Office of the
Oceanographer of the Navy (1974-1978); and Professor (Adjunct)
at the Naval Postgraduate School (1977).
In 1974, Dr. Rechnitzer served as the U.S. Navy Maritime History
Representative for a joint expedition (U.S. Navy/National
Geographic Society/Duke University) to validate the discovery
and location of the Civil War ironclad U.S.S. Monitor. In March
1862, the U.S.S. Monitor and the C.S.S. Virginia had a major
shooting battle off Hampton Roads, VA. This was first conflicts
of ironclad warships, which ended in a draw. The Confederate
C.S.S. Virginia was built from the burnt hull of the Union U.S.S.
Merrimac. When the U.S.S. Monitor was later being towed at sea
on December 31, 1862, she sank off Cape Hatteras. The 1974
Monitor Validation Expedition was using the research vessel
Alcoa Seaprobe.
Dr. Rechnitzer was the Science and Technology Advisor in the
Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Naval Oceanography
Division (1978-1984).
In 1980, Dr. Rechnitzer organized the Trieste 20th Anniversary
Deep Dive Celebration in Washington, D.C. He participated in the
Trieste 25th Anniversary Deep Dive Celebration in Lucerne,
Switzerland (where Jacques Piccard lived). Dr. Rechnitzer
organized the Trieste 25th Anniversary Deep Dive Celebration in
San Diego, California, in 1985.
On a leave of absence from the federal government, Dr.
Rechnitzer was Manager of the Ocean Science Laboratories
(Environmental Sciences and Deep Sea Mining) at Lockheed
Missiles and Space Company (1982).
Dr. Rechnitzer was Leader of several CEDAM International
expeditions, including the discovery of the 1847 wreck of the
English Royal Mail Steam Packet Company sail/sidewheeler ship
Tweed on Scorpion Reef, off Yucatan, Mexico. During 1968, he
also led a CEDAM International expedition on the 1823 English
merchantman Holiday on Scorpion Reef. In 1970, Dr. Rechnitzer
participated in the scientific excavations of several
sacrificial water wells (cenotes) of Chincultic in the
Montebello Lakes region of Chiapas State, Mexico. During
1974-1975, Dr. Rechnitzer conducted underwater maritime history
and Mayan archaeological studies at several sites in Quintana
Roo State, Mexico. He was a frequent contributor to the CEDAM
International Bulletin from 1968 through 1977.
Dr. Rechnitzer was Coordinator of Polar Affairs at the Office of
the Chief of Naval Operations. He visited both the Arctic and
Antarctic. In 1975, Dr. Rechnitzer conducted exploration scuba
dives under seven feet of ice covering the Ross Sea at the
Antarctic.
He was Chairman of the MTS/IEEE Conference and Exhibition,
Technical Program Subcommittee (1978-1979). Also, he was Vice
Chairman of the MTS/IEEE "84 Conference and Exhibition.
He was the Operations Manager on the 1987 Beebe Project off
Bermuda. Dr. Rechnitzer worked with Emory Kristoff, Dr. Eugenie
Clark and others studying the six-gill shark off Bermuda down to
depths of 6,439 feet, using the deep submersible Pisces VI. The
results of this expedition were featured on television and
published in the December 1988 issue of National Geographic
Magazine.
During 1988, Dr. Rechnitzer participated in an expedition to the
Monterey Canyon, which was reported in the February 1990 issue
of National Geographic Magazine.
In 1990 Dr. Rechnitzer was a member of the U.S. research team
that traveled to Lake Biakal in the U.S.S.R. The lake is the
oldest in the world, more than 20 million years old. It is also
the world's largest lake, being 650 miles long and 5,380 feet
deep.
Dr. Rechnitzer was active in several aspects of television and
cinema production, including: Performer, The Deep Dive, CBS TV
Special (1959); Technical Director, The Treasure of Scorpion
Reef (1968); Technical Director and Cinematographer, The Coral
Archives of Alacran Reef for CEDAM International (1969), Award
Winner of the Fourth International Underwater Film Festival,
Santa Monica (1970); Executive Director, Five Fathoms to a
Ship's Grave for CEDAM International (1970), Award Winner at the
Fifth International Underwater Film Festival, Santa Monica
(1971); Technical Advisor, The Aquarians, NBC TV Special for
Ivan Tors Productions (1971); Technical Advisor, Return to the
Sea for the U.S. Navy (1975); Technical Advisor,
Bioluminescence: Light in the Sea, for the U.S. Navy (1976);
Technical Advisor, Robots in the Sea for the U.S. Navy (1978);
and Co-Producer (with Ed Cargile) of The Deepest Dive (about the
bathyscaph Trieste) for The History Channel (2000).
He is featured in several books:
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Seven Miles Down, by Jacques Piccard and Robert Dietz (Putman,
New York, 1962);
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Conquest, by David Alman (Double Day, 1963);
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Men Against the Sea, by Ross Olney (Grossett and Dunlap, Inc.,
1969);
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The Trieste, by Dick Snyder (Golden Gate Junior Books, 1962);
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Pioneers In Diving, by Edward C. Cargile (Multimedia Dynamics,
2002)
Dr.
Rechnitzer's professional positions also included:
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Research Associate at the California Academy of Sciences in San
Francisco, CA;
-
Senior Scientist at Science Applications International
Corporation (SAIC) in La Jolla, CA;
-
Professor (Adjunct) at San Diego State University in San Diego,
CA;
-
President of Ocean Centers International in El Cajon, CA; and
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President of Viking Oceanographics in El Cajon, CA.
His
professional affiliations included:
-
President-Adjoint (with Jacques-Yves Cousteau), World Underwater
Federation (CMAS) (1961-67);
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President of SMAs Scientific Committee (1966-67);
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Member of the NAUI Advisory Board (1960-2000);
-
Member of the Board of Directors, International Underwater
Contractors (1988-2004);
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Member, CEDAM International Advisory Committee to select the
Seven Underwater Wonders of the World (1989);
-
Member of the CEDAM International Advisors;
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President and Life Member of CEDAM International;
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Life Member of CEDAM Mexico;
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Member of the American Oceanic Organization;
-
Member of the Explorers Club;
-
Member of the Cosmos Club of Washington, DC;
-
Member of the Congressional Underwater Explorers Club in
Washington, DC;
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Member of the Navy League in Washington, DC;
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Member and Fellow of the Marine Technology Society;
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Member of the Association of Diving Contractors International;
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Cultural Enrichment Lecturer for the Royal Viking Line
(1975-2004), Crystal Cruise Line, Seabourn Line, and Fred Olsen
Line;
-
Member of the Deep Submersible Pilots Association; Member of the
Association of Diving Contractors;
-
Member of the Academy of Underwater Arts and Sciences;
-
and Member of the Historical Diving Society USA (member of the
Board of Advisors).
For
his long, pioneering contributions to diving and ocean sciences, Dr.
Rechnitzer received many awards and honors:
-
The Distinguished Civilian Service Award presented by President
Eisenhower for his scientific leadership and deep dives in the
Trieste (1960);
-
the first recipient of the Richard Hooper Day Award, presented
by the Philadelphia Academy of Sciences (1960);
-
Special Commendation from the Guam Legislature, in recognition
of leadership of Project Nekton (1960);
-
Honorary Citizen, City of San Diego (1960); Honorary Life
Membership, National Geographic Society (1960); Honorary Life
Membership, Propeller Club of America (1960);
-
Commissioned Honorary Admiral, Texas Navy, by authority of Price
Daniel, Governor, State of Texas (1960);
-
Outstanding Man of the Year Award, San Dieguito Chamber of
Commerce (1960 and 1961);
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Honored Photographer at the International Underwater Film
Festival (1961);
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the NOGI Award for Sciences the Underwater Society of America
(now presented by The Academy of Underwater Arts and Sciences)
(1968);
-
Medalist Award, Underwater Society of America (1968);
-
Gold Medal Award, Underwater Photographic Society (1968 and
1969);
-
Engineering Merit Award, The Institute for the Advancement of
Engineering (1970);
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Special Award, National Capitol Film Festival, Washington, DC, 1970;
-
Honorary Life Membership, Club de Exploraciones y Deportes
Acuaticos de Mexico (1973);
-
the NOGI Award for Distinguished Service from the Underwater
Society of America (now presented by The Academy of Underwater
Arts and Sciences) (1989);
-
Fellows Award, Marine Technology Society, Washington, DC (1981);
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Lockheed Award for Ocean Science and Technology (1990);
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Escondido Hall of Fame, Escondido, CA (1990);
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Lowell Award from the Explorers Club (1990);
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Special Recognition Award from the Los Angeles County Underwater
Instructors Association (1994);
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the NOGI Award for Sports & Education from the Academy of
Underwater Arts and Sciences (1999);
-
the Roger Revelle Award from the San Diego Oceans Foundation
(2000);
-
induction into the Scuba Diving Hall of Fame (awarded in 2005
and inducted in January 2005); and other honors.
Sadly Dr. Andy Rechnitzer is no longer with us. He passed away
August 22, 2005.
Many thanks to
the Rechnitzer family for supplying these photos
(Excerpts from the book, Pioneers in Diving by Edward C. Cargile.)
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