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Legends of Diving Articles |
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Harry Vetter
Dive Shop Manager and Early NAUI Instructor
Harry Vetter, 81, was born in Long Beach California in
1928. He grew up in the Redondo Beach area where his life was
shaped by the Pacific ocean coastline that surrounded him. Harry
developed both a love and respect
for the ocean as he
experienced it via body surfing, tidal pool exploring, as well
as skin diving during his formative years.
After graduating from Compton Jr. College in 1949, he purchased
his first SCUBA regulator from Rene Bussoz's Sporting Goods in
Westwood, California, thereby teaching himself to use the SCUBA
by referring to E.R. Cross's Hard Hat Diving Manual. He truly
was self-taught. Quickly mastering the sport, he started
teaching diving in motel and backyard swimming pools in 1952,
though no certifications were issued at these sessions.
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In these early days, Harry helped to distribute copies of the
first issue of Skin Diver Magazine, in which his photograph can
be seen on the last page of that December 1951 issue.
Harry then moved on to teach the first YMCA SCUBA classes in the
United States at the Long Beach, California YMCA from 1954-1956.
Vetter then

Harry Vetter with his bug appeared in the first issue of
Skin Dive Magazine. He reported on the Southern California
Skin Divers Annual Lobster Tournament at Carpenteria State
Park in 1951. |
began an affiliation with the Underwater Sports Shop
in Long Beach from 1956-1960 by managing the shop, as well as
teaching diving classes.
From 1960-1965 Harry managed and taught at 3 Ski and Dive shops
in the Los Angeles Area, as well as at the Aquatic Center and
Disneyland pools in Santa Ana and Anaheim, California.
Mr. Vetter became a member instructor with the Los Angeles
County Instructors Program in 1955 and served on their Board of
Directors from 1958-1960.
Harry enjoys the distinction of helping to form the NAUI
Instructors program in Houston, Texas in 1960, as well as
holding the 4th NAUI Instructors card issued. It was recently
noted that |
he is also the "oldest living NAUI instructor." In
honor of this, NAUI recently issued a special commemorative
instructors card to this living legend.
After making these powerful contributions to the diving
community, Harry now resides with his wife of 44 years in
Medford, Oregon. |
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Portage Quarry Recreation Club, Inc.
12701 South Dixie Bowling Green OH, 43402
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