I would not be here without the support and help of an army of giants. —Jeff Bozanic
I’d like to thank the Academy for having me here tonight. I am truly honored to be here and to receive the NOGI for Education. I am humbled as you add my name to the ranks of those I consider my mentors, role models, and heroes.
I would not be here without the support and help of an army of giants. My early instructors and mentors; John Reseck, Jr., who also presented me with my medal this evening, John Wozny, and the Santa Ana College Dive Club, all of who guided and supported me as I became a dive instructor.
My NAUI family; Jeanne Sleeper, Sam Jackson, Mike Williams, Bob and Valerie Rutledge, where I began my path in dive leadership in the broader community.
My many, many friends and fellow divers in the cave diving community; Lamar Hires, Dennis Williams, Jill Yager, Gene Melton, Steve Ormeroid, all of whom sweated and toiled while exploring unknown depths, and sometimes perished while doing so.
The members of the academic diving community who introduced me to core aspects of scientific diving; Jimmy Stewart at Scripps, Hank Tonnemacher, Bill Hamilton, Rich Pyle, John Heine, and from the National Park Service Submerged Resources Unit, Larry Murphy, Dan Lenihan, and Dave Conlin.
The many members of the AAUS; and the countless others in our extended family is too large to list: Dan Orr, Karl Huggins, Director of the Catalina Hyperbaric Chamber, Gord Boivin, Bill Horn, Stephanie Miele, Jim Holm, Jim Joiner, Richie Kohler, and so many others have a special place in my heart.
I love you all, and apologize to those who I do not have time to mention.
And of course, I wouldn’t be here without the support of my family; My Mom (who passed away exactly 4 years ago today) and father (now gone 25 years) encouraged my pursuit of a career path that they didn’t really understand. I so wish that they could be here today to see the appreciation you are showing me. And my wife, Rebekah (who I met at the recompression chamber), and three children, Evan, John-Aaron, and Taleah, who have suffered thru hundreds of dive trips, excursions, and expeditions that took me away from them over the years. I love you and thank you!
So why am I here tonight, receiving this prestigious honor?
It is because I have been disruptive. Disruptive in cave diving, in scientific diving, in dive instruction. And by honoring me here tonight, you, the academy Fellows, decided that this disruption has benefited our industry.
So how do we continue to be constructively disruptive? How do we encourage additional younger people to be involved in the sport?
The people in this room, and those like you who couldn’t be here, embody a library of knowledge that is priceless. We cannot afford to lose it. Yet that is a real danger.
As we look toward the future of scuba education, it's essential to recognize that new generations, Millennials, Gen Xers and Gen Z, learn very differently than we do. They are digital natives immersed in instant information. Their mental processes are shaped by interactive media, social connectivity, and a constant flow of stimuli. These learners are highly visual and kinesthetic, thriving in environments where they can learn by their own experience rather than from others. This experiential approach aligns with their desire for immediate relevance. These new generations seek experiences over skill-building. For them, the adventure of diving and exploring the underwater world is the primary goal, and learning the necessary skills is secondary.
This necessitates rethinking our training methods.
Instead of front-loading instruction with skill mastery and theory, we should integrate learners into real or simulated diving experiences early in the training process. By providing immediate exposure to the underwater environment, either with shallow dives or virtual reality simulations, we can ignite their passion and motivation. Skills will develop organically as they navigate these experiences, making the learning process more relevant and engaging. Combining training within other contexts, such as conservation or adventure travel, will enhance the memory of the experience. When they see how their skills contribute to issues they care about, their commitment deepens.
By connecting the minimum skills they need with experiences, we create a more effective learning process. By emphasizing experiences over mastery, new divers will gain the necessary skills, and a swifter commitment to our sport.
Let’s build upon the wisdom of our generation and distill our knowledge into new methods that better resonate and embrace the needs of today's learners.
Thank you for this honor, and for your attention. I hope you will join me in pursuing new methods to inspire younger generations to experience our oceans and sport.
