Five recipients recognised for decades of impact across underwater imaging, shipwreck exploration, diving medicine, tourism and environmental protection
2026 NOGi Recipients
The 2026 NOGI Awards have been announced, recognising five individuals whose careers have shaped modern diving, underwater exploration and ocean stewardship. Presented annually by the Academy of Underwater Arts & Sciences, the NOGI Awards are among the most respected honours in the global diving community, celebrating lifetime achievement across distinct fields.
This year’s recipients reflect the breadth of underwater endeavour, from cinematic storytelling and historic shipwreck exploration to medical science, conservation and the development of sustainable dive tourism.
Arts: Jonathan Bird
Jonathan Bird receives the award for Arts. An award-winning underwater cinematographer, Bird is best known as the creator and host of Jonathan Bird’s Blue World, a family-friendly series with more than a million subscribers and eight Emmy Awards. Over his career, he has filmed more than 50 documentaries for major broadcasters including National Geographic, PBS and Discovery. His IMAX® films Ancient Caves and Call of the Dolphins have brought immersive ocean storytelling to giant-screen audiences worldwide. Bird has previously been profiled in X-Ray Magazine and is also the founder of the nonprofit Oceanic Research Group.
Sports & Education: Richard “Ritchie” Kohler
Ritchie Kohler is honoured for Sports & Education. A veteran shipwreck explorer and filmmaker, Kohler rose to international prominence following the identification of a German U-boat in the early 1990s, later chronicled in Hitler’s Lost Sub and Shadow Divers. As co-host of Deep Sea Detectives and producer of numerous documentaries, he has played a central role in bringing underwater history to mainstream audiences, combining technical diving with human-centred storytelling.
Science: Dr Simon Mitchell
Simon Mitchell receives the Science award. An anaesthesiologist and diving physician based in New Zealand, Mitchell is internationally recognised for his research in diving medicine, particularly in decompression physiology and oxygen toxicity. A prolific author and sought-after speaker, he has also participated in extreme technical diving expeditions, including record-setting deep wreck and cave dives. Mitchell has contributed extensively to X-Ray Magazine over the years, sharing research and expert analysis with the diving community.
Distinguished Service: Howard Rosenstein
Howard Rosenstein is honoured for Distinguished Service. A pioneer of dive tourism in the Mediterranean, Red Sea and Indian Ocean, Rosenstein played a key role in opening destinations such as the Red Sea and Seychelles to divers while advocating for conservation. He was instrumental in the establishment of Ras Mohammed as Egypt’s first marine nature reserve and later founded Fantasea Line, a company producing underwater photography equipment.
Environment: Cristina Zenato
Cristina Zenato receives the Environment award. A shark behaviourist, cave explorer and conservation advocate, Zenato has worked extensively in The Bahamas, leading efforts that resulted in full shark protection in 2011. She has also contributed to global campaigns reducing shark fin consumption and has explored and surveyed cave systems now included in marine protected areas. Zenato has contributed multiple articles to X-Ray Magazine, including work on shark conservation and education.
Together, the 2026 NOGI recipients represent decades of commitment to exploration, science, education and environmental protection. Their work continues to influence how the underwater world is explored, understood and safeguarded for future generations.
