As divers, we are often reminded of what is being lost.

We witness coral bleaching, ghost nets, declining fish stocks and degraded coastlines. News about the oceans can sometimes feel overwhelming, as though the problems are so vast that individual actions no longer matter. Yet one of the striking things about the diving community worldwide is that this assumption is increasingly being proven wrong.

Yet again, the world’s leaders convened, debated, produced lofty rhetoric—and left without the binding commitments, measurable targets, or decisive action that the science demands. The fact that several of the most influential leaders and governments did not attend speaks volumes. The US administration did not even bother to send delegates; however, over 100 state and local US leaders did show up. And even though China’s leadership was absent, it did send a large delegation.

To preface this tribute for newcomers to diving and the dive industry: Michael was the one who coined the term “technical diving” and founded AquaCorps Magazine in the 1990s, which was dedicated to what we now know as technical diving. He drove the development of the field, ultimately benefiting the whole dive industry, improving training methods, and driving innovation. He also organised a number of technical conferences, most notably, several Rebreather Forums.

We like to think of equality as a universal principle—that all human beings are created equal and should be afforded the same rights and opportunities. The idea has echoed through history, from Enlightenment thinkers to the ringing words of the American Declaration of Independence. They are noble ideals, ones we like to believe in, but when we look around us, reality tells another story. Where we are born, into which family and in which part of the world, still determines far more about our lives than any amount of effort, talent, or ambition.

Once upon a time, when we were drafting and tinkering with the design and editorial profile of this magazine before it was launched, I had already made the observation that American dive magazines focused predominantly on US dive sites, the Caribbean and some Pacific destinations, while European magazines were mainly centred on local dive sites, the Mediterranean and the Red Sea, with the occasional mention of the Maldives or Thailand.

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.

A big thank you to the many who responded positively to my previous editorial about the balance we have to walk to maintain complete editorial independence and integrity while relying on sponsorship and advertising.

To elaborate, sticking to old-school, fact-based, in-depth reporting has been an easy choice. While going against the tide of the media landscape and macro-economic trends presents many challenges, adhering to these virtues provides us with a safe haven, with classic journalistic principles and press ethics providing guidance and a protective framework.

All through my diving career, I have been aware of the value of training, currency, and constant practice of safety drills. Too often, I have seen experienced divers get into serious difficulty because they failed to manage a minor issue. An issue that their training had equipped them to solve easily. Conversely, I have always had respect for the diver who dedicates his first dive on a liveaboard to a gentle skills practice.