Jack Prodanovich, a daring diver who opened the doors for sport diving, mostly in the San Diego, CA area, died of respiratory failure on February 7, 2008. He was most noted in the history of diving for the following:

• He was the co-founder of the famous Bottom Scratchers, an invitation-only group. The Bottom Scratchers gained national attention for the sport with their daring adventures. He founded the organization with Glenn Orr and Ben Stone.

• He helped standardize rules for the taking of record fish by underwater spearfisherman by working with the Los Angeles Fire Department Neptunes fish records committee.

• Prodanovich received an award from the Diving Equipment and Marketing Association (DEMA) that read: “With little more than homemade masks and bare skin, you were the first to open the ocean door. Thank you for leading us. Congratulations Bottom Scratchers Dive Club.”