|
|
|
|
Legends of Diving Articles |
|
|
The History of Diving on Grand Bahama Island – The Pioneers,
Part Two
by Keith G. Cooper
© 2010 Keith G. Cooper
All Rights Reserved.
Al Tillman’s
area of expertise was educating and teaching people how to
dive and that held great promise and potential. He founded
NAUI and wrote the first dive instruction manual. He was
also busy working with the producers on the development of
the SEA HUNT TV show in California. As the idea for the
world’s first dive facility was being developed among
Tillman and his investors; the notorious Freeport developer
Wallace Groves approached his Canadian partners at PIONEERS
BAHAMAS, LTD. to build the Oceanus Inn that would cater to
divers. Tillman would initially oversee the construction of
the dive operation and recruit staff. Within months the
concept for UNEXSO was completed and the agreement signed.
Tillman took a leave from his sports director position in
Los Angeles County, California and began in earnest to
search for the top dive staff available at that time. He
also sought out construction experts and consultants as well
as local Bahamians to become dive guides and assist
instructors during training classes. After two years of
sporadic trips in Grand Bahama Island Tillman decided he
needed to get back to California and left the project in the
capable hands of his partners. As the project progressed
Tillman was not kept fully aware of the challenges and
budget restraints affecting the construction of the Inn and
dive facility. The dream began to unravel when the Oceanus
Inn manager Henri Lorenzi began to assume he was in charge
of the UNEXSO facility construction. This conflict was
fueled further when the investors of the Oceanus Inn began
to have financial problems pushed Lorenzi to takeover UNEXSO
and turn into an athletic club. The matter was resolved and
the project continued ahead after the Oceanus investors
agreed to amend the original contract.
Three of the top dive industry veterans were chosen by
Tillman to lead the operation - Dave Woodward, Jack McKinney
and Chuck Peterson scuba divers who excelled at the sport.
Woodward became the General Manager of UNEXSO and McKinney
and Peterson would run the underwater photography, course
development programs and training of local Bahamians.
Tillman returned for the grand opening in December 1965 but
did not remain on Grand Bahama much longer after the dive
operation opened. He was anxious to head back to California
to continue his research and work on a number of projects
related to dive instruction and equipment research and
development. Throughout the remainder of the decade Tillman
would return often for special projects and to welcome
journalists and celebrities anxious to learn more about
scuba diving.
The dive operation and resort established itself as a
popular destination among Hollywood celebrities,
conservationists, scientists, astronauts and journalists
anxious to report on the growing interest in scuba diving.
Walter Cronkite the noted former anchor for CBS News was
awed that man was embracing a new frontier in the world of
the sea. Tillman taught Cronkite how to scuba dive while
simultaneously filming the initial broadcast of the 21st
Century News Show on “Man In The Sea” segment. Cronkite
could only imagine what new secrets lies beneath the oceans
on this planet.
Norine Rouse a Palm Beach, Florida socialite first visited
UNEXSO shortly after it opened and sought to learn all that
she could about the new sport that was beginning to take
off. She and her daughter frequented UNEXSO as members and
some years later she branched off to form her own club – The
Norine Rouse Scuba Club of the Palm Beaches. She became a
full time conservationist and work tirelessly to protect sea
turtles and other marine wild life. She died in 2007.
Notoriety of the dive operation was making headlines around
the world and it piqued the interest of NASA and Grand
Bahama Island as a possible location for their space
tracking and recovery system. Shortly after their historic
walk on the moon, Astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin
participated in the fist Sea-Space Symposium hosted by
General Electric.
One of the first Bahamians hired at UNEXSO was Ben Rose whom
“BEN’S CAVE” is named after and located at the Lucayan
National Park twenty miles east of Freeport. The park boasts
the Bahamas only underwater cavern system accessible to
divers from land and is home to migrating bats who reside
there during the summer months. The length of the cavern
expels some six miles into the Atlantic Ocean. After Ben
received his dive certification he quickly learned the names
of the marine life in the ocean. He became UNEXSO’s resident
marine identification expert and held classes for those
interested in learning more about sea life.
Other Bahamians who joined UNEXSO in the 1970’s and 80’s
include Nick Rolle, Ollie Ferguson, Pressley Knowles and
Althea Smith who was the first Bahamian woman to become a
certified diver. Their contribution to diving will be
featured in future stories.
Stay tuned for more about the…
-
History of Diving on Grand
Bahama Island- The Dive Sites, How deep can you go! - Part 3
-
History of Diving on Grand
Bahama Island- Tourism Development, A city springs to life – Freeport - Part
4
-
History of Diving on Grand
Bahama Island-Pirates, Rum Runners and the Wild, Wild…West End - Part 5
Archive Library
Visit the Archive of
these fine Vintage Articles
© 2010 Keith Cooper
All Rights Reserved.
Thank you for your interest in Keith
Cooper's History
of SCUBA diving. The text in this article is the sole
property of Keith Cooper, he is the exclusive author.
Portage Quarry has presented it in its entirety with no
editorial review. They are copyrighted and cannot be used in
any way without the written permission of Keith Cooper. If
you would like a copy of this
article please contact the
webmaster.
|
|
|
Portage Quarry Recreation Club, Inc.
12701 South Dixie Bowling Green OH, 43402
Email
©1999-2021 International Legends of Diving All Rights Reserved
|