NSF Speakers

April 23

The North Shore Frogmen and Undersea Divers proudly invite you to a Stan Waterman Symposium April 23^rd, 2009 at 8:00pm

Stan Waterman has been at the forefront of scuba diving since its inception as a recreational sport both in this country and throughout the world. His attraction to the underwater world began as a schoolboy in 1936 when he first dived with a Japanese Ama diver's mask in Florida. In the 1950s, inspired by Jacques Cousteau's revolutionary invention of the Aqua Lung, Mr. Waterman acquired the first one in Maine and went on to pioneer scuba diving in that state.

In 1968 he collaborated with Peter Gimbel on the classic shark film, Blue Water, White Death. He was associate producer and underwater cameraman during the seven-month long filming.

However, he may be best known for his work in commercial film. He was co-director of underwater photography and second unit in the production of The Deep, based on Peter Benchley's best-selling novel. In other collaborations with his close friend and neighbor Mr. Benchley, he was responsible for ten years' worth of productions for ABC's American Sportsman Show. More recent productions include documentaries for ABC's Spirit of Adventure series and the Expedition Earth series on ESPN.

Stan will use various films, pictures and publications to discuss the evolution of underwater photography, video and film making. Tickets are on sale now from North Shore Frogmen members and at Undersea Divers, 42 Water Street, Beverly, MA at the cost of only $5.00 before the event, $10 at the door.

Stan will have personalized copies of his latest book for sale.

Advance Tickets: $5.00 Night of Event: $10.00. Buy Online Now (50¢ service fee added, your confirmation of sale is your ticket.)- No Longer Available as of 7:45 AM 4/23 - Limited tickets available at the door.

Jay Swallow of the Manchester Police Department gave a CPR course at this meeting.

Norman "Dugie" Russell was our Guest Speaker on Thursday, March 26th at 8:00pm.

Dugie has been diving on the USS New Hampshire since the very early 1960s. He has amassed a huge collection of artifacts with one particular piece that will be of interest to anybody that has ever dove the wreck.

Dugie has what just might be the only one in existence: a NY Militia belt buckle he recovered in pristine condition. The NY Militia crewed on the USS New Hampshire and this artifact is Civil war era and is magnificent to see.

Dugie gave a fun and informative presentation with a slide show, narration and artifact viewing.

Bob Foster, Slav Mlch, Dave Faye, Paul Blanchette and Don Morse - The SS Portland

The Steamship Portland, lost with all hands in a devastating storm at the turn of the last century, was thought to be beyond the reach of scuba divers. In August of 2008, a group of Massachusetts divers pushed the boundaries of technical diving and visited this untouched wreck.

Bob Foster showed video at the meetine on March 19 and took us along on the first dives to the Portland, lost for almost 100 years after sailing into the “Perfect Storm” of November 26th, 1898. This elegant paddle-wheeler carried over 190 passengers and crew as it left India Wharf in Boston bound for Portland Maine, and was last seen as night fell off the coast of Cape Ann. The wreck was discovered in 1989 and positively identified in 2002, lying over 450 feet deep in what is now the Stellwagen Bank Underwater National Marine Sanctuary.

Bob and fellow divers Slav Mlch, Dave Faye, Paul Blanchette and Don Morse were the first to visit the Portland in 110 years.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Special Agent Andy Cohen will draw on his many years as a diver and law enforcement officer, as he discusses important preservation initiatives spearheaded by him and NOAA to help sustain the oceans we all love so much.

Andy Cohen has twenty eight year’s experience in Federal law enforcement with NOAA and the National Park Service. He is currently the Special Agent-in-Charge of NOAA Fisheries Office of Law Enforcement’s Northeast Division. As such, he supervises investigations of conservation related crime in a nineteen state area. Cohen specializes in international investigations, involving organized crime syndicates smuggling high value commodities, such as bluefin tuna, caviar and Patagonian toothfish.

During the 1980's he was assigned to an elite undercover unit that orchestrated the largest undercover fisheries and wildlife sting in history. The case involved high seas caught salmon, unlawfully taken in the by foreign pirate fleets and resulted in a United Nations resolution banning high seas driftnet fishing.

More recently, he helped to implement satellite based Vessel Monitoring Systems (VMS) in domestic, high seas and foreign fisheries.

Cohen graduated from Western Washington University in 1979 with a Bachelor’s degree in Park Management. He has been awarded US Department of Commerce Gold and Silver medals, the NOAA Administrator’s Award and is a Senior Fellow at the Council for Excellence in Government. He currently serves on the Executive Board of the Boston Special Agents-in-Charge Association and is a member of the US Treaty Delegation to the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources.

Please plan to attend earlier for the usual social gathering to enjoy the great pub on site, serving up good food and drink with very reasonable prices at the Nineteenth Hole Pub.