[WHAT HAS THE SOCIETY DONE?] [COMPETITIONS] [SAFETY, CONSERVATION & LEGISLATION]
[AWARDS] [PUBLICATIONS] [DOCUMENTS] [CALENDAR] [MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS] [OFFICERS] [LINKS]


The Underwater Society of America was formed in 1959 by the existing skin-diving councils; it was composed of and represented all divers in North America. It is the public diving organization of the United States. It is controlled by its executive committee, board of directors and delegates of the member councils and clubs meeting annually. Currently there are some thirty councils/clubs in the Society. (The clubs are usually formed to play an underwater sport.) The Society functions to give national recognition to divers. 

WHAT HAS THE SOCIETY DONE?

One of the main functions of the Society is education and information - making and keeping divers, councils, and clubs aware of the issues affecting them. Since 1959, the Society has been active in issues affecting divers right to dive, marine ecology, safety, legislation, conservation and the like. The Society offered testimony opposing a proposed extremely restrictive California regulation; as a result, the infamous ‘LA Ordinance’ was not enacted state wide. Working  with the councils, areas closed or restricted to diving have been opened. USOA has offered written and verbal testimony to both Congressional Houses and the National Park Service regarding proposed ‘Wreck Diving Bills.’ The Society has worked with and offered testimony to the Coast Guard in support of the red and white ‘divers’ flag. 

OTHER BENEFITS, ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS

C.M.A.S.: As a charter member of the World Underwater Federation (C.M.A.S.), the Society is the sanctioning body for underwater sports in the United States. CMAS is headquartered in Rome where USOA sits on all CMAS Committees: Science, Technical and Sports. As a member of CMAS, the Society sanctions yearly local, regional and national underwater champion ships in Scuba, Free Diving, U/W Hockey, U/W Rugby, Fin Swimming and U/W Photography. The Society is also eligible and sends teams to all World U/W Sports Championships. 

COMPETITIONS 

Since 1959, National Championships have been conducted in Free Diving and Scuba Diving. Underwater Hockey started in the US. in the late 1960’s, and UW Hockey Nationals have been held annually since 1976. Fin Swimming started with regional competitions in 1985 and National Championships in 1989. Underwater Photography competitions such as the Beach Photo Champion- ships were first held in 1987 and ‘mail in’ competitions have been held on a regular basis. U/W Rugby is played on a regional level. 

United States National Free Diving Champions have represented the USOA in all the biennial World Championships and have placed as high as second. World U/W Hockey Championships are also biennial. In 1984 USOA hosted these Championships in Chicago, IL, and hosted again in San Jose, CA in 1998. The USOA Women’s u/w hockey teams have medaled often placing as high as Silver, and in 1994 the Men’s team won the Bronze in France. Competition now includes Masters Division. In 1998, the US teams medaled in 3 of the 4 divisions: bronze in Elite Women and Open Masters and silver in Women Masters. There were 14 countries, 36 teams and some 600 athletes and support personnel at the World Championships held in San Jose CA.  Since then the USA has brought home numerous Gold Medals in the Men’s and Women’s Masters Division competitions.

USOA Fin Swimmers participated at biennial World Championships for the first time in 1986 in Berlin, in 1994 in China and 1996 in _______. A team of fin swimmers represented the Society at the World Corporate Games in 1988 and 1989. This is a new US sport with building enthusiasm. In 1986, the International Olympic Committee accepted Fin Swimming for potential inclusion in the Olympic Games; the next opportunity is 2004 in Athens

U/W Rugby World Championships are quadrennial and will be held next in 2009.   The US participated for the first time at the 1999 Championships in Germany and fielded its first Women’s Team at the 2003 Championships in Denmark

World U/W Photography Championships were first held in Spain in 1987. USOA has sent teams to each biennial competition, placing in the top 10 at the 1994 Championships in South Korea. A team of one competed in 1996 and a team of two in 1998 in Norway. USOA u/w photographers did well at the ‘50 Judges World Competition’ held in 1993 winning a gold medal and several honorable mentions. Competitors also did well in 1995 and 1997 competition. 

Anti doping information including banned and legal substances and methods and procedures for drug testing is available from Dr. Paul Ulbrich USOA member of the CMAS Medical Commission. 

Underwater Sports Awards: 

In 1989 the Society was admitted to the United States Olympic Committee as an Affiliated Sport. The first opportunity for Olympic competition may come in 2000 in Australia for Fin Swimming. Each year the USOA nominates the MAN AND WOMAN ATHLETE OF THE YEAR AWARD winners to USOC. 

USOA athletes are also honored with all sports national champions comprising the ALL AMERICAN DIVE TEAM. Each sport also awards their MAN & WOMAN ATHLETE OF THE YEAR. There are two Sportsmanship Awards: DAN WILKINS MEMORIAL AWARD for U/W Hockey Nationals and the CARL JUDD MEMORIAL AWARD for U/W Hockey Pacific Coast Championships. 

SAFETY, CONSERVATION & LEGISLATION 

The Society Safety Director chairs the University of Rhode Island Scuba Safety Statistics research and annual report. This data shows diving to be a safe sport while the number of divers is increasing. 

The Society Legislative Director works with member councils and clubs on issues of diver/diving access and regulation and is ready to offer testimony and/or support for divers facing unnecessary or restrictive legislation. Member councils and clubs assist their state legislatures on matters of access, fish & game laws, underwater parks, aquatic environment and safety. The Marine Environment Director acts in a similar fashion advising on matters that threaten species or the marine/ aquatic environment. 

An activity to further highlight the Marine Environment is annual the Ocean Pals Children’s Poster Contest. This competition was developed in 1984 by Beneath the Sea  Dive Exposition in New York, and the winning posters are displayed at that Show each March. This is a contest for grade school children to heighten their awareness of the dangers to the ocean. In 1988 Ocean Pals was regionalized. Ocean Pals West is sponsored by the Society conducting the Contest in the Western states in cooperation with Discover Diving Show held in June in Santa Clara, CA, where the regional winners are displayed. 

AWARDS

Since 1960, the Society has sponsored four special awards: The NOGI. The award is symbolized by statuettes awarded in four categories: Arts, Sports/Education, Science, Distinguished Service. The NOGI is the ‘Oscar’ of diving and has been awarded to Jacques Cousteau, Sylvia Earl, Glen Engstrom, Valerie Taylor, Paul Tzimoulis, Al Giddings, Stan Waterman and Jack Mc Kenny to name only a few. The Statuettes are underwritten by SKINDIVER MAGAZINE. 

The Society also recognizes divers on a regional basis - The Regional Divers of the Year Award - based on the same categories as the NOGI. In 1987 the Ocean Sentinel, Rangers of the Sea award was developed. Designed by Bob Straight, Sea Symbols, the award is presented to those persons contributing their efforts to marine ecology and the diving environment. 

PUBLICATIONS 

The Society publishes a quarterly newsletter, Visibility which is a benefit of membership. Other publications include a ‘How to Form a Dive Club,’ six underwater sports outlines, u/w hockey referee manual and rules books for national and inter national u/w sports. Available from the Society are titles on Fin Swimming, Media and Organizing Tournaments. 

DOCUMENTS 

Standard Competition Rules 2006

Bylaws 2005

Download 2008 USOA Hockey Waiver

CALENDAR

                                      April

April 5-6                                  George Mason UW Hockey Tourney

April 19                                    Passover Begins Sundown

April 19-20                              OceanFest Dive Show

                                                Ft Lauderdale by the Sea, FL

April 21-May 3                        World Championships Aqua Challenge

                                                Durban So Africa

 

April 26-27                              UW Hockey Tournament  UMass/Lowell                    

                                      May

May 3-4                                   Northwest Dive/Travel Expo

                                                Tacoma Washington

May 11                                    Mothers Day

May 17-18                               Atlanta Dive Show

May 20-25                               CMAS Annual Meeting Egypt

May 26                                    Memorial Day Holiday

                                      June

June 14                                    Flag Day

June 15                                    Fathers Day

June 21                                    First Day Summer

June 21-22                               Scuba 2008 Long Beach Show

                                      July

July 4                                       Independence Day Holiday

July 25-27                                UW Hockey National Championships

                                                Gainesville Florida

                                               

July 27-29                                NASO Annual Meeting Cleveland

                                      August

August 7                                   Skin National Championships

                                                            Newport Rhode Island

                                      September

September 1                             Labor Day Holiday

September 11                           Patriot Day

September 22                           First Day Fall

September 26-27                     DC Dive Show - NEW!

                                                National Ships to Reefs Meeting DC

September 29                           Rosh Hashanah Begins Sundown

                                      October

October 8                                Yom Kippur Begins Sundown

October 11                              Randy Fry Memorial Meet CA

October 13                              Columbus Day Holiday

October 22-25                         DEMA Las Vegas

October 31                              Halloween

                                      November

November 2                             Daylight Savings Ends

November 4                             Election Day

November 11                           Veterans Day Holiday

November 27                           Thanksgiving Day Holiday

                                      December

December 6-7                         Florida Show, South Florida

December 7                            Pearl Harbor Remembrance

December 21                          First Day Winter

December 21                          Hanukkah Begins Sundown

December 25                          Christmas Day Holiday

December 26                          Boxing Day/Kwanzaa Begins

                                      January 2009

January 1 2009                        New Years Day Holiday

January 3-4                             Denver UW Hockey Event Tentative

January 19                               MLKing Holiday

                                      February

February 14                            Valentines Day

February 16                            Presidents Day Holiday

 

Date/location not set:

  • PCC Hockey
  • PCC Skin Diving
  • Fall CCC Meeting - LA hosting

MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS

The Society is a dues supported membership organization. Membership is open to ALL divers. Membership benefits include the newsletter, car rental discount, credit card and other services. There are also logo decals, pins, patches, t shirts, special World Competition logo goods, video lending library and so forth. 

Benefits of membership are also intangible - being a winner in u/w sports competitions, representing the USA as World Championships, advising law makers, meeting other divers from across the nation and the world and being a safe buddy. Members help it all to come about just by being members. So, join the Society and be a proud member!

 

 

ELECTED OFFICERS

PRESIDENT:

Carol Rose

So San Francisco CA

650 583 8492

croseusoa@aol.com

EXEC VICE PRESIDENT:

Ray Tucker

Ava NY

315 337 6938

tuckerr@twcny.rr.com

SECRETARY:

Michael Gower

San Jose CA

408 286 8840

usafin@aol.com

 


ELECTED COMPETITIVE DIRECTORS

Underwater Hockey

Greg Appling
Sunnyvale CA
rugby14uwh@yahoo.com

  • Assist Director

Renata Foucre
San Francisco CA

  • Secretary

Carol Rose

  • Chief Referee

Woody Lee
Stuart FL

  • Rules

Doug Roth
Sunnyvale CA

Skin Diving

Dave Edlund
Las Gatos CA
edlunds123@comcast.net

  • Assist Director

Mike Mc Guire
Colorado

  • Secretary

Rusty Butler
FL

Scuba

Bill Ernst
Malibu CA
aquabill@ix.netcom.com

Underwater Rugby

Joe Gomes
MA
UWRugbyUSA@aol.com

Fin Swimming

see Mike Gower, Secretary


Appointed Directors/Liaisons:

Membership

Elizabeth Hughes, .Jackson MI

Awards

Jana Bradley, Frontenac KS

Ship Wrecks

Phil Bergeron, CA

Legislation

Anne Giesecke, Lincoln NE
info@a-dpolicyanalysis.com

Artificial Reefs

Glen Arthur, NJ

(Ships to Reefs)

 

Safety Director

Craig Jenni
Craigsjenni@aol.com

Editor

Carol Rose, see president

USOC Representative

Mike Gower, see Secretary

Women Divers Hall of Fame

Carol Rose, see President

Blue Water Records

Terry Maas
Ventura CA

Catch Records

Phil Lamm
Granite City, IL

CMAS Representatives

  • Sport - Carol Rose
  • Technical - Mike Gower

NOGI Representative

Mike Gower

Other:

  • Logo Goods - Lands' End
  • Awards - Glass Impressions

Area Vice Presidents:

Northeast

Charlie Matthews
Randolph MA
charliesplash@msn.com

Southeast

Scott Turgeon
Jupiter, FL
scott.turgeon@fl.usda.gov

Midwest

Phil Lamm
Granite City IL
plamm_2000@yahoo.com

Ct Plains/Rocky Mts

Mike Mc Guire
Clifton CO
anyh2o@direcway.com

South West Pacific

Vacant


COUNCILS AND OTHER LINKS

Diving

Midwest Diving Council - www.midwestdivingcouncil.org

J.A.W.S. Club, Pittsburg Kansas - http://www.geocities.com/Pipeline/8522/jaws.html

New York State Divers Association - www.scubany.org

Long Island Divers Association - www.lidaonline.com

Texas Gulf Council of Dive Clubs - www.tgccdiveclubs.org

New Jersey Council of Diving Clubs - www.scubaNJ.org

New York State Divers Association - www.scubany.org

Greater Los Angeles Council of Divers - www.glacd.org

Women Divers Hall of Fame - www.wdhof.org/about.html

Ohio Council Ski & Scuba Divers - www.ocssdi.org

Long Island Divers Assoc - groups.yahoo.com/group/Long_Island_Divers_Association

Alabama Spearfishing Association - http://www.flounderwear.com/asa.html

Florida Scuba Divers Association - http://www.divefsda.com/

Free Diving

IBSRC - www.freedive.net/ibsrc/

Underwater Hockey

United States Underwater Hockey - www.usauwh.com

Canadian Underwater Games Association or Association Canadienne des Jeux sub Aquatiques - www.cuga.org

British Octopush Association - www.gbuwh.co.uk

The following sites are frequently updated.

Underwater Hockey Tourist - www.PuckU.org/uwht

Connecticut Underwater Hockey - members.tripod.com/jls_website/uwh/index.html