CONGRATULATIONS! ‘Diver Laura’ joins Women Divers Hall of Fame

laura

Congratulations to “Diver Laura” James (top right in the photo above) for her recent induction into the Women Divers Hall of Fame. She explains, “WDHOF honors the contributions of women in diving, but more importantly, gives back through its burgeoning scholarship and mentorship programs. If you know of a student who needs some support, have them check out these ocean programs at wdhof.org Congrats to my Sea Sisters Chantelle Taylor-Newman, Dawn Kernagis, Patti Kirk Gross, Cody Unser, and Ruth Petzold.” While we’ve been reporting on her projects for the past few years, Laura’s undersea achievements go back much further – more than 20 years! We asked her for some highlights, and she mentioned “helping organize the first non-commercial, non-military team to visit 3 of our local deep shipwrecks in the early ’90s: the Al-Ind-Eska Sea, the Bunker Hill, and the AJ Fuller – yes, making me the first woman on them – and owning/operating the first extended range diving shop north of California.” What’s she working on next? Narrated live undersea streaming!

8 Replies to "CONGRATULATIONS! 'Diver Laura' joins Women Divers Hall of Fame"

  • Jeanie April 10, 2016 (2:38 pm)

    Congrats to Laura and the other wonderful women. Laura, you look absolutely glamorous in that gown! 

  • miws April 10, 2016 (4:17 pm)

    Congrats, Diver Laura, and to the other women!

    From all of Laura’s videos and other contributions shared here on WSB over the years, I can’t imagine a better Mentor.

    Mike 

  • ACG April 10, 2016 (6:42 pm)

    Congrats, Laura!  I really enjoy your work, and an accolade well deserved for you!  I was just wondering what the status is on the plight of the sea stars?  

  • DiverLaura April 10, 2016 (7:49 pm)

    Thanks all!!  It is truly an honor.  

    ACG, the stars are still feeling the impact of SSWS :(  I hope to share some images  of that from underwater via Periscope starting next week when my underwater communication systems arrives (until then I’ll just have to mime any descriptives).  Warmer weather so early can’t be good either, although it’s sure pleasant and pretty topside.  Fellow Diver Jan K. Posted some of his great images from Langley and it’s rearing it’s ugly head up north as well.   We are seeing some recruitment (babies) but they are still not growing bigger than about hand sized before they vanish or fall apart. 

  • KD April 10, 2016 (8:32 pm)

    Well the ‘Sea Sisters’ look very glamorous! Where was this event held at?

  • ACG April 10, 2016 (8:51 pm)

    Thanks, Laura for the update. I was hoping for more encouraging news :-(

    I haven’t been diving for about 8 years now, but seeing the seastars was always one of my favorite things in local dives.  So sad to think that they are perishing and that the underwater memories I have are no longer reality  

  • DiverLaura April 10, 2016 (11:20 pm)

    KD, 

    The induction dinner was held in Seacacus, NJ at Beneath the Sea dive show :) 

  • DiverLaura April 10, 2016 (11:26 pm)

    ACG,

    Yes, it’s depressing. :(   But there are a few survivors here and there and hopefully they will be able to help repopulate with babies that are immune… We could be witnessing the activation point for the stars adaptation to the warmer future that we are all facing.  

    I’m also sad that new divers and kids on the beach will never really experience what we had, and I imagine those who came before us might feel the same way.  

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