August Speaker DAVE PARKHURST

THE AWESOME VANDENBERG WRECK

 On WED August 2nd, SFDI will hear all about the Vandenberg Wreck of Key West from a speaker who knows it inside and out, Dave Parkhurst.  He will inform us of its operational history, including its original commissioning and retirement, as well as its later re-commissioning and re-retirement.  We’ll learn about important moments in its history and view historical photos from its years of operation, including the transportation of troops.  And we’ll learn about it’s sinking, with many illustrative photos.  How has Hurricane Irma affected the Vandenberg? What art exhibitions have been installed on its sides?  And in what ways does it excite its divers?  Find out about the Vandy, and then DIVE her with Dave and SFDI on August 20!  Check out the trip info on SFDI’s calendar page.  See you at the August 2nd meeting and on the Vandy with Dave!

 ABOUT DAVE PARKHURST

 Dave is a retired Naval Officer who served on active duty from 1984-1997 as a Surface Warfare Officer; and in the U. S. Navy Reserves from 1998-2006 as a Special Warfare Combatant Crewman (SWCC).  He retired as a Commander in the Navy and will provide details as part of the intro of his presentation.  While in the Reserves and beyond, he worked as a Special Agent for the Drug Enforcement Administration from 1998-2020.

While in the Navy, Dave got dive certified in 1984 and then dove the world.  He obtained his AOW in Dubai, UAE, and then worked his way through the certifications to become an Instructor in 2015 and a Master Scuba Diver Trainer in 2018.  Dave was awarded the PADI Elite Instructor Award in 2020 for teaching over 50 students, and in 2021 for teaching over 150 students.  He has been told that he received it last year as well, but that one is still "in the mail."  :)

July Speaker Gabriel Jensen

Gabriel is an underwater photographer, biochemist, and naturalist with a particular passion for connecting audiences with the colorful and charismatic microfauna found in the shallow seas of the Tropical Western Atlantic.

 He  currently serves on the board of directors for the South Florida Underwater Photography Society (SFUPS) where he works to connect all levels of underwater photographers, ocean explorers and marine scientists with the tools and mentorship they need to take their work to the next level. With a particular interest in the exotic sea slugs found right in the densely populated urban jungle of South Florida, Gabriel has contributed his finds to popular publications and scientific journals including the Blue Heron Bridge Guide, Scuba Diver Magazine, Florida United Malacologists, and more. "

He will be doing a variation of a presentation geared for divers that he gives to mollusk scientists and presented this year at Florida United Malacologists "How to Find Sea Slugs on your next South Florida Shore Dive"

June Speaker John Lucka

OFF-THE-RADAR DIVE DESTINATIONS
Our featured speaker on June 7th will be one of our own club members, John Lucka.  John will be sharing personal stories of his dive travel to unusual destinations that he promises are well worth the trip.  Join SFDI as John takes us on a waterspout tour of the dive sites of Bermuda, Dry Tortuga National Park, British Virgin Islands, San Andres, Cartagena, Santa Marta, Colombia, Puerto Vallarta, Cabo San Lucas, La Paz, Mexico, Coco Beach and Tamarindo Beach, Costa Rica.  Hold on to your hats! 
ABOUT JOHN LUCKA
John Lucka has had an interest in photography ever since his mother bought him his first camera for Christmas when he was 10 years old and designated him as the family photographer. He started diving in 1986 and soon after became interested in underwater photography. Since then, John has completed almost 1,300 dives.

May Speaker Dr. Joe Dituri Biomedical engineer and United States Navy veteran.

PROJECT NEPTUNE 100:  PRESSURIZED, ANALYZED, ENERGIZED!

Biomedical engineer and United States Navy veteran Dr. Joe Dituri is doing science experiments in the sea. He is living underwater for 100 days in about 30 feet at the Jules Undersea Lodge in Key Largo.  If  he completes his proposed sojourn, he will have broken the record for time at depth in the ocean.   Please join SFDI on Wednesday, May 3 as we learn about the effects of water pressure on human subject Dr. Joe on Day #64!  Find out more about Dr. Dituri at  https://drdeepsea.com/

ABOUT DR. JOE DITURI 

Dr, Dituri did not slow down when he retired from the Navy after 28 years of active service.  Fueled by his passion for discovery, adventure, and making the greatest possible positive contribution to the world, he is fighting for change in a big way. 

As president of the Undersea Oxygen Clinic, Dr. Dituri has applied his Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering to the development of a breakthrough treatment for healing Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), and the related symptoms of PTSD, depression, and long-term mental and physical impairments.

As a Director of the International Board of Undersea Medicine and in partnership with the Marine Resources Development Foundation Marine Lab, Dr. Dituri is embarking on a 100-day adventure in the Jule's Undersea Lodge in Key Largo, FL. Called the Neptune 100 Day Undersea Mission, the work Dr. Dituri is undertaking will further medical research, ocean conservation, and technical development.

Included among his many other projects and influential activities are

CEO of the Association for Marine Exploration 

Active membership on the American Bureau of Shipping Special Committee on Building and Classing Undersea Vehicles and Hyperbaric Systems

Active membership on the National Offshore Advisor Committee for Commercial Diving Safety

Consulting for the International Board of Undersea Medicine

His research areas of interest include hyperbaric medicine, life support equipment, and high carbon dioxide environments. 

Dr. Dituri is the author of numerous diver-training manuals, a co-author of the book “Tao of Survival Underwater”, a contributing author to Hyperbaric Medical Practice (4th edition) and the Navy Diving Manual. He has been published in several journals including those by the American Society of Naval Engineers and the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. 

Always up for a challenge, Dr. Dituri  enjoys writing books, skydiving and pursuing a lifelong goal of being a civilian astronaut.