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Accomplishments

A VISIONARY AND INNOVATOR

Ralph was highly regarded as one of the industry pioneers and was known as an innovator and visionary in diving. He marched to the beat of his own drum and made many changes to the way that we trained divers. Many of these ideas that he implemented are still in practice today. 

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  • NAUI Instructor number 35  

  • Founder of PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors)

  • PADI Instructor # 0 (John Cronin was #1, Ralph wanted to one up him!)

  • Author of Under Pressure (One of the first diving instructional books published)

  • Author of Discover the Underwater World

  • Editor of the Undersea Journal (PADI’s instructor publication)

  • 1980- Inducted into the High School Swimming Coaches Association Hall of Fame

  • 1986- Recipient of the High School Water Polo Hall of Fame Award

  • 1986- Inducted into the Loyola University of Chicago Athletic Hall of Fame.

  • 1992- DEMA Reaching Out Award for Education

  • 1992- DEMA Hall of Fame inductee

  • 2004- Recipient of the Our World Underwater Achievement Award

  • 2007- Elected to the International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame

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