History of Diving Museum

History of Diving Museum
Established2000, opened 2005
LocationIslamorada, Florida.
TypeHistory of underwater diving
FoundersJoe Bauer and Sally Bauer
Executive director
Lisa Mongelia[1]
PresidentSally E. Bauer[1]
ChairpersonChris Dutton[1]
Websitedivingmuseum.org

The History of Diving Museum is located in Islamorada, Florida which is in the Florida Keys. The museum's exhibits include a collection of vintage underwater diving equipment, a notable collection of diving helmets and various artifacts that are dedicated to the history of underwater diving.

History

History of Diving Museum, front entrance

The not-for-profit museum was founded by Joe and Sally Bauer, retired physicians. A chance purchase of a diving helmet had started their interest in diving and the ocean. They wrote scientific articles on oceanic topics, and assembled a large collection of diving artifacts. In 2000, they started turning a self-storage warehouse in Islamorada into a museum.[2][3][4][5] It opened to the public in 2005 and was in full operation the next year.[6] Joe died in 2007 and his widow Sally continued the work.[3][4]

Exhibits

As of 2014, the museum had 13 exhibits on diving history, beginning with a story from the 3-4 thousand year old Epic of Gilgamesh.[4][7] Diving pioneers such as Edmond Halley and Karl Heinrich Klingert are included. The museum has a large collection of diving helmets from over 20 countries.[7][8] The collection includes atmospheric diving suits such as the 1930 "Iron Mike".[7]

Recognition

Sally Bauer was inducted into the Women Divers Hall of Fame in 2011.[5] She received the NOGI Award in 2019. The mayor of Islamorada proclaimed January 12, 2019, to be "Dr. Sally Bauer Day".[9]

The Bauers were also both founding members of the US and UK branches of the Historical Diving Society.[5]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Museum Staff & Board". divingmuseum.org. Retrieved May 15, 2022.
  2. ↑ Cocking, Susan (September 17, 2006). "Taking a dive into history". The Miami Herald. p. 86. Retrieved May 14, 2022.
  3. 1 2 Rhodes, Don (August 15, 2014). "Museum began out of a love of diving and one another". The Reporter. pp. B1. Retrieved May 14, 2022.
  4. 1 2 3 Rhodes, Don (August 15, 2014). "Museum began out of a love of diving and one another". The Reporter. pp. B3. Retrieved May 14, 2022.
  5. 1 2 3 Johnson, Kalie (June 20, 2018). "BW biology alumna celebrates lifelong passion with growing diving museum". Baldwin Wallace University. Retrieved May 14, 2022.
  6. ↑ "Museum History". History Of Diving Museum. Retrieved May 14, 2022.
  7. 1 2 3 Howard, Willie (March 9, 2007). "Underwater buffs can dive into history". The Santa Clarita Valley Signal. p. 23. Retrieved May 14, 2022.
  8. ↑ Wood, Jennifer M. (October 21, 2020). "History of Diving Museum – Museum Review". Condé Nast Traveler. Retrieved May 14, 2022.
  9. ↑ Fine, John Christopher (March 18, 2019). "Bauer recognized for work". Florida Keys Weekly Newspapers. Retrieved May 14, 2022.
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