By
Edward C. Cargile
We lost one of the true pioneers of diving, deep submergence and ocean sciences.
Dr. Andy Rechnitzer passed away on August 22, 2005. After 36 days in the hospital,
Andy succumbed to respiratory failure. He was 80 years old.
Born and raised in the small farming community of Escondido, CA (near San Diego),
he started his undersea exploration at a young age.
He began free diving in 1942 off La Jolla and in Mexico.
While in college during World War II, he was commissioned as an Ensign in the
U.S. Navy in 1945.
After the War, Andy continued his education --- earning a B.S. Degree from
Michigan State (1947), a M.S. Degree from UCLA (1951) and a Doctorate from
Scripps Institution of Oceanography (1954).
While at Scripps, Andy and good friend Connie Limbaugh developed many scientific
diving techniques and safety standards. They co-authored the Diving Training
and Field Procedures Syllabus.
Cdr. Doug Fane was Commanding Officer of the U.S. Navy Underwater Demolition
Team (UDT) in Coronado. He provided his expertise, considerable diving equipment
and vessels to the small group of scientific divers at Scripps.
In 1953, the Los Angeles County Parks and Recreation Department recognized
the growing interest in Sport Scuba Diving. Al Tillman and Bev Morgan came
to Scripps to be trained in Scuba diving by Rechnitzer and Limbaugh.
As a result, Tillman and Morgan began the Los Angeles Underwater Instructors
Program in 1954. This was the first Recreational Scuba Diving Instructor Program
in the U.S.
Tillman was instrumental in the formation of the National Association of Underwater
Instructors (NAUI) in 1960. Dr. Rechnitzer was a prominent instructor at the
first NAUI UICC in Houston, TX, during 1960. He also earned his NAUI Instructor
Certificate, #57. Dick Long and other diving pioneers were in that first NAUI
Instructor Class.
After graduating from Scripps with his Ph.D., in 1957 Dr. Rechnitzer became
the Deep Submergence Research Program Coordinator and Oceanographer at the
Naval Electronics Laboratory (NEL) in San Diego.
The Office of Naval Research bought the deep research bathyscaph Trieste and
assigned it to NEL. Dr. Rechnitzer became the Scientist-In-Charge and Technical
Director of Trieste.
Dr. Rechnitzer assembled an impressive team for Trieste --- Lt. Don Walsh,
Lt. Larry Shumaker, Master Chief John Michel and others.
The Trieste Team modified Trieste and made progressively deeper dives. On January
23, 1960, Dr. Rechnitzer supervised the Trieste Team when they made the historic
deep dive to 35,800 feet off Guam in the Marianas Trench. Operating Trieste
during this dive were Lt. Walsh and Jacques Piccard (son of the Trieste inventor).
While at NEL, Dr. Rechnitzer was also one of the founders and president of
Scientific Diving Consultants in San Diego. This group of ocean scientists
and specialized divers included Connie Limbaugh, Dr. Wheeler North, Jim Stewart,
Earl Murray, Emil Habeker, Ron Church and Chuck Nicklin. All of these individuals
became leaders in the ocean community.
Dr. Rechnitzer brought his expertise to North American Aviation (which evolved
into Rockwell International) in 1963. He became Director of Ocean Sciences.
I transferred into Ocean Sciences from the Rockwell Space Division, where I
was an Engineering Supervisor and Diving Officer for the corporation. In 1964
I began working for Dr. Rechnitzer as Pilot, Lockout Diver and Diving Officer
on the deep submersible, Beaver IV.
Later, I became Project Engineer and Program Manager on several ocean equipment
development projects for Dr. Rechnitzer at Rockwell International.
Also in Ocean Sciences working for Dr. Rechnitzer were Tony Christianson (later
the designer of the Scubapro MK 7 and MK 10 regulators) and Bob Ballard (who
later led the team that discovered the Titanic). They both later earned their
Ph.D. Degrees.
Ralph White was an underwater cinematographer on most of these
ocean research projects for Rockwell International.
Dr. Rechnitzer was the key visionary of Beaver IV. This unique and revolutionary
deep submersible could operate down to 2,000 feet and lockout divers to 1,000
feet. The lockout divers wore mixed-gas rigs, breathing mixtures of helium
and oxygen.
Through a joint-venture with Mobil Oil, the Beaver IV also mated with ocean-bottom
oil completion structures and transfer engineers down to 2,000 feet.
Beaver IV was a prototype for the Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle (DSRV) and
the Advanced SEAL Delivery System (ASDS).
In 1970, Dr. Rechnitzer
began a 15-year employment with the federal government in Washington, DC.
He was Senior Civilian Science and Technology Advisor to
four successive Oceanographers of the Navy. He was part of the U.S.S. Monitor Validation Team in 1974.
As an Expedition Leader and President of CEDAM, Dr. Rechnitzer participated
in several international expeditions and underwater archaeology discoveries.
Dr. Rechnitzer made several dives under both the Arctic and Antarctic ice packs.
He was on several ocean research ocean research expeditions to Monterey Canyon,
Lake Biakal in the U.S.S.R., and other locations.
His lifetime of sharing included being head of several technical conferences.
After 31 years in the U.S. Navy Reserves, Dr. Rechnitzer retired in 1986
with the rank of Captain.
Dr. Rechnitzer was very involved in underwater film production and film festivals.
He was Co-Producer (with Ed Cargile) of a one-hour television special on
the Trieste for The History Channel, called The Deepest Dive.
A prolific writer, Dr. Rechnitzer wrote many scientific papers and articles
about work in the ocean.
He was very active in several professional organizations, including the Deep
Submersible Pilots Association, the Marine Technology Society, the Academy
of Underwater Arts and Sciences, and others.
His professional expertise included serving on several Boards of Directors
and Boards of Advisors, including International Underwater Contractors, the
Historic Diving Society USA, the NAUI Board of Advisors (1960-1990), and
several others.
Dr. Rechnitzer shared his knowledge and expertise through hundreds of lectures.
During his distinguished career, Dr. Rechnitzer was honored with many awards:
The Distinguished Civilian Service Award presented by President Eisenhower
at the White House; three NOGI Awards; The Roger Revelle Award; Honorary
Life Membership in the National Geographic Society; the Lockheed Award for
Ocean
Science and Technology; the Lowell Award from the Explorers Club; the Scientific
Diving Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Academy of Underwater
Sciences, numerous underwater film awards, and many other honors.
With the passing of Dr. Andreas B. Rechnitzer, we all lost a very good friend
and sincere man. He was a champion of diving safety, the use of ocean technology
to carry on the important work deep under the seas and ocean science research.
For over 41 years Andy and I were associates on many other projects together.
Andy wrote a great Foreword to my book, Pioneers In Diving. He was a good
friend and a mentor.
It is hard to say goodbye. But we can all remember with a smile the remarkable
contributions of Dr. Andy Rechnitzer.
As an inspiration to many people throughout the world, I started writing
a book about Dr. Rechnitzer nine years before his death, with Andy’s full
input and cooperation. The book will be available in Spring 2007, with the
appropriate title The Diving Scientist … Dr. Andy Rechnitzer.
This article is reprinted
with permission from The Ron Church Website (www.RonChurch.com,developed
by the
daughter of Ron Church, Tani Church-Bell ) and excerpt from the book
Pioneers In Diving by Edward C. Cargile. Information on the books Pioneers
In Diving or The Diving Scientist … Dr. Andy Rechnitzer may be obtained
from Ed Cargile at ecargile@cox.net.