Legendary Scuba Diving Pioneer and Underwater Photographer Passes

(Dive Travel Business News - December 13, 2010) -- On December 7, 2010, the creatures of the sea lost a great friend when the founder of the "Mother Ocean Foundation" passed away. Dan Wagner, who was more commonly known as "Fishy Dan" by area school children in Florida, was a legendary scuba diving pioneer and underwater photographer.

Dan Wagner's first open-water scuba experience began in the Chicago suburbs in 1954 after he saw the movie "The Frogmen". A local diver lent him some of his own scuba equipment in the YMCA pool and after only five minutes underwater Dan was hooked on scuba diving.

Dan started his career with Dan's Diving Den outside Chicago in 1958. He became one of the first 25 nationally certified YMCA Instructors in the United States. A well-respected instructor of scuba diving Dan certified more than 5,000 divers.

While in Chicago, Dan helped develop the Illinois Council of Skin and Scuba Divers, serving on the board of directors for five years. Dan captained the All-Volunteer Illinois Council and Cook County Sheriff's Underwater Search and Rescue team for three years and contributed to the first rescue manual describing search patterns for police and fire department rescue teams.  Longing to be closer to the ocean, he moved his family to Florida's east coast in 1963.

In 1974, Dan and a couple of close friends completed the construction of The Impossible Dream, a dive boat running dive trips to the Bahamas. The Impossible Dream established contemporary operational parameters for boats carrying divers on international voyages which in turn enhanced the safety of open-water sport diving in the Caribbean.

Dan's long and illustrious diving career was punctuated by his pioneering efforts in the film industry. Dan began shooting 16mm movies in the late 1950's. His third roll of underwater film, shot in the fringe of the Arctic Circle, was used on a regional television show. With his move to Florida in 1963, Dan collaborated with Dr. Lawrence Mertens to produce "The Mermaid Myth", a movie about Florida's manatees. The film prompted Jacques Cousteau to send his son Philippe to shoot their own manatee footage. Another film, "Under Brown's Dock",  was instrumental in motivating countless divers to go night diving. Both films won awards in the International Underwater Film Festival in California.

Dan began making movies on historic shipwreck when he filmed the Real 8 Treasure diving discoveries with famed underwater treasure hunter Mel Fisher. The resulting films, "Quest For Gold, Treasure, What Dreams are Made of", and "Dive Florida", won the Florida Motion Picture and Television awards for Best Series and Best Director Special Program. In addition to these films, Dan worked as a contributing videographer, director and producer on programs for ABC, NBC, TNT, CNN, Westinghouse, TBS of Japan, and the BBC.

In his later years, Dan became active in the Our World-Underwater Scholarship Society serving on its Board of Directors. In its 35th year,  the Our World Underwater Scholarship Society fosters future leaders by offering experience-based underwater summer internships and year-long international marine scholarships to young people considering careers in the underwater world. 

Dan's exploits and those of his contemporaries in the dive industry were featured in Eric Hanauer's book "Diving Pioneers: An Oral History of Diving in America" published in 1994.

Possessing a profound love for all sea-life, Dan spent the final years of his life working to save their environment. His production company Peanut Butter Productions, created educational multi-media programs and educational materials for children. He founded the Mother Ocean Foundation to educate children and encourage a love and understanding of the ocean that children can pass on to others.

Dan is survived by his daughters, Michelle and Christine; and son, Samuel. Arrangements are being made to have Dan's remains interred into a living reef.

Sources:
Florida Today
Alert Diver

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