Our Founder
Ralph Stogsdall–NAUI 3409L
True friend and dive instructor mentor, has lost his battle with lymphoma. Ralph passed away peacefully Monday night, 27 Apr 2009, while at rest at home with family and friends. Ralph was one of the best, a San Diego diving icon, known by many and who will be missed dearly not only by his family and close friends but also the dive community. He has always been described as a gentleman, honest and caring, the Instructor of Instructors, and admired by many. His contributions to diving reach back to 1973 when he started his career as an Instructor NAUI training literally thousands of new divers ranging in all levels from Basic to Instructor. A few of Ralph's more recent accomplishments include:
- 1995 Outstanding Service and Dedication to the Diving Community by the San Diego Counsel of Diving
- 1996 Outstanding Performance and Service to Sport Diving by NAUI - 2001 Outstanding Contribution to Sport and Technical Diving by NAUI
- 2002 Outstanding Dedication and Service to SCUBA program by Mar-Vista High School
- 2007, 8 Sustained Dedication to SCUBA program for US Naval Sea Cadets
- 2007 Outstanding Performance and Service to Sport Diving and Leadership by NAUI
- 2005, 6, 7, 8 Retail Excellence by NAUI
Ralph is to be laid to rest at Ft Rosecrans with full military honors. His absolute love of SCUBA and teaching will live on in his memory through his wife Kathleen and son Kyle