Ralph Erickson, PADI co-founder, dies aged 84 May 31, 2006
Posted by Andy Carroll in : News , trackback
Ralph Erickson, one of the PADI co-founders has died at his home in Texas, 25th May 2006. I didn’t really know much about the personalities of the co-founders until I read this quite detailed tribute to Ralph at DiveNewsWire. It is sad that it is occasions like this when one actually takes the time to learn about some of the great personalities and contributors to scuba diving;
In the summer of 1959, he started the Erickson Underwater Swimming School. With a strong desire to share his passion for scuba diving with others, Ralph attended the very first NAUI Instructor Training Course in Houston, TX in 1961 and became NAUI Instructor number 35. In the same year, Ralph wrote his own scuba instruction book, Under Pressure, which he used for his classes.
Diver education became Ralph’s passion as he created and implemented the training programs used by PADI. Developing instructional guidelines, performance objectives and student manuals for 11 PADI certification levels – Skin Diver through Master Instructor - was revolutionary in the dive industry. Many of Ralph’s ideas that were considered new and radical at the time are now the cornerstone for diver education and the backbone of PADI’s continuing education system to this day.
In 1971, Erickson and Cronin made the decision to move the PADI business to California where it could flourish. Ralph, busy with teaching diving, teaching swimming and coaching water polo at Loyola University, chose to stay in Chicago.
It looks like the scuba diving community has lost one of its great personalities. Many people will debate on how good or bad PADI, the organisation, is today, but it is quite amazing when you think about it just how many people have been introduced to scuba diving due to Ralph Erickson’s efforts.
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Ralph Erickson Was only 83 when he passed.His birthday was on June 25 1922.
I have always considered Ralph, a great personal friend and mentor for the dive business and my personal life in general. I met Ralph in the mid seventy’s through another Diver and Water Polo Coach from St. Louis, Dick Scoville, he was another Fraternity brother from Chicago Park District Lifeguard Services along with his freind Phil Stelniki.
As many of my friends know, Ralph certified me back in Chicago in the late 1970’s as a PADI SCUBA Instructor. With his encouragement I went on the become a Instructor Trainer, (as it was called then). Then I was appointed District Course Director in North Florida. His concept of diver education was far fetched back in the 70’s. I remember having conversations with him about the idea of continuing Education, What a Concept!. I have carried the concept through out my diving career. Thanks to Ralph, I have passed the idea along to the many new PADI Instructor’s my organization trained over the years. Many are successful today because they applied Ralph’s concepts that I shared with them.
I will always cherish the many dives when enjoyed together. I will never forget a trip to the islands with Sonya (one of PADI’s first employees in California), Pat Hammer, and Ralph that initiated a new relationship with Pat and Ralph, that created the PADI College in Chicago.
Ralph was kind of funny about his diving, he did not like to use a snorkel, he stuck it in his belt when diving, He lost it several times, during the various dives. I always seemed to find it and ask,” who’s snorkel is this”, on the boat, embarrassing Ralph. He finally ask me why do you need a snorkel? My response was, ” it was in the Book”. He said what book? I replied,” your Book!” (Under Pressure,which I still cherish today).
I will always remember the trips I lead to Chicago for Master Scuba Divers that I certified, Where I would sell tickets to “Have dinner with Ralph Erickson, , and get their plaque for Master Scuba Diver awarded by the PADI President personally. I would call Ralph and ask him to dinner, he always came. But a side bar, he would never drive because he did not want to loose his parking spot at his apartment. He always asked me for Cab money!
As the years went by he always asked for his commissions on my sales, since he taught me everything I knew. I always told him I sent the Money to Pat Hammer, who was just horsing around with his money. (Old inside joke).
I very frequently think of the phone call from Ralph when my daughter Jenny died. Where I was and what he said to me. I will always cherish his wisdom and friendship.
The dive industry and the many, many acquaintances he has made over his life span will miss him dearly.
My next door neighbor, Kurt Theodore, remembers playing water polo against his team, at Loyola University in Chicago, remembering what a great coach he was. Still to this day has very high regards for his hard ass attitude on his players.
As we all get older we loose our old buddy’s, but the memories will last each of us the rest of our life time. I believe Ralph’s life will go down in the history books of diving as a great innovator and contributor to the progress of scuba, as did Jacques Cousteau. As I recall Ralph was one of the first (if not the first) to use an Octopus while diving.
Fair winds and
following seas, old friend,
Capt John O’Hanlon, CD9359
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you really must be inept he was 83 learn simple addition