OREGON (11 Nov 2003) -- In recognition of her contributions to the exploration, understanding, safety, and enjoyment of the underwater world, Vallorie Hodges, the Oregon Coast Aquarium's dive safety officer, has been nominated for induction into the Women Divers Hall of Fame. A master dive instructor and active scientific diver with nearly 7,000 dives, Hodges is president-elect for the Association of Dive Program Administrators, and secretary for the American Academy of Underwater Sciences. She has been involved in the diving industry since 1983. The hall of fame is an elite group that includes the most notable women leaders and innovators in the diving community. The organization recognizes, honors, and raises public awareness of women who make exceptional contributions to diving. Hodges was nominated by Zale Parry, a diving icon and former star of "Sea Hunt." "Being nominated for induction into an organization that includes such notable women as Zale Parry, Dr. Eugenie Clark, Evelyn Dudas, and Andrea Zaferes is a great honor," Hodges said. "To have my accomplishments and contributions recognized by my peers is definitely a highlight of my career." While serving as the West Coast editor for "Rodale's Scuba Diving Magazine" in the mid1990s, Hodges assisted Jon Hardy with the testing of dive equipment and co-authored the resulting articles. More recently, she participated in testing women's buoyancy compensators, fins, and regulators. Due to her experience with this type of testing, Hodges was recently awarded the Diving Science and Technology contract to conduct a comparative product evaluation on diver propulsion vehicles. Prior to taking her position with the Oregon Coast Aquarium, Hodges worked as an aquarist and dive safety officer for the Alaska Sea Life Center in Seward, Alaska. During her time there, Hodges became actively involved with the American Academy of Underwater Sciences, serving on the standards committee and chairing an ad hoc committee of American Dive Officers for the development of scientific aquarium diving standards. | | "Val's work at the aquarium transcends training divers," said Hugh Dolly, aquarium spokesperson. "Her desire to connect the everyday public with dive technology and the underwater world became a driving force behind the development of UnderSea Explorer, the aquarium's newest exhibit, which introduces and educates guests about the history of diving and ocean exploration. Using her networking and negotiating skills, Val secured numerous antiquities and artifacts for this exhibit." When Hodges accepted her current post as dive safety officer at the Oregon Coast Aquarium in November 2000, the dive program consisted of 28 volunteer divers and 12 staff members who would dive as part of their animal care duties. Today, the program consists of more than 90 volunteer divers. By the time these divers are assigned a dive schedule at the aquarium, they have undergone a training program that Hodges developed specifically to ensure safe, effective diving techniques for diving in the aquarium's environment. "With her commitment to foster a better understanding of the world's oceans through diving, Vallorie Hodges is more than deserving of her nomination to the Women Divers Hall of Fame," said Patrick Helbling, acting president of the aquarium. "It's wonderful to see Val receive the recognition she deserves. Val's work ethic and commitment to excellence help us achieve our mission everyday." CDNN Related NewsForce Fins forces Rodale's Scuba Diving to pay for scuba equipment ratings scam |
