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Bret Gilliam

Bret Gilliam

While worked with great white off Guadalupe Island in Mexico, this 18ft, one- Interview with ton female swam up to him and posed less than three feet away, while he was outside the cage. Bret Gilliam —Trailblazer & Founder of TDI Interview by Andrea Murdock Alpini Photos courtesy of Bret Gilliam If you love , deep dark waters, procedures and mixed gas the- ory, you must have heard the name many times: Bret Gilliam, a revolutionary trailblazer in the dive world. Over the past few decades, he has changed the way scuba diving is practiced.

BRET GILLIAM

Bret Gilliam is a kind of living of his tales. We discussed hyperbaric the interview. For the full-length version, of view requires time. So, take a deep anecdote, a man with a thou- medicine, diving records, the scuba please go to: xray-mag.com/content/ breath and plunge into the mystic world sand dive stories. Recently, industry and the future of closed circuit interview-bret-gilliam-founder-tdi that is Gilliam’s life, in which , PHOTO COURTESY OF BRET GILLIAM I had the chance to sit and (CCR) as well as open circuit. Nothing appears as it really is. Gilliam sea vessels, humpback whales and Bret Gilliam being inducted into the talk with him and hear some What follows is the condensed version of is a kaleidoscope; getting inside his point ocean exploration merge into one. AUAS Diving Hall of Fame in 2012

72 X-RAY MAG : 106 : 2021 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS WRECKS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY TECH EDUCATION PROFILES PHOTO & VIDEO PORTFOLIO PHOTO COURTESY OF BRET GILLIAM Bret Gilliam and his father Gill diving in the Bahamas in 1959 (far left). He started diving in Key West at the age of eight— it set the path for his entire career; Dr Mendel Petersen of the Smithsonian Institution, George Tyson, Dr Alan Albright, profile Bret Gilliam and Dave Coston excavating the wreck of the Santa Monica off the island of St John in 1972, with their COURTESYBRET GILLIAM OF early proton magnetometer (left); Gilliam operating a rec- ompression chamber for NOAA in 1988 (right)

in the growing field of he serves as a consultant , elec- to businesses in the dive tronic dive computers, industry as well as a litiga- rebreathers and other tion strategist and diving/ technological advances. maritime expert witness. He was inducted into the Diving Hall of Fame : What was the dive by the Academy of that changed your way Underwater Arts and of seeing scuba diving? I Sciences (AUAS) in 2012 mean, a dive that was like as a recipient of the an epiphany, a dive that NOGI Award. Currently, changed your point of view in technical matters...

BG: I began diving at age eight in 1959 in Key West, Florida. My father had successful entrepreneurs. introduced me to snor- His papers have been pub- keling and we watched PHOTO COURTESY OF BRET GILLIAM lished by the International the first television epi- Society of Aquatic Medicine sodes of Sea Hunt that year. That show the dive industry decline. (ISAM), Divers Alert inspired me to take up diving, and my The leadership in the industry has also Network (DAN), Undersea father allowed me to sign up for some of suffered, and with the state of and Hyperbaric Medical the first dive training offered in that era. financial decline and the effects of the Society (UHMS), National I started my first business in 1961 at age pandemic, I do not have a good feeling Oceanic and Atmospheric ten, trapping fish to sell to the Key West about the future. I sold the last of my dive Administration (NOAA), and Aquarium and to several others. I was companies in 2005, and it was the best South Pacific Underwater making good money with my fish sales, decision I made. I am still involved in high- Background Medicine Society (SPUMS). He was also and my little company was successful. end book publishing and legal consulting. With a professional career that now a contributing author and editor on the That launched my initial involvement in Many of us from the era developed very spans over five decades, Gilliam has topic of “Diving Emergency Medicine” diving, and I was hooked. sophisticated and efficient business mod- been involved in the dive industry since in the reference textbook, Prehospital els in all segments, but many lacked the the early ’70s. Since he began diving in Trauma Life Support, published by Mosby AMA: Can you describe the golden entrepreneurial skills and vision to achieve 1959, he has logged over 19,000 dives Lifeline, used by physicians, nurses, DMTs, era of scuba diving, which you lived long-term success. When I sold the last of around the world. In addition to founding EMTs and paramedics. through? Was it a heritage? my companies, the aggregate value was dive training agencies such as TDI, SDI Gilliam’s awards include NAUI’s about US$80 million. That’s almost beyond and ERDI and dive magazines such as Outstanding Contribution to Diving BG: The dive industry was constantly belief today. Scuba Times, Deep Tech and Fathoms, Award (twice) and Beneath the Sea’s evolving, and some incredible growth Gilliam’s background includes scientific Diver of the Year, as well as interna- began in the early ‘70s. Professional dive AMA: As a captain, you have been expeditions, military/commercial projects, tional recognition for his film work and facilities were created, as well as mod- merged with the sea, from the surface to operation of hyperbaric dive treatment photography. He is listed in the Who’s ern dive vessels, expanded certification its deepest points. What does the ocean facilities, and cruise ships, Who in Scuba Diving, published by Best training, astounding advances in equip- or the sea represent for you? dive store and resort operations, equip- Publishing, and was inducted into the ment design, exotic dive travel… industry ment manufacturing (UWATEC), and internationally prestigious Explorers Club growth was superb. We began to see the BG: From my earliest experiences in life filming projects for feature films, docu- as a “Fellow National” in 1993. Gilliam decline in the late ‘90s as younger partic- as a kid, the ocean has drawn me in. I mentaries and television. He is widely rec- has twice held the world record for deep PHOTO COURTESY OF BRET GILLIAM ipants were not as attracted to diving as learned to swim before I could walk and ognized as one of the dive world’s most diving on scuba and has been a leader Bret Gilliam on a film project for National a sport. Since about 2003, we have seen became an experienced snorkeler as a Geographic in the Virgin Islands in 1977

73 X-RAY MAG : 106 : 2021 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS WRECKS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY TECH EDUCATION PROFILES PHOTO & VIDEO PORTFOLIO PHOTO COURTESY OF BRET GILLIAM Bret Gilliam aboard Bret Gilliam, Dick Bonin the Calypso, filming (founder of Scubapro) and Bill with Jacques-Yves Walker outside the first loca- profile Cousteau (left) tion for V.I. Divers, Ltd in 1974 later became the manager Award. I’m truly grateful. had ever met, of their company. I was lucky and we had so enough to work with some of AMA: Exploration, as a pursuit, was once much in com- the best professionals in dive just for a select few, now the word is mon. Ken Loyst research, including early work sometimes abused in conversation. How of Watersport on decompression algorithms, do you interpret this concept? Publishing asked physiology, dive treatments, me to do a saturation habitats, deep BG: I have been involved in worldwide sequel to Deep submersibles, and a seem- exploration for decades and had the Diving, and that ingly endless list of other pro- privilege of working with so many amaz- was a bestseller, jects. For the last 50 years, my ing people. I have been a member of so we collabo- career path has been profes- the Explorers Club for nearly 30 years rated on Mixed sional diving and vessel opera- and greatly admire the organization’s Gas Diving. tions worldwide. contributions. But there are a lot of folks out there that do not actually meet the AMA: When did AMA: Who was the most influ- criteria. It seems that many are more you get the idea ential person you have met in concerned with sewing a patch on their to study the scuba diving? jacket or pumping up their supposed physiology of qualifications... and its BG: Dick Bonin was an ex- effects in scuba Navy diver and then went on AMA: What are the “must-have” books diving theory? to found Scubapro. His insight, for a dive library? knowledge, expertise and BG: It was cru- wonderful personality bonded BG: The Silent World by Cousteau, any- cial to our surviv-

PHOTO COURTESY OF BRET GILLIAM us. His mentorship was invalu- thing by , al to be able to able. We Sea Change by Sylvia manage the extreme depths we worked Again, back in that era, we routinely four-year-old. My father let me take scuba both made a for- Earle, Fifty Fathoms in and to have a full understanding of worked deep on air, and our standard

lessons at age eight in 1959. It changed tune in diving. We by Blancpain, Diving the potential . There are many PO2 limit was 2.0; that was modified to

my whole life. The ocean is my natural were friends and with Safety by Bev aspects of diving physiology that were 1.6PO2 in the ’70s. But we needed to get environment and my home. We face colleagues for nearly Morgan, and Silver complicated and presented special chal- deeper and switched to below challenges with climate change, pollu- five decades—a true Seas by Ernie Brooks. lenges. The management of the oxygen 300ft. Overall, we were completely com- tion, destruction of corals and marine life, pioneer, and I was so exposure and issues of fortable with the dive plans we created, etc. I hope the world can wake up to the honored to know him. AMA: What was your were at the top of our list of hazards. and the Navy was extremely pleased grim reality that we face and take the professional rela- I was mentored by a diving medical that we could get the filming done at necessary steps to save the oceans. AMA: Becoming tionship with Tom officer who brought me in to run the such extreme depths. a member of the Mount like? Can you Navy recompression chamber on the There is no question that our project AMA: If you look to the past, can you Explorers Club and describe how the ship. This led to a six-month period with was extremely high priority due to the describe the main steps in your scuba being inducted into masterpiece, Mixed him covering virtually all foreseeable Cold War tactics of opera- diving career and research? the AUAS Diving Hall Gas Diving: The Ulti- contingencies. tions. In essence, we were considered of Fame are great mate Challenge for Oxygen was just one of our daily expendable. So, we concentrated on BG: For 12 years, I was a sport diver doing honors… When did you Technical Diving, considerations in . Back adapting our dive plans, equipment, all sorts of underwater jobs… cleaning receive them? was born? in 1971, 50 years ago, we had to deal decompression procedures and contin- vessel bottoms, taking out divers and with so many subjects, which directly gency planning to stay alive. We finished snorkelers, fish collecting for the aquari- BG: I was inducted BG: Tom and I affected our dives, that it really con- the project way ahead of schedule, and ums, photography, etc. I started my pro- into the Explorers Club met in 1972 and cerned the ship’s officers. But we used I was released from further military ser- fessional diving career in January 1971, as a Fellow National in immediately our practical experience and accessed vice. Fascinating times! working with the US Navy on their deep 1993, its highest honor. established a medical references to make certain that diving projects in the Virgin Islands and I was also voted into close relation- we could deal with narcosis, oxygen AMA: How have human factors influenced handling the operation of the recompres- the AUAS Diving Hall ship. Tom was toxicity, HPNS, work of from your technical thoughts on ? sion chamber. After the Navy project, of Fame in 2012 as a GILLIAM BRET OF COURTESY PHOTO one of the most the regulators at extreme depths and so I moved into and recipient of their NOGI Deep Diving, by Bret Gilliam, skilled divers I many other issues. BG: The underlying science and physiol- published by UNKNO

74 X-RAY MAG : 106 : 2021 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS WRECKS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY TECH EDUCATION PROFILES PHOTO & VIDEO PORTFOLIO (left) developed the first training courses when he founded IANTD. , and Bret Gilliam were all founding partners; The custom dive tables created for Gilliam by profile Randy Bohrer when they started The Deep project in 1989 (right) Gilliam Rebreathers have a place of excellence has been achieved. tive and put rules in place that made no tions of their training and experience. in many areas of diving, but What worries me today is that so many sense to well-experienced divers. My com- Many of our customers did three to five they also are expensive for hyperbaric facilities and field chambers panies were different. We allowed decom- dives per day in an era when most divers most divers, require extensive have been shut down for financial rea- pression dives. We had no limits on depth. were limited to one or two. training and practical experi- sons. The future is a bit unknown and We allowed our diving customers com- The Cayman Islands restricted all dives ence, and many specialty how the diving medical treatments will plete independence based on our evalua- to 100ft or less—no deco, no nitrox, no dive

manufacturers have had emerge with far fewer hyperbaric facili- PHOTO COURTESY OF BRET GILLIAM trouble staying in business. ties is a bit unnerving. I am all for innovations and technological advance- AMA: What does “freedom” stand for ments. But there has been a you—in relation to scuba diving practice, high incident rate for both of course? injuries and fatalities within certain technical diving seg- BG: My entire professional career was in ments, and this needs to be diving, and I owned my companies, so I recognized and resolved. did not really have to answer to anyone. I tried to use the best judgement I could AMA: for training, safety, boat operations, etc, has grown up fast during the and allowed my diving customers the past few decades. You have freedom to make their own decisions for been involved in this field for diving based on experience. 50 years. Can you give us Many dive operations were very restric- an overview about how hyperbaric medicine has influ- enced computers, and your second dive could scuba div- not be deeper than 50ft. All divers were ing from herded into groups with no independent the past to diving allowed at all. It did not make for PHOTO COURTESY OF BRET GILLIAM the present a positive customer experience for most ogy require both considerable practical day? How do you see the divers, and it drove thousands of divers to experience as well as a full understanding future of this field? abandon the Caymans and other areas.

of all the hazards and contingencies that COURTESYPHOTO OF BRET GILLIAM Freedom is good if such procedures deep divers must deal with. The primary BG: The research and and practices are well thought out and issues involve inert gas narcosis and oxy- development of proce- practical. It worked well for me and my

gen exposures to high PO2 levels. But you dures and protocols in companies. When I founded Ocean have to carefully select the gear, the sites the treatment of divers Quest International in 1988, we averaged (drop-offs, caves, wrecks, etc.), have a has been extraordinary. nearly 1,000 dives a day with our custom- firm grasp on contingencies, understand And the knowledge and ers. That’s over 4,000 dives a week. It was the decompression models, and have a expertise of the hyperbar- the largest dive operation in world history. full attitude on situational awareness. ic medical experts have been equally distinctive. AMA: Al Giddings was the only American AMA: How do you see the future of Working with guys like Dr scuba diver on board the first Italian scuba diving? Does open circuit have Tom Neuman, Dr Paul expedition on the Andrea Doria wreck. more to tell or is it dead? Cianci, Dr Bill Shane, Dick What was the professional relationship Rutkowski and others was you had with him? BG: I actually see more of a trend to so valuable. I think so standard open circuit gear. It is well much has been accom- BG: Al and I met in 1971, and I became designed, reliable and affordable. plished that a new level the distributor of his underwater photog- Stan Waterman, Al Giddings and Chuck Nicklin on location filming The Deep in 1976

75 X-RAY MAG : 106 : 2021 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS WRECKS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY TECH EDUCATION PROFILES PHOTO & VIDEO PORTFOLIO In this photo taken by Bret Gilliam surfac- Bret Gilliam, a hump- ing from a 2,500ft back whale in Tonga dive in a deep sub- profile comes over to visit him. mersible in 1992 Gilliam raphy line in the Caribbean called this question is Giddings-Felgen. Great products! not easy—just Then, I did some early movie work ask Alice in with him before we started work on Wonderland The Deep in 1976. if you wish. By The list of his movies that we the way, have worked on is amazing. Al was THE you ever medi- go-to underwater film guy, with tated on the real such hits as The Deep, The Abyss, meaning of the Titanic, Never Say Never Again, True question? If you Lies, The River Wild, and scores of want to under- documentaries and television series, stand the deeper including the ABC Ocean Quest meaning beyond series in the mid-1980s. the words, con- Al Giddings was editing the final tinue reading the underwater footage for Titanic, extended version which would be released a few of this interview months later in 1997. We ended up at: xray-mag. at dinner with his neighbor actor com/content/ Dennis Quaid that night at Al’s interview-bret-gil- estate in Montana. Amazing man liam-founder-tdi. If and a wonderful mentor! not, take the “left hand pill” (like the AMA: If you had one choice, what choice Neo faced would be your favorite dive? in the film, The Matrix) and you BG: I started working with whales will immediately in the mid-’60s and have been step out of the emotionally attached to them ever “reality” beneath PHOTO COURTESY OF BRET GILLIAM since. My favorites are humpbacks. the words.  They have a friendly gregarious and an MBA in economics of arts. nature, and I love filming them. I Based in Italy, author Andrea He is the founder of PHY Diving freedive, holding my breath, for Murdock Alpini is a technical (phidiving.com), which almost all dives. We found out, instructor for TDI, CMAS and ADIP. specializes in undergarments for div- decades ago, that humpbacks do Diving since 1997, he is a profes- ing, as well as drysuits, hoods and not like exhaust bubbles and simply sional diver focused on advanced tools for cave and . disappear if you come anywhere deep diving, log dives with Among other wrecks, he has dived near them. open circuit, decompression stud- the wrecks heritage, But the whales seem thoroughly ies, and research on wrecks, mines Malin Head’s wrecks and the HMHS happy if I simply freedive with them. and caves. Diving uncommon spots Britannic (-118m), Fw58C (-110m), SS I can routinely hold my breath and arranging dive expeditions, Nina (-115m), Motonave Viminale between three and four minutes and he shoots footage of wrecks and (-108m), SS Marsala (-105m), UJ-2208 get down to 150ft or so. The whales writes presentations for conferences (-107m) and the submarine U-455 get curious as to why a human is so and articles for dive publications (-119m)—always on an open circuit deep and come over to check me and websites such as ScubaPortal, system. His first book, Deep Blue, out. I have been truly blessed over Relitti in Liguria, Nautica Report, SUB about scuba diving exploration (in my life to spend so much time with Underwater Magazine, ScubaZone, Italian) was released in January 2020 whales all over the world. Ocean4Future and InDepth. He (see amazon.it). For more informa- is also a member of the Historical tion on courses, expeditions and “Have you ever seen the rain?” Diving Society Italy (HDSI), and holds dived wrecks, visit: wreckdiving.it. Getting the correct answer to a master’s degree in architecture

BRET GILLIAM

76 X-RAY MAG : 106 : 2021 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS WRECKS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY TECH EDUCATION PROFILES PHOTO & VIDEO PORTFOLIO

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