NOGI Awards

The NOGI Awards
Awarded forRecognition as belonging to "a select cadre of divers and undersea luminaries who rank at the top of their fields in one of five categories:
Arts, Science, Sports/Education, Distinguished Service, and Environment."
CountryUnited States
Presented byAcademy of Underwater Arts and Sciences (since 1993)
Underwater Society of America (1960-1992)
First award1960
2012 (Environment)
Website

The NOGI Awards is an award presented annually by the Academy of Underwater Arts and Sciences (AUAS) to diving luminaries and is "considered the Oscar of the ocean world." Selection of recipients is based on their record of accomplishments and excellence in the diving world. NOGI awards are given out to world-class standouts of the diving community who have distinguished themselves and made a global impact on diving in one or more of four general categories: Science, Arts, Sports/Education, and Environment. A fifth NOGI is given for Distinguished Service.

History

The NOGI awards originally came into existence as part of the trophy system offered during the 1950s for the underwater division of the New Orleans Grand Isle Fishing Tournament. NOGI is the acronym for the first four words of the tournament's name. In its current form, the NOGI awards date back to 1960 when Jay Albeanese and Louis Cuccia of New Orleans approached the Underwater Society of America for its sanction of an "award to annually recognize leaders in the field of skin and SCUBA diving in four categories." Since 1993, the NOGI awards scheme has been the responsibility of the Academy of Underwater Arts and Sciences. In 2013, a fifth category "Environment" was added to the awards scheme.

Academy of Underwater Arts and Sciences

The Academy of Underwater Arts and Sciences (AUAS) was formed in 1993 for the purpose of administering the NOGI Awards. It has status as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Its mission is to be:

a 501(c)3 non-profit, international, multi-disciplinary organization dedicated to recognizing pioneers and leaders who have had a significant impact on the exploration, enjoyment, safety, and preservation of the underwater world. The AUAS is committed to supporting its members as they pass on the stewardship of the sea to future generations.

NOGI categories

There are five categories of NOGIs.

Science: Recipients in the Science category include renowned underwater archaeologists such as E. Lee Spence and George Bass, inventors like Edwin Link, undersea explorers like Sylvia Earle and Robert Ballard, doctors involved in hyperbaric medicine such as Joseph MacInnis, as well as marine biologists, and other marine scientists.

Arts: Awardees in the Arts category have included internationally known filmmakers such as James Cameron and Stan Waterman, marine artists like Guy Harvey, and photographers such as National Geographic's Emory Kristof.

Sports/education: The Sports & Education category recognizes distinguished diver athletes like Ron Taylor and Bret Gilliam (diver), educators like John Christopher Fine and even actors like Lloyd Bridges and Zale Parry who were pioneer scuba divers and portrayed divers on TV's Sea Hunt, and thus helped to encourage and grow the public's interest in diving.

Environment: The newest category of NOGI which was added in 2013 is for Environment and its first recipient is Dr. G. Carleton Ray. It is meant to recognize divers who, well beyond their normal employment, have led efforts to protect the world's underwater heritage.

Distinguished service: Distinguished Service recipients have typically included world-renowned divers like Captain Jacques-Yves Cousteau and Astronaut/Aquanaut Scott Carpenter but they have also included lesser known people whose professional, volunteer and/or private work has truly had a major impact on the diving industry and/or the global diving community in general.

The statuette

The original NOGI statuettes were designed by New Orleans sculptor Vero Puccio, who hand carved them out of mahogany (one report says balsa) and later cast them out of polywood. Since 2005, when the statuette, which shows a pedestal mounted skin diver standing with upraised arms holding a plaque reading "NOGI," was updated by marine wildlife artist Wyland (who is also a NOGI winner), the statuettes have been made of cast lucite.

NOGI Award recipients

The following is a listing of all NOGI recipients since its creation in 1960.

Award Year Science Arts Sports/Education Distinguished Service Environment
1960Eugene J.D. Vezzani, Ph.D.Jim Auxier / Chuck BlakesleeGeorge YoumansCarl H. Hauberx
1961Jim Christiansen / Jack FaverxxC.B. "Ben" Davisx
1962David M. OwenJames DuganGustav Dalla ValleJohn J. McAniffx
1963Edward Lanphier, M.D.Luis MardenMary Edith "Mel" LillisJoseph D. Albanese, Jr.x
1964Capt. George BondColes PhinizyWilliam "Bill" HighAlbert Tillmanx
1965Edwin LinkEugenie Clark, M.D.John ErnstPablo Bush Romerox
1966Robert Workman, M.D.Dimitri RebikoffRon TaylorCapt. Jacques-Yves Cousteaux
1967Hon. Jacques Piccard, Ph.D.Bill BaradaRalph DavisLouis R. Cucciax
1968Andreas B. Rechnitzer, Ph.D.Stanton A. WatermanTerry LintzDavid R. Stithx
1969Albert Behnke, M.D.Paul TzimoulisJames R. StewartGlen H. Egstrom, Ph.D.x
1970Harold Edgerton, Ph.D.Richard AndersonT.F. "Duke" PawlowiczOscar Asturiasx
1971Christian J. Lambertsen, M.D.Peter GimbelHarold DrakeWalter Feinbergx
1972Joseph MacInnis, M.D.Al GiddingsHarold DrakeFrank Scallix
1973Arthur J. Bachrach, Ph.D.Ron ChurchBernard "Bernie" EmpletonZale Parryx
1974George Bass, Ph.D.Lamar BorenWheeler North, Ph.D.Nick Icornx
1975Robert D. Ballard, Ph.D.Ernest H. Brooks, IIEllis E.R. Cross / Charles NicklinMelvin Grosvenor, Ph.D.x
1976Sylvia A. Earle, Ph.D.Bates LittlehalesArthur H. UlrichRobert F. Marxx
1977Robert Dill, Ph.D.Phillippe Pierre CousteauDewey BergmanJack McKennyx
1978Conrad LimbaughDavid N. DoubiletMel FisherGeorge Benjamin, Ph.D.x
1979Roger W. CookLee Tepley, Ph.D.Jim BrownCharles Wesley Shilling, M.D.x
1980Peter B. Bennett, Ph.D.Valerie TaylorLouis M. FeadHarry Shanksx
1981Glen H. Egstrom, Ph.D.Rick FresheeJefferson Davis, M.D. / John GeiszlerNixon Griffisx
1982Richard A Cooper, Ph.D.Genaro HurtadoLloyd BridgesDick Boninx
1983Capt. Otto Van Der Aue, M.D.Mendel L. PetersonHelen Turcotte DavisElliott Finkle, Ph.D.x
1984Gene ShinnNancy SeftonJ. Morgan Wells, Ph.D.Ralph Osterhoutx
1985George RuggieriCathy Church/Jim ChurchWalt Hendrick, Sr.John Croninx
1986James W. Miller, Ph.D.Charles NicklinxJohn H. Perry, Jr.x
1987Eugenie Clark, Ph.D.Emory KristofBert KilbrideRichard M. Sammonx
1988Richard A. Slater, Ph.D.Jack McKennyJon HardyAndre Galernex
1989Don Walsh, Ph.D.Ivan TorsJon GaffneyAndreas B. Rechnitzer, Ph.D.x
1990Robert I. WicklundBev MorganDennis K. GraverIan G. Koblick[citation needed]x
1991William "Bill" HighJordan Klein, Sr.Richard W. LongE.B. "Teddy" Tucker, M.B.E.x
1992Christopher NicholsonRalph WhiteFrank FennellEllis E.R. Crossx
1993Jean-Michel CousteauHoward W. HallJohn Christopher FineGov. Lowell P. Weicker, Ph.D.x
1994Alfred Bove, M.D., Ph.D.Flip NicklinLee H. Somers, Ph.D.Mary Edith "Mel" Lillisx
1995R.W. Bill Hamilton, Ph.D.Bob TalbetBev MorganScott Carpenterx
1996Kathryn D. Sullivan, Ph.D.Ricou BrowningDan OrrSurgeon Vice Admiral John Rawlinsx
1997Phil Nuytten, Ph.D.Lt. Col. John D. CraigRobert ClarkCapt. Phillippe Tailliezx
1998Hans Hass, Ph.D.WylandRichard Murphy, Ph.D.Hans Hass, Ph.D.x
1999Richard W. Grigg, Ph.D.James CameronAndreas B. Rechnitzer, Ph.D.Albert Falcox
2000John E. Randall, Ph.D.Ada RebikoffTom MountFrederic Dumasx
2001Bob HollisGeri MurphyJohn CroninHillary Viders, Ph.D.x
2002Anatoly M. Sagalevitch, Ph.D.John StonemanEdward C. CargileÉmile Gagnanx
2003Jim CahillChris Newbert / Birgitte WilmsLeslie Leaneyx
2004Richard Pyle, Ph.D.Guy C. Harvey, Ph.D.Armand ZigahnHenri G. Delauzex
2005Paul Dayton, Ph.D.Peter BenchleyBob EvansLee Seliskyx
2006Paul S. Auerbach, M.D.Bill CurtsingerBill Meistrell / Bob MeistrellWilliam "Bill" Highx
2007Charles Birkeland, Ph.D.Wes SkilesCarl RoesslerDee Scarrx
2008Hannes KellerBonnie CardoneWalt "Butch" HendrickMike Gowerx
2009Michael LangMichele HallPaul HumannHillary Hauserx
2010Patrick Colin, Ph.D.Bernie CampoliWilliam Hamner / Peggy HamnerFrank K. Butler Jr., M.D.x
2011Phillip Lobel, Ph.D.Nick CaloyianisEd StetsonMike deGruyx
2012–2013E. Lee Spence, M.H.D.Michael AwBret GilliamDave ParkerG. Carleton Ray, Ph.D.
2014Richard D. Vann, Ph.D.Richard EllisMike HollisLad HandelmanBill Macdonald
2015Dr Richard A. LutzClive CusslerBob KirbyRodney FoxDr Gregory S. Stone
2016Mike Cochran Stephen Frink Bob Croft Bonnie Toth Hardy Jones
2017Dr Gerald R AllenChuck DavisJill HeinerthTom IngramDr. Eric Sala
2018Dr. Michael L. GernhardtMarty SnydermanSally E. Bauer, M.D.Peter A HughesJohn C. Ogden, Ph.D.
2019Dr Tom NeumanBrian SkerryEric HanauerJerry GreenbergDr Wallace Nichols
2020Laurence MadinPaul NicklenDon BarthelmessCarol RoseWolcot Henry
2022John R. ClarkeAdam RavetchJack and Sue DrafahlDr. Albert JonesHarry Robbin
2023James R. Holm M.DAmos NachoumDr. Drew RichardsonAbdulmoshen Abdulmalik AlLynn Funkhouser
2024Shirley A. Pomponi, PhD.Louis PrézelinJeffery Bozanic, Ph.D.Jim GatacreLad Atkins
2025Richard Moon, Dr.Becky Kagan SchottLeRoy French Dick RutkowskiGeorgienne Bradley
Award Year Science Arts Sports/Education Distinguished Service Environment

References

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