Hal Watts

[TraceMalin]

Hal Watts passed away on December 7, 2024. Hal was known for his deep air diving records to 119 meters/390 feet in the ocean and 127 meters/415 feet in a cave and for starting the Professional Scuba Association International (PSAI)

I served as the training director for PSAI in the Americas from 2011 - 2016.

One DEMA show, two beautiful young women walked by the PSAI booth. Hal said hello to them as they passed us. They each replied with a quick, courtesy hi, and proceeded on their way. I forget Hal's exact words, but he said something to the effect, "Ladies, you're barely giving me the time of day. That wounds me. Back when I was a young man, you would have stopped to have a conversation." They did. They came over to the booth, and he had them charmed. He still had game in his 80s. He was both a legend and a character.

[Choda]

R.I.P Mr. Scuba

[Kelly Jessop]

I always enjoyed my trips to the Grotto, and he would always look me up, even on the busiest day, and just ask me how I was doing.

[kblair210]

When I came back to diving after a break, the grotto was one of the sites I was sad about no longer being available to dive in.


Hal gave a nice talk last year at DEMA about Sheck. My experiences with him were always positive.

[RocknRandy]

I had the pleasure of meeting Hal for the first time only a few months ago. He came to Bill Foote's retirement party and the grand opening of Ocala dive with new owners event. He chatted a great links with me and was a very down-to-earth guy. He was one of the last ones to leave. Turned out he only lived just a few miles from me. I will always fondly remember him. I'm sure he's now diving to new depths in heaven. RIP Hal.

[Brent]

I spent a lot of time at the Grotto back in the early 90's. I don't know how many classes I taught there, but it was a lot. Got to know Hal quite well during those years. Always enjoyed his stories. One day at the Grotto, Hal asked me if I knew where the cave entrance was. I didn't even know there was a cave down in the Grotto and I thought I knew the terrain really well. On that day, Eric Hutchinson ( name from the past ) was there so Hal allowed Eric to show me the cave. For those of you who dove the Grotto more than once or twice, yes there is a small cave there. I only made a couple of dives in the cave so I have no idea how big or long it was. Good memories from the past. Hal will be missed.

[WEPIV]

Many fond memories of diving at 40 Fathom and talking with Hal before and after dives. And his on-going joke about trash cans not always being readily available, meaning he preferred you took your trash with you. He told me his parents had initially wanted him to be a lawyer in his home state of Georgia, but SCUBA and Florida got him first. And of course, we talked about his theories on helping control narcosis, which I practiced at the Grotto at times. I'll certainly miss Hal and I miss diving at the Grotto....