Bret Gilliam
Encyclopedia
Bret Clifton Gilliam is a pioneering technical diver
. He is most famous as the founder of TDI
, and as the one time holder of the world record for deep diving on air.
Gilliam is a multimillionaire from the sale of several businesses that included Technical Diving International
(TDI) and Uwatec. Gilliam formed the consulting service Ocean Tech in 1971 and currently provides expert witness
testimony for diving related legal cases.
in Annapolis, Maryland to Commander Gill Gilliam (retired as Captain
) and Jeanne Gilliam. He was the first of three children. His younger brother Chris was murdered in 1972 at the age of 16 while attending an outdoor concert
in Puerto Rico
. His sister Kathleen is a nurse in Maine.
Gilliam met Gretchen Andersen in 1971 in Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands
. They were reunited after 27 years in 1998 and married on October 21, 2000 in Maine. Their primary residence is in Arrowsic, Maine
with additional residences located in Camden
and Greenville, Maine
. They also spend time in their 48 feet (14.6 m) motor yacht named Encore.
developed the first nationally organized course and certified their first Skin and scuba diving instructors, and Gilliam began his diving training with Lt. Chuck Brestle while his family was stationed at the Naval Air Station Key West
that same year.
From 1965 to 1966 he attended Virginia Beach High School until the school system split students to attend First Colonial High School
. He remained at First Colonial High School until 1967 when his family moved. He graduated from Brunswick High School in Brunswick, Maine
in 1969.
Gilliam then went on to attend the University of Maine
and Bowdoin College
where he studied history
and literature
. Gilliam eventually left his undergraduate studies to pursue a business career by starting Ocean Tech.
while in high school and college.
In 1971, Gilliam was a diving Supervisor for Vocaline Air Sea Technology (VAST Inc.). The VAST Inc. contract took him to the Caribbean where he worked to develop nitrox and decompression procedures for their dive teams. It was here that Gilliam's interest in underwater photography
began. Their work was to record the "visible vortex
that came off the propeller
" of submarine
s. In 1972, Gilliam's dive buddy was attacked by an oceanic whitetip shark
during a project and died. That same year, he also created his consulting company Ocean Tech in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
V.I. Divers Ltd. was founded by Gilliam in 1973 in St. Croix as a dive resort that not only catered to recreational divers
but also scientific divers. In 1977, Gilliam served as the founder and president of AMF Yacht Charters Ltd. providing luxury motor yacht charter
s. Both companies were sold in 1985 and after a short break, Gilliam resumed his work with ship charters as the Vice President, chief executive officer
(CEO) and Director of Ship Operations for Ocean Quest International in 1988. Gilliam remained with Ocean Quest until 1990.
Gilliam performed a deep air dive on February 14, 1990 at a site named "Mary's Place" in Roatán
to 452 feet (137.8 m). Gilliam later reached 475 feet (144.8 m) in October 1993 to better his own record.
From 1990 to 1992, Gilliam was the President of SEA VENTURES LTD as well as CEO and Master of the 142 feet (43.3 m) motor yacht P’zzaz.
, Tom Mount
and Billy Deans
on the board of directors for International Association of Nitrox and Technical Divers
(IANTD). During this time, Gilliam also served as the vice-president of the company.
Gilliam co-authored two books over this time period in addition to his work on the training materials used in IANTD courses.
He remained in this position with IANTD until 1994 when he separated and formed International Training Inc.
(SDI), and Emergency Response Diving International (ERDI), diving certification agencies headquartered in Topsham, Maine.
TDI was founded in 1993 by Bret Gilliam and Mitch Skaggs after a disagreement between directors caused a split away from IANTD.
Gilliam remained President and Chief Executive Officer of International Training Inc until February 5, 2004 when it was sold to investors backing Brian Carney who had been serving as the General Manager.
. Until 2000, Gilliam remained a consultant to the company.
In 2000, Gilliam served as the president and CEO of a medical program for divers, DiveSafe Insurance Inc. and later sold the company in 2004.
Gilliam continues to serve as a contributing editor for diving periodicals such as Diver, Journal of Diving History, Tech Diving Mag, and Undercurrent.
membership in 1992. During his eight years on the board, he served as the chairman from 1994 to 1995.
Technical diving
Technical diving is a form of scuba diving that exceeds the scope of recreational diving...
. He is most famous as the founder of TDI
Technical Diving International
Technical Diving International is the largest technical diving certification agency in the world. As one of the first agencies to provide training in mixed gas diving and rebreathers, TDI is seen as an innovator of new diving techniques and programs which previously were not available to the...
, and as the one time holder of the world record for deep diving on air.
Gilliam is a multimillionaire from the sale of several businesses that included Technical Diving International
Technical Diving International
Technical Diving International is the largest technical diving certification agency in the world. As one of the first agencies to provide training in mixed gas diving and rebreathers, TDI is seen as an innovator of new diving techniques and programs which previously were not available to the...
(TDI) and Uwatec. Gilliam formed the consulting service Ocean Tech in 1971 and currently provides expert witness
Expert witness
An expert witness, professional witness or judicial expert is a witness, who by virtue of education, training, skill, or experience, is believed to have expertise and specialised knowledge in a particular subject beyond that of the average person, sufficient that others may officially and legally...
testimony for diving related legal cases.
Background
Bret Gilliam was born February 3, 1951 at the United States Naval AcademyUnited States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
in Annapolis, Maryland to Commander Gill Gilliam (retired as Captain
Captain (naval)
Captain is the name most often given in English-speaking navies to the rank corresponding to command of the largest ships. The NATO rank code is OF-5, equivalent to an army full colonel....
) and Jeanne Gilliam. He was the first of three children. His younger brother Chris was murdered in 1972 at the age of 16 while attending an outdoor concert
Concert
A concert is a live performance before an audience. The performance may be by a single musician, sometimes then called a recital, or by a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra, a choir, or a musical band...
in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
. His sister Kathleen is a nurse in Maine.
Gilliam met Gretchen Andersen in 1971 in Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands
Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands
Saint Croix is an island in the Caribbean Sea, and a county and constituent district of the United States Virgin Islands , an unincorporated territory of the United States. Formerly the Danish West Indies, they were sold to the United States by Denmark in the Treaty of the Danish West Indies of...
. They were reunited after 27 years in 1998 and married on October 21, 2000 in Maine. Their primary residence is in Arrowsic, Maine
Arrowsic, Maine
Arrowsic is a town in Sagadahoc County, Maine, United States. The population was 477 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Portland–South Portland–Biddeford, Maine metropolitan statistical area. During the French and Indian Wars, Arrowsic was site of a succession of important and...
with additional residences located in Camden
Camden, Maine
Camden is a town in Knox County, Maine, United States. The population was 5,254 at the 2000 census. The population of the town more than triples during the summer months, due to tourists and summer residents. Camden is a famous summer colony in the Mid-Coast region of Maine...
and Greenville, Maine
Greenville, Maine
Greenville is a town in Piscataquis County, Maine, United States. The population was 1,623 at the 2000 census. The town is centered around the lower end of Moosehead Lake, the largest body of fresh water in the state. Greenville is the historic gateway to the north country and a center for...
. They also spend time in their 48 feet (14.6 m) motor yacht named Encore.
Education
In 1959, the YMCAYMCA
The Young Men's Christian Association is a worldwide organization of more than 45 million members from 125 national federations affiliated through the World Alliance of YMCAs...
developed the first nationally organized course and certified their first Skin and scuba diving instructors, and Gilliam began his diving training with Lt. Chuck Brestle while his family was stationed at the Naval Air Station Key West
Naval Air Station Key West
Naval Air Station Key West , is a naval air station and military airport located on Boca Chica Key, four miles east of the central business district of Key West, Florida, United States....
that same year.
From 1965 to 1966 he attended Virginia Beach High School until the school system split students to attend First Colonial High School
First Colonial High School
First Colonial High School is a high school in Virginia Beach, Virginia. First Colonial opened in 1966 by splitting students out of the former Virginia Beach High School. Virginia Beach High then became Virginia Beach Middle School. James C. Mounie was the first principal of the new high school...
. He remained at First Colonial High School until 1967 when his family moved. He graduated from Brunswick High School in Brunswick, Maine
Brunswick, Maine
Brunswick is a town in Cumberland County, Maine, United States. The population was 20,278 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Portland-South Portland-Biddeford metropolitan area. Brunswick is home to Bowdoin College, the Bowdoin College Museum of Art, the Peary-MacMillan Arctic Museum, , and the...
in 1969.
Gilliam then went on to attend the University of Maine
University of Maine
The University of Maine is a public research university located in Orono, Maine, United States. The university was established in 1865 as a land grant college and is referred to as the flagship university of the University of Maine System...
and Bowdoin College
Bowdoin College
Bowdoin College , founded in 1794, is an elite private liberal arts college located in the coastal Maine town of Brunswick, Maine. As of 2011, U.S. News and World Report ranks Bowdoin 6th among liberal arts colleges in the United States. At times, it was ranked as high as 4th in the country. It is...
where he studied history
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
and literature
Literature
Literature is the art of written works, and is not bound to published sources...
. Gilliam eventually left his undergraduate studies to pursue a business career by starting Ocean Tech.
Career
Gilliam held several diving jobs and competed as a semi-professional surferSurfing
Surfing' is a surface water sport in which the surfer rides a surfboard on the crest and face of a wave which is carrying the surfer towards the shore...
while in high school and college.
In 1971, Gilliam was a diving Supervisor for Vocaline Air Sea Technology (VAST Inc.). The VAST Inc. contract took him to the Caribbean where he worked to develop nitrox and decompression procedures for their dive teams. It was here that Gilliam's interest in underwater photography
Underwater photography
Underwater photography is the process of taking photographs while under water. It is usually done while scuba diving, but can be done while snorkeling or swimming.-Overview:...
began. Their work was to record the "visible vortex
Vortex
A vortex is a spinning, often turbulent,flow of fluid. Any spiral motion with closed streamlines is vortex flow. The motion of the fluid swirling rapidly around a center is called a vortex...
that came off the propeller
Propeller
A propeller is a type of fan that transmits power by converting rotational motion into thrust. A pressure difference is produced between the forward and rear surfaces of the airfoil-shaped blade, and a fluid is accelerated behind the blade. Propeller dynamics can be modeled by both Bernoulli's...
" of submarine
Submarine
A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation below the surface of the water. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability...
s. In 1972, Gilliam's dive buddy was attacked by an oceanic whitetip shark
Oceanic whitetip shark
The oceanic whitetip shark, Carcharhinus longimanus, is a large pelagic shark inhabiting tropical and warm temperate seas. Its stocky body is most notable for its long, white-tipped, rounded fins....
during a project and died. That same year, he also created his consulting company Ocean Tech in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
V.I. Divers Ltd. was founded by Gilliam in 1973 in St. Croix as a dive resort that not only catered to recreational divers
Recreational diving
Recreational diving or sport diving is a type of diving that uses SCUBA equipment for the purpose of leisure and enjoyment. In some diving circles, the term "recreational diving" is used in contradistinction to "technical diving", a more demanding aspect of the sport which requires greater levels...
but also scientific divers. In 1977, Gilliam served as the founder and president of AMF Yacht Charters Ltd. providing luxury motor yacht charter
Yacht charter
Yacht chartering is the practice of renting, or chartering, a sailboat or motor yacht and travelling to various coastal or island destinations. This is usually a vacation activity, but it also can be a corporate event....
s. Both companies were sold in 1985 and after a short break, Gilliam resumed his work with ship charters as the Vice President, chief executive officer
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
(CEO) and Director of Ship Operations for Ocean Quest International in 1988. Gilliam remained with Ocean Quest until 1990.
Gilliam performed a deep air dive on February 14, 1990 at a site named "Mary's Place" in Roatán
Roatán
Roatán, located between the islands of Útila and Guanaja, is the largest of Honduras' Bay Islands. The island was formerly known as Ruatan and Rattan...
to 452 feet (137.8 m). Gilliam later reached 475 feet (144.8 m) in October 1993 to better his own record.
From 1990 to 1992, Gilliam was the President of SEA VENTURES LTD as well as CEO and Master of the 142 feet (43.3 m) motor yacht P’zzaz.
International Association of Nitrox and Technical Divers
In 1991, Gilliam joined Dick RutkowskiDick Rutkowski
Richard "Dick" Rutkowski is a pioneer in the fields of hyperbaric medicine, diving medicine and diver training, especially in relation to the use of breathing gases....
, Tom Mount
Tom Mount
Tom Mount is a pioneering technical diver. In 1991 Tom Mount joined Dick Rutkowski in the new organisation formed by Rutkowski, IANTD, dedicated to teaching Nitrox to recreational divers. In 1992 Tom was named President and Chief Executive Office of IANTD, a position that he held until 2005...
and Billy Deans
Billy Deans (diver)
"Captain" Billy Deans is a pioneering wreck and technical diver. Although "Captain" is the nickname which is universally applied to Billy Deans, he is in fact a US Coast Guard rated captain up to 100 tons....
on the board of directors for International Association of Nitrox and Technical Divers
International Association of Nitrox and Technical Divers
International Association of Nitrox and Technical Divers is a SCUBA diving organization concerned with certification and training in Enriched Air Nitrox diving, Technical diving and Free diving.- History :...
(IANTD). During this time, Gilliam also served as the vice-president of the company.
Gilliam co-authored two books over this time period in addition to his work on the training materials used in IANTD courses.
He remained in this position with IANTD until 1994 when he separated and formed International Training Inc.
International Training Inc
International Training Inc. is the parent company for the Technical Diving International (TDI), Scuba Diving InternationalSCUBA Diving International
Scuba Diving International is a SCUBA training and certification agency. It is the recreational arm of Technical Diving International, the world’s largest technical diver training organization...
(SDI), and Emergency Response Diving International (ERDI), diving certification agencies headquartered in Topsham, Maine.
TDI was founded in 1993 by Bret Gilliam and Mitch Skaggs after a disagreement between directors caused a split away from IANTD.
Gilliam remained President and Chief Executive Officer of International Training Inc until February 5, 2004 when it was sold to investors backing Brian Carney who had been serving as the General Manager.
Uwatec
Gilliam took over as vice-president and CEO of UWATEC USA from Sean Griffin in 1996. Gilliam assisted UWATEC's founder and owner, Heinz Ruchti, with the sale of the company to Johnson Outdoors the following year. Gilliam stepped down in November of 1998 when Johnson Outdoors merged UWATEC USA with ScubaPro and relocated the company to El Cajon, CaliforniaEl Cajon, California
-History:El Cajon is located on the Rancho El Cajon Mexican land grant made in 1845 to María Antonia Estudillo, wife of Miguel Pedrorena. In 1876 Amaziah Lord Knox , a New Englander who had recently moved to California, established a hotel there to serve the growing number of people traveling...
. Until 2000, Gilliam remained a consultant to the company.
In 2000, Gilliam served as the president and CEO of a medical program for divers, DiveSafe Insurance Inc. and later sold the company in 2004.
Publishing
Gilliam has served as the publisher or editor of several magazines over the years.- 1992 to 1995 - Senior Editor of Rodale’s Scuba Diving magazine
- 1996 to 1999 - Publisher of Deep Tech Journal
- 1999 to 2001 - Senior Editor of Rodale’s Scuba Diving magazine
- 2001 to 2005 - President of G2 Publishing Inc., publishers of Fathoms magazine
- 2005 to 2009 - Senior Editor Emeritus for Diving Adventure magazine
Gilliam continues to serve as a contributing editor for diving periodicals such as Diver, Journal of Diving History, Tech Diving Mag, and Undercurrent.
Service Activities
Gilliam was elected to the Board of Directors by the National Association of Underwater InstructorsNational Association of Underwater Instructors
The National Association of Underwater Instructors is a non-profit 501 association of SCUBA instructors. It was officially CE and ISO certified in May 2007 in all three diver levels and both instructor levels.-History:...
membership in 1992. During his eight years on the board, he served as the chairman from 1994 to 1995.
Diving instructor
- Technical Diving International (TDI#0001)
- Scuba Diving International (SDI#0001)
- Emergency Response Diving International (ERDI#0001)
- National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI#3234L)
- Professional Association of Diving InstructorsProfessional Association of Diving InstructorsThe Professional Association of Diving Instructors is the world's largest recreational diving membership and diver training organization founded in 1966 by John Cronin and Ralph Erickson...
(PADI#5929) - National Association of Scuba Diving Schools (NASDS#0893)
- Undersea Photographers Instructor Association (UPIA#0102)
- American Nitrox Divers Inc. (ANDI#0031)
- Professional Diving Instructors Corporation (PDIC#5367)
- International Association of Nitrox & Technical Divers (IANTD#0051)
- Technical Deep Air (IANTD#0007), Trimix (IANTD#0008)
- Visual Inspector of Scuba CylindersDiving cylinderA diving cylinder, scuba tank or diving tank is a gas cylinder used to store and transport high pressure breathing gas as a component of a scuba set. It provides gas to the scuba diver through the demand valve of a diving regulator....
(NAUI#V1249) - Hyperbarics International, Recompression chamber supervisor (#0693)
- Emergency OxygenOxygenOxygen is the element with atomic number 8 and represented by the symbol O. Its name derives from the Greek roots ὀξύς and -γενής , because at the time of naming, it was mistakenly thought that all acids required oxygen in their composition...
Administration/Field Management of Diving Accidents - Diver Medical Technician Instructor Trainer
- Int’l Board of Underwater Medicine
Licenses
- United States Coast GuardUnited States Coast GuardThe United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...
Merchant Marine Officer's License as Master - Homeland Security/TWIC security credentials issued as Maritime Officer
- Additional Licenses: (Unlimited tonnage and Ocean Master licenses from Bahamas, Panama, and Liberia, non-current since retirement)
- TWIC credentials (security clearance ID), Dept. of Homeland SecurityUnited States Department of Homeland SecurityThe United States Department of Homeland Security is a cabinet department of the United States federal government, created in response to the September 11 attacks, and with the primary responsibilities of protecting the territory of the United States and protectorates from and responding to...
, March 2009 - Single engine aircraft pilotPilot certification in the United StatesPilot certification in the United States is required for an individual to act as a pilot of an aircraft. It is regulated by the Federal Aviation Administration , a branch of the Department of Transportation...
- Submersible pilot, Perry and Kittredge vessels to 1800 fsw depth
Awards
- Recipient of Outstanding Contribution to Diving award from NAUI, 1979 and 1998
- Recipient of Medal of Excellence from Beneath The Sea Diving Conference, 1997, 1999, 2005, 2006, 2007
- Election to Who’s Who in Scuba Diving by Academy of Marine Sciences & Undersea Research 1993
- Election to Who’s Who of the World Diving Community Diving Almanac 2008-2009
- Fellow National member of The Explorers ClubThe Explorers ClubThe Explorers Club is a professional society dedicated to scientific exploration of Earth, its oceans, and outer space. Founded in 1904 in New York City, it currently has 30 branches world wide...
1993-current - Diver of the Year Beneath the Sea 2004
- Medal of Excellence for Honors in Education Beneath The Sea 2005
- SSI Platinum Pro 5000 Diver Honors 1998
- Commendation from NBCNBCThe National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
Television for 1983 America's CupAmerica's CupThe America’s Cup is a trophy awarded to the winner of the America's Cup match races between two yachts. One yacht, known as the defender, represents the yacht club that currently holds the America's Cup and the second yacht, known as the challenger, represents the yacht club that is challenging...
Filming - Legend of the Sea, Beneath the Sea, 2005-2010 (Six years in a row)
- Two Commendations from U.S. Coast Guard for Lifesaving and Rescue, 1977, 1979