On Wednesday, November 19th, the History of Diving Museum will host Dr. Jack Stein Grove as he presents on William Beebe in the Galápagos at 7 p.m.
 
2025 marks 50 years of active conservation work and research for Dr. Jack Stein Grove. Employed as a naturalist, dive master, and expedition leader across the seven seas, Jack has explored many of the most remote regions of the world’s oceans. For 7 years, he lived aboard the ship Bucanero in the Galápagos, working as a naturalist guide for the National Park Service, and doing research for the Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History and the Instituto Nacional de Pesca in Guayaquil, Ecuador.
 
His seminal book, Fishes of the Galápagos Islands, was published in 1997, and is the only comprehensive book of its kind. Today, Dr. Grove’s dedication to conservation, education, and research continues in his role as Executive Director of the East Pacific Corridor Alliance (EPCA). Join Dr. Grove as he takes us through William Beebe’s original research in the Galápagos Islands and what the islands and their creatures look like today.
 
Prior to Immerse Yourself, the Museum will hold their November Member Mingle. Museum members and potential members alike are invited to see Celebrating 20 Years Featured Exhibit and enjoy light refreshments. New members will receive a free hat or shirt, as will members that refer them. The Member Mingle takes place in the exhibits from 5:30 PM to 6:45, followed by Immerse Yourself.
 
If you are interested in attending the Immerse Yourself lecture either in-person or online via Zoom, visit divingmuseum.org to register. The Charles Darwin Research Station has also been invited to join virtually. This session will also be recorded and posted to the HDM YouTube channel. The Museum would like to thank this month's sponsors: the Misso Family and the Newton Family.
 
 The History of Diving Museum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit located in Islamorada (MM83). Divers and non-divers alike are amazed by over 5,000 years of “the quest to explore under the sea.” The Museum has 14 core exhibits plus two annual limited-time Featured Exhibits as well as a Museum Store with unique gifts. Check out DivingMuseum.org for more details, to become a member or shop online.

Celebrate legendary Florida Keys treasure diver Art McKee’s birthday with guided tours at the History of Diving Museum! Renowned for recovering thousands of artifacts from the wrecks of the 1733 Spanish treasure fleet, Art “Silver Bar” McKee co-invented the underwater metal detector and was known for diving with a Miami-made Miller Dunn diving helmet and sneakers.
 
Guided tours will take place at both 11 AM and 2 PM on Sunday, November 2nd. These tours will highlight the Museum’s many fascinating exhibits and feature a special showcase of Art McKee and other Florida Keys treasure divers’ stories. These tours are included with your admission, and if you are already a member of the Museum, there is no additional charge.
 
The History of Diving Museum is open daily from 10 AM to 5 PM, with guided tours taking place once a month. Tours run for approximately one hour. Private tours are also available upon request with at least two weeks’ notice.
 
The History of Diving Museum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit located in Islamorada (MM83). Divers and non-divers alike are amazed by over 5,000 years of “the quest to explore under the sea.” The Museum has 14 core exhibits plus two annual limited-time Featured Exhibits as well as a Museum Store with unique gifts. Check out DivingMuseum.org for more details, to become a member or shop online.

Join the History of Diving Museum for its fourth annual Treasure Treat Night! This event includes trick-or-treating through the Museum's haunted exhibits as costumed staff dole out candy, toys, activities, stickers, and fun historic facts. A costume contest with prizes for the three winners will take place at 6:15 PM. A raffle will also be held for additional prizes. This event is free to the public, with a $5 suggested donation. Join us for a night of spooky, Halloween fun!
 
The History of Diving Museum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit located in Islamorada (MM83). Divers and non-divers alike are amazed by over 5,000 years of “the quest to explore under the sea.” The Museum has 14 core exhibits plus two annual limited-time Featured Exhibits as well as a Museum Store with unique gifts. Check out DivingMuseum.org for more details, to become a member or shop online.

​Join the History of Diving Museum on Saturday, October 11th at 11 AM and 2 PM for a special guided tour of the exhibits! These tours are included in your admission price, and each will begin with a short presentation by Les Burke, a US Navy Veteran and salvage diver.
 
Free admission is offered to active duty members of the military, and discounts are available for locals and seniors. October’s tours will coincide with the 250th anniversary of the US Navy, and feature highlights of military divers and their heroic, often dangerous work. Navy veteran Les Burke will teach visitors about what it takes to become a Navy diver, and take them through the salvage operations he took part in during his service.
 
The History of Diving Museum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit located in Islamorada (MM83). Divers and non-divers alike are amazed by over 4,000 years of “the quest to explore under the sea.” The Museum has 14 core exhibits plus two annual limited-time Featured Exhibits as well as a Museum Store with unique gifts. Check out DivingMuseum.org for more details, to become a member or shop online

​Each year, more than 600,000 military families move to new communities. Blue Star Welcome Week is a national week of activation to ensure military families feel welcome and community members are inspired to do their part in supporting them. The History of Diving Museum is one of many institutions across the country that will be participating.
 
Each year, the History of Diving Museum participates in Blue Star Museums. Free admission is offered to active duty members of the military year-round, and from September 27 to October 5, this complimentary admission will once again extend to up to 5 members of their families! Be sure to spread the world and make our military families feel welcome.
 
On Saturday, October 4th and Saturday, October 11th, guided tours included with admission will be offered to all History of Diving Museum guests. Tours take place at 11 AM and 2 PM, and will feature highlights of military divers and their heroic, often dangerous work. October 11's tours will coincide with the 250th anniversary of the US Navy. We look forward to seeing you there!
 
The History of Diving Museum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit located in Islamorada (MM83). Divers and non-divers alike are amazed by over 4,000 years of “the quest to explore under the sea.” The Museum has 14 core exhibits plus two annual limited-time Featured Exhibits as well as a Museum Store with unique gifts. Check out DivingMuseum.org for more details, to become a member or shop online.

On Wednesday, June 18th, the History of Diving Museum will host CW4 Michael Carr (Retired) for Diving and Salvage Operations at 7 p.m. In this presentation, Michael will take you through the underwater salvage operations he was involved in.
 
Michael Carr is a retired US military officer and a US Navy trained Ship Salvage Diving Officer (SSDO). He served as officer in charge of the Coast Guard's National Strike Force Dive Team in the 1980s, participating in numerous diving, salvage, and rescue operations. After service in the US Coast Guard, he served as a Marine Warrant Officer in the Army watercraft community, deploying to combat operations in Iraq as part of Operation New Dawn.
 
Join Michael as he takes us through the diving and salvage operations in response to the Air Florida FLT 90 crash in the Potomac River, as well as the sinking of the SS Marine Electric off the coast of Virginia. This presentation will focus on the disasters themselves as well as both the physical and emotional challenges faced by salvage divers.
 
The Museum will have extended hours on Immerse Yourself night, with the exhibits open until 6:45 PM. Be sure to come see the Celebrating 20 Years! Featured Exhibit, which explores what it took to create the world’s largest collection of diving equipment on public display, as well as how diving has evolved since the Museum’s opening.
 
If you are interested in attending the Immerse Yourself lecture either in-person or online via Zoom, visit divingmuseum.org to register. This session will also be recorded and posted to the HDM YouTube channel. The History of Diving Museum would like to thank this month’s Immerse Yourself sponsors: Iron Mike Member Retired Navy Admiral Kurt Tidd, and Horizon Divers.
 
The History of Diving Museum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit located in Islamorada (MM83). Divers and non-divers alike are amazed by over 4,000 years of “the quest to explore under the sea.” The Museum has 14 core exhibits plus two annual limited-time Featured Exhibits as well as a Museum Store with unique gifts. Check out DivingMuseum.org for more details, to become a member or shop online.

This year, the History of Diving Museum celebrates 20 years since it first opened to the public. The upcoming exhibit will delve into what it took to create the world's largest collection of diving equipment on public display, how the Museum has grown in the past twenty years, and what the future holds. The opening ceremony will take place from 5:45 PM to 6:45 PM on Wednesday, May 21st, followed by Immerse Yourself! Mistakes Divers Make, with Dan Orr.
 
Founded by Drs. Joe and Sally Bauer in 2005, the History of Diving Museum is the culmination of over four decades of passionate collecting, curating, and researching of diving history. It represents one of the most extensive collections in the world, and has treated visitors from across the globe to the millennia-old story of "the quest to explore under the sea."
 
Celebrating 20 Years! Featured Exhibit will open on Wednesday, May 21st with a preview reception starting at 5:45 PM, followed by the ribbon cutting at 6:30 PM and a 7:00 PM Immerse Yourself! presentation with Dan Orr, diving consultant and former president of DAN. His seminar will take us through the incidence of injury in scuba diving and mistakes that divers make, with recommendations on how to identify and mitigate these risks.
If you are interested in attending the exhibit opening or Immerse Yourself! lecture in-person, you can either register online at DivingMuseum.org or email the Community Outreach team at [email protected]. For those unable to attend the Immerse Yourself! in-person, visit our website for a virtual Zoom link at DivingMuseum.org. This session will also be recorded and posted to the HDM YouTube channel. The Museum would like to thank this month’s sponsors: Mark “Sharky” Alexander and Trident Surface Supplied Diving, and the Monroe County Tourist Development Council.   
 
The History of Diving Museum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit located in Islamorada (MM83). The Museum is open daily from 10AM-5PM and hosts over 14 core exhibits plus two limited-time Featured Exhibits, as well as a Museum Store with unique gifts. Check out DivingMuseum.org for more details, to become a member or shop online.

On Wednesday, April 16th, the History of Diving Museum will host Dr. Cori Convertito for Following the Fish: Hemingway in the Keys at 7 p.m. In this presentation, Dr. Convertito will take you through Ernest Hemingway’s life in the Florida Keys and his involvement in the local sport fishing scene.
 
Ernest Hemingway, a famous writer in Key West throughout the 1930s, immersed himself in Florida Keys game fishing and did much to popularize it among fellow writers, readers, and sportsmen. This talk will discuss Hemingway's angling exploits and spotlight his conservation activities.
 
Dr. Cori Convertito is the chief curator and historian at the Key West Art and Historical Society. She has 25 years of experience in the museum and archives sector, and also serves as an adjunct educator in history at the College of the Florida Keys. Cori holds a Ph. D. in British Naval History from the University of Exeter, U.K. Her thesis is titled "The Health of British Seamen in the West Indies, 1770-1806' and was awarded the Boydell & Brewer Prize for the best doctoral thesis in maritime history, 2011-12.
 
April 16th will also be the last day to catch the History of Diving Museum’s featured exhibit Dive Into Art: Fintastic Fish of Florida. Be sure to come early before Immerse Yourself to see this vibrant celebration of fishing, aquaculture, and sustainable seafood in the Florida Keys. Students from local schools crafted sculptures, plush toys, paintings, and paper mache creations. Their work is displayed alongside art from the Art Guild of the Purple Isles, as well as interpretive provided by local organizations committed to ocean conservation.
 
If you are interested in attending the Immerse Yourself lecture either in-person or online via Zoom, visit divingmuseum.org to register. This session will also be recorded and posted to the HDM YouTube channel. The History of Diving Museum would like to thank this month’s Immerse Yourself sponsor: The Surgery Center.
 
The History of Diving Museum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit located in Islamorada (MM83). Divers and non-divers alike are amazed by over 4,000 years of “the quest to explore under the sea.” The Museum has 14 core exhibits plus two annual limited-time Featured Exhibits as well as a Museum Store with unique gifts. Check out DivingMuseum.org for more details, to become a member or shop online.

Join the History of Diving Museum at 7 PM Wednesday, August 21st for Immerse Yourself! Shark Research and Conservation Biology with Dr. Mikki McComb-Kobza, shark biologist with Ocean First Institute.
 
Dr. Mikki McComb-Kobza specializes in applied conservation biology, particularly of endangered species and natural resources in marine ecosystems. She has been researching for over 20 years, focusing primarily on the biology, behavior, abundance, and movement of sharks using novel technologies. The goal of her work is to support science based strategic conservation initiatives. Mikki holds a Ph.D. in Integrative Biology from Florida Atlantic University and is the author of numerous scientific publications.
 
Sharks are iconic and misunderstood species with a long evolutionary history. There are over 500 living species, which have radiated into nearly every aquatic habitat. Join Dr. McComb-Kobza as she shares the story of sharks’ rise, diversification and fascinating adaptations. She will discuss her current research on great white sharks and other aspects of her ongoing conservation projects.
 
If you are interested in attending the Immerse Yourself lecture in-person, reserve your seat today by calling the Museum at (305) 664-9737 or emailing the Community Outreach team at [email protected]. For those unable to attend in-person, visit DivingMuseum.org for a virtual Zoom link. The History of Diving Museum would like to thank this month’s Immerse Yourself sponsor and members: David and Patti Gross. The session is also be recorded and posted to the HDM YouTube channel.
 
The History of Diving Museum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit located in Islamorada (MM83). Divers and non-divers alike are amazed by over 4,000 years of “the quest to explore under the sea.” The Museum has 14 core exhibits plus two annual limited-time Featured Exhibits as well as a Museum Store with unique gifts. Stop in and visit Salvaging the Deep, open until the end of the year. Check out DivingMuseum.org for more details, to become a member or shop online.

ISLAMORADA, FL – Join the History of Diving Museum on Saturday, August 17th at 11AM and 2PM for guided tours included with admission ticket. These tours will cover the whole museum, as well as highlight the anniversary of William Beebe and Otis Barton’s record-shattering dive in the Bathysphere!
 
In August 1934, Beebe and Barton made history by descending more than 3,000 feet in a suspended metal sphere, giving the world its first glimpse at living deepsea creatures such as the anglerfish. Be sure to get an in-depth look at the Museum’s Salvaging the Deep featured exhibit, which delves into some of the deepest wrecks in the world and milestones like the Bathysphere that enabled us to get down there.
 
Kids will enjoy a scavenger hunt, free bookmarks and take home activity guides. As part of the Blue Star Museums program, active duty members of the military along with up to five family members are free, as are History of Diving Museum members. Florida Keys residents receive a discount, so take advantage of it this weekend for a complimentary tour.  
 
The next public guided tour date will coincide with Labor Day weekend and the end of the Blue Star Museums program on Sunday, September 1st.
 
The History of Diving Museum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit open daily from 10AM to 5PM, and located in Islamorada (MM83). Divers and non-divers alike are amazed by over 4,000 years of “the quest to explore under the sea.” The Museum has 14 core exhibits plus two annual limited-time featured exhibits and a Museum Store with unique gifts. Not a member? It’s an easy process in person or online. Check out DivingMuseum.org for more details.