Well, I ended up back at VoliVoli, Fiji. When I left there a week ago, a bunch of divers had just shown up, including Zale Parry, a woman who starred in the TV Show Sea Hunt. I had never seen the show, and never heard of her. When I got back here to VoliVoli, the group was still there. Zale Parry was also still there. I was fortunate enough to sit at her table for dinner. What a wonderful woman. Zale Parry has lived an amazing life. She started diving as a young girl in the '40s.
During the dinner, we learned a lot about an award called the NOGI Award, and that there were three recipients of the award at that dinner including Zale Parry, and also a man who just received it. To say there were a lot of experienced divers here is an understatement. They were also a very fun group, I wish I had just stayed here an extra week or more. They are a great group of divers. It would have been fun.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NOGI_Awards
Zale Parry told some wonderful stories. Having been involved in all kinds of things underwater, including quite a bit of research and development of equipment, she was the obvious choice to test the new Hope-Page non-return valve. This piece or equipment was a new mouthpiece designed to make diving much safer. In 1954 she tested this mouthpiece by diving in Avalon Bay, Catalina Island, California. She set the new world record for women by diving to 209 feet. The dive and the new equipment was a success. After that, all manufacturers switched to the new valve design.
She made the cover of Sports Illustrated in 1955. During her talk, she presented an original copy of that magazine to a very young woman who's father owns the dive shop here. She is the youngest person I have ever seen dive, presented with a special gift from the oldest person that I have met that dives. I don't know what the monetary value of the magazine is, but I know it is priceless to this young girl.
So, yes, Zale Parry was an actress, but she has accomplished so much more in her life. I really wish I had been here all week.
Incredible Information here, including a photo of the magazine cover.
www.tdisdi.com/diving-pioneers-and-innovators/zale-parry/
More info can be found here.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zale_Parry
scubadiverlife.com/famous-female-divers-zale-parry/
www.internationallegendsofdiving.com/FeaturedLegends/parry_bio.htm
www.si.com/vault/1955/05/23/604820/zale-parry-under-the-waves-for-love