Billy Deans (diver)
Encyclopedia
"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.
Billy Deans is a former member of the board of directors
of International Association of Nitrox and Technical Divers
(IANTD). He was a technical diving instructor for the US Government. In addition to teaching diving to the United States Army Corps of Engineers
, he also taught Special forces
divers for the United States Army
and the United States Navy
. He is also a Professional Association of Diving Instructors
(PADI) and National Association of Underwater Instructors
(NAUI) recreational diving
instructor.
In Kevin McMurray's book, Deep Descent, Billy Deans is described as "the world's best diver".
Billy Deans was one of the early pioneers in relation to the use of trimix for deep diving
. During the exploration of U-869 chronicled in the best selling book, Shadow Divers
, John Chatterton
and Richie Kohler
sought instruction from Billy Deans in the use of trimix (which had, until then, largely been restricted to cave exploration diving
in Florida
). These presaged a number of North Eastern wreck divers to seek trimix training from Billy Deans, leading to its popularity as a deep diving breathing gas.
Billy Deans has been involved in a number of high profile shipwreck expeditions over the years, including Gary Gentile
's expedition to the USS Monitor
, various exploration dives on the SS Andrea Doria
, the USS Wilkes-Barre
and U-2513. In late 1993, Billy Deans served as Dive Operations Officer for an expedition recovering treasure and artifacts from a Spanish brigantine
which sank in the Gulf of Mexico
off New Orleans.
Billy Deans ran a dive shop (known as Key West Divers) in Key West, FL for many years prior to retiring from diving in 1998.
He qualified as an ICU
nurse.
Wreck diving
Wreck diving is a type of recreational diving where shipwrecks are explored. Although most wreck dive sites are at shipwrecks, there is an increasing trend to scuttle retired ships to create artificial reef sites...
and technical diver
Technical diving
Technical diving is a form of scuba diving that exceeds the scope of recreational diving...
. Although "Captain" is the nickname
Nickname
A nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....
which is universally applied to Billy Deans, he is in fact a US Coast Guard rated captain up to 100 tons.
Billy Deans is a former member of the board of directors
Board of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
of 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). He was a technical diving instructor for the US Government. In addition to teaching diving to the United States Army Corps of Engineers
United States Army Corps of Engineers
The United States Army Corps of Engineers is a federal agency and a major Army command made up of some 38,000 civilian and military personnel, making it the world's largest public engineering, design and construction management agency...
, he also taught Special forces
Special forces
Special forces, or special operations forces are terms used to describe elite military tactical teams trained to perform high-risk dangerous missions that conventional units cannot perform...
divers for the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
and the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
. He is also a Professional Association of Diving Instructors
Professional Association of Diving Instructors
The 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) and National Association of Underwater Instructors
National 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:...
(NAUI) recreational diving
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...
instructor.
In Kevin McMurray's book, Deep Descent, Billy Deans is described as "the world's best diver".
Billy Deans was one of the early pioneers in relation to the use of trimix for deep diving
Deep diving
The meaning of the term deep diving is a form of technical diving. It is defined by the level of the diver's diver training, diving equipment, breathing gas, and surface support:...
. During the exploration of U-869 chronicled in the best selling book, Shadow Divers
Shadow Divers
Shadow Divers is a non-fictional recounting of the discovery of a World War II German U-Boat sixty miles off the coast of New Jersey, USA in 1991.-Overview:...
, John Chatterton
John Chatterton
John Chatterton is one of the world’s most accomplished and well known wreck divers. Together with Richie Kohler, he was one of the co-hosts for the History Channel’s Deep Sea Detectives where they have completed work on 57 episodes of this successful series...
and Richie Kohler
Richie kohler
Richie Kohler is an experienced technical wreck diver and shipwreck historian who has been diving and exploring shipwrecks since 1980. Together with John Chatterton, Kohler was one of the co-hosts of the television series Deep Sea Detectives on the History Channel and is also a consultant for the...
sought instruction from Billy Deans in the use of trimix (which had, until then, largely been restricted to cave exploration diving
Cave diving
Cave diving is a type of technical diving in which specialized equipment is used to enable the exploration of caves which are at least partially filled with water. In the United Kingdom it is an extension of the more common sport of caving, and in the United States an extension of the more common...
in Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
). These presaged a number of North Eastern wreck divers to seek trimix training from Billy Deans, leading to its popularity as a deep diving breathing gas.
Billy Deans has been involved in a number of high profile shipwreck expeditions over the years, including Gary Gentile
Gary Gentile
Gary Gentile is an American author and pioneering technical diver.-Diving:Gary Gentile is a wreck diver. It has been suggested that Gary Gentile may be the most experienced wreck diver in the world...
's expedition to the USS Monitor
USS Monitor
USS Monitor was the first ironclad warship commissioned by the United States Navy during the American Civil War. She is most famous for her participation in the Battle of Hampton Roads on March 9, 1862, the first-ever battle fought between two ironclads...
, various exploration dives on the SS Andrea Doria
SS Andrea Doria
SS Andrea Doria[p] was an ocean liner for the Italian Line home ported in Genoa, Italy, most famous for its sinking in 1956, when 46 people died. Named after the 16th-century Genoese admiral Andrea Doria, the ship had a gross register tonnage of 29,100 and a capacity of about 1,200 passengers and...
, the USS Wilkes-Barre
USS Wilkes-Barre (CL-103)
USS Wilkes-Barre was a Cleveland-class light cruiser of the United States Navy that served during the last year of World War II...
and U-2513. In late 1993, Billy Deans served as Dive Operations Officer for an expedition recovering treasure and artifacts from a Spanish brigantine
Brigantine
In sailing, a brigantine or hermaphrodite brig is a vessel with two masts, only the forward of which is square rigged.-Origins of the term:...
which sank in the Gulf of Mexico
Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked ocean basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. In...
off New Orleans.
Billy Deans ran a dive shop (known as Key West Divers) in Key West, FL for many years prior to retiring from diving in 1998.
He qualified as an ICU
Intensive Care Unit
thumb|220px|ICU roomAn intensive-care unit , critical-care unit , intensive-therapy unit/intensive-treatment unit is a specialized department in a hospital that provides intensive-care medicine...
nurse.