History, the NOGI award

[captain]

The NOGI (New Orleans Grand Isle) Award is the oldest award in the diving industry, dating back to the 1950s when it was initially presented to world-class spearfishing champions. In the 1960s, the award began to be presented to top achievers in the underwater world by the Underwater Society of America. Each year it is presented to distinguished divers, as selected by their AUAS peers, in the categories of arts, science, sports/education and distinguished service. Past winners of the NOGI Award include diving luminaries Jacques Cousteau plus both his sons, Jean-Michel and Philippe, as well Peter Benchly, Scott Carpenter, and Sylvia Earle.

[captain]

The NOGI (New Orleans Grand Isle) Award is the oldest award in the diving industry, dating back to the 1950s when it was initially presented to world-class spearfishing champions. In the 1960s, the award began to be presented to top achievers in the underwater world by the Underwater Society of America. Each year it is presented to distinguished divers, as selected by their AUAS peers, in the categories of arts, science, sports/education and distinguished service. Past winners of the NOGI Award include diving luminaries Jacques Cousteau plus both his sons, Jean-Michel and Philippe, as well Peter Benchly, Scott Carpenter, and Sylvia Earle.

By the way, our own Phil Nuytten is also a NOGI award winner.

[Bryan]

I wonder if Phil has ever been to Grand Isle ?? Great info! Thank you Tom.

[Popeye]

Receiving the NOGI Award for Arts this year is Bill Curtsinger, a former US Navy Photographer,Bill has had a interesting Career, including being a contract photographer for National Geographic Magazine for many years ,check out his website at,www.billcursingerphoto.com

Popeye

[captain]

I wonder if Phil has ever been to Grand Isle ?? Great info! Thank you Tom.

I am pretty sure he has. He was one of the founders of Oceaneering International in the 1960's serving the offshore oil industry here in Louisiana and Texas.

[Phil]

FYI: I can assure that - back 'in the day' - Phil, has, in fact, spearfished the ratshit out of the various rigs in and around Grand Isle! Before my current days of Buddhist-like icthyological enlightenment, I used to head down to Catalina, Anacapa, San Clement and Santa Barbara Islands for Black Sea Bass - White Sea Bass and Yellowtails - Also Mexico (Punta Bunda) Florida,and the Gulf a couple of times a year - and terrorize the local fishies the rest of the year. I was the captain of the Canadian National spearfishing team, competed in National Spearfishing Championships (and got beaten by guys like Terry Lentz, Bruce Monier, Gary Keffler, and a cast of thousands). This was in the 50's and early 60's.
Thing about the Grand Isle fishing was that it was usually done with SCUBA instead of the breath-hold stuff we did in regular competition. For this reason, most spearfishing circuit regulars looked down their noses at the Grand Isle big fish meets.
All the early 'SkinDiver' magazine stuff was mostly about spearfishing and many of my fellow NOGI types were originally fanatic fish-pokers! (Val and Ron Taylor, Bev Morgan, and so on) Seems like 'Spearos' (as my Ozzie buds call themselves) are viewed about like pedophiles today (G) Oh, well . . .times change.
Regards
Phil

[Scuba Cowboy]

Phil, "spearo's" are only viewed poorly by people that no one on this board gives a rats ass about. As far as I'm concerned, spearfishermen popularized this sport to begin with. They should be held up and appreciated for what they accomplished then & now.

[captain]

The June 1959 issue of Skin Diver magazine has an article on the New Orleans-Grand Isle Scuba Tourney.
The Grand Isle Tarpon Rodeo, started in 1928, had a spearfishing division for many years but dropped it in the mid 1990's. In the mid 1980's several divers from my charter boat speared fish that placed in the top three but never a first place.

[JES]

Although I spearfished the Gulf in these areas, I was always content with spearing my share of red snappers and gray trigger fish.

After we tied off to the oil rig the real spearos would jump in and immediately dive to 200+ feet and then spear some monster groupers or other impressive denizon of the deep. It was always amazing to see these guys holding their catch chest high and seeing the tail bent over on the deck!

I was definitely not worthy.

[treasureman]

Fish that have tails dragging on the deck. Now that would be an impressive grouper I giot bumped by one in the keys once, it was feeding time and someone opend a coffee can with some food. Kinda like a body check in hockety, but underwater. Not so much as an excuse me "im on my way to feed"

I always hoped someone would have given that hulk the shaft