Al Hornsby – Author, Photographer, Conservationist
In this episode of The League of Extraordinary Divers I chat with Al Hornsby author, underwater photographer & conservationist. Growing up as a military kid, Al learned to dive on an Air Force base in Guam. In college Al knew he wanted to be in the diving industry so he traded his speargun for a camera. With his friend in tow, Al did underwater photo journalism during a summer break. That lead to an opportunity in a film shoot for The Joy of Diving.
Soon thereafter, Al began his career with PADI. He was instrumental in the development of new training programs, especially instructor development. He was also instrumental in developing industry standards with the RSTC. Al left PADI for a brief period of time to be the editor of Skin Diver magazine – one of the largest and most popular magazines of the time. Today, Al is one of the longest-standing employees at PADI.
An interesting note about this episode. It was recorded at the 2017 DEMA Show in Orlando, Florida where Al was honored with the DEMA Reaching Out Award – one of the premiere awards in the diving industry. Al has also just launched an amazing book Face to Face: Up Close with Mother Nature.
Items in this Podcast
- Beyond The Standard Video Series for Dive Professionals (to subscribe text to 44222 and type GOBEYOND in the message)
- DEMA Reaching Out Award
- Cherokee Indian upbringings shaped his view of nature
- Learning to dive in Guam
- Inspired by The Silent World
- Traded his speargun for an underwater camera
- Began photo journalism over a summer break in college
- Al received a break in modeling/acting when invited to be in The Joy of Diving
- Began working at PADI in 1978
- Al assisted in created the first PADI Course Director program
- PADI’s early training programs
- Micronesia
- Dive platforms can be hazardous
- The inspiration for his book Face to Face: Up Close with Mother Nature
- Tips for underwater photography
- Passion for marine conservation
Resources
Sponsor
Special thanks to our episode sponsor Aggressor Fleet
Thanks for Listening!
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