A Letter from Pam Bertrand, Executive Producer...

Why the Challenge?
Four years ago, I began the adventure of creating the Ultimate Diver Challenge! My huge commitment and devotion for the people of Cozumel and Scuba Diving, coupled with my love for reality television shows, inspired the idea of "The Ultimate Diver Challenge."

This past year, the Ultimate Diver Challenge was produced professionally as a TV Reality Show and this show is being used for television syndication considerations! Divers face the reality of what it takes to be the "best of the best" in scuba diving through a TV Show that will change scuba diving forever. Until now, divers have never had the opportunity to compete while showcasing mastered diving skills. Through created challenges, divers compete team against team as each challenge is designed to test knowledge, buoyancy, navigation, safety, search, stress, and rescue skills through precision and accuracy. In the past, Dive buddy teams from around the world participate in diving challenges and the top five dive teams are selected from the results of those challenges. Then, all ten divers competed individually in three additional challenges for the chance to earn the title of the "Ultimate Diver". This year's Ultimate Diver Challenge will be slightly different -- so stay tuned for exact details!

Although Scuba diving is typically considered a non-competitive sport, a huge emphasis is placed on continued training and education related to our skills and knowledge. Every sport, competitive and non-competitive, has declared the best of the best. I, have seen the best poker player, ballroom dancer, car racer, football team, soccer team, survivor, singer, chef, ice skater, and on and on and on. Never in the history of Scuba Diving has a diver been acknowledged for exhibiting the basic scuba skills that emphasize the extreme importance of protecting our reefs, and upholding safe, recreational standards of Scuba Diving by identifying divers as "The Ultimate Diver."

Who am I?
I have been traveling to Cozumel for 23 years and truly can refer to this island as "Home away from home". I was in Cozumel to experience Hurricane Wilma in October 2005 and Hurricane Dean in 2007. Strange that Hurricane Wilma inspired the idea of the Ultimate Diver Challenge and that Hurricane Dean visited this past summer while we were shooting our preliminary pilot film. Oddly, the divers that participated witnessed first hand that the people of Cozumel do not allow their devotion to tourism and to the sport of diving to change regardless of the many storms that impact their lives. I began diving in 1987 with the same curiosity that leads most divers to take the plunge. Unfortunately, my love for diving took a long vacation after discovering my 22 month old daughter had leukemia in 1992. My diving adventures resumed in 1995, after many years of Alicia's successful cancer treatments. Alicia, now 19 years old, has been diving with me since she was 12. I recruited my husband, Dave, to diving in 1997, and my son Nathan as a Scuba Ranger when he was only 8 (certified at 10 and now 15 years old). Alexis at 12, has now been diving 2 years. I have one more that is eager to get certified this summer as her birthday is fast approaching, Aliya, 9. I have spent the last 11 years with a mission to meet others that enjoy diving and to keep new divers active with diving. I formed a local dive club, Scuba Friends, and have been arranging group travel to 3 to 4 destinations each year. Our groups started small with 7 to 10 divers but have grown to as many as 58 divers in one week to one destination.

Why Can this Help Growth for the Scuba Diving Industry?
Reality Shows for me are certainly an addiction, but so far I have never been chosen to play the games that I watch so faithfully (and yes, I have applied). Our sport is one of the most unique sports in the world. We can enter and explore a whole other REAL world filled with creatures, plants, and formations that many can only dream of ever seeing. I have often heard, “I could never do something like that”, but the reality is that a TV Show will inspire non divers to understand how fun, exciting and easy scuba diving is! Reality TV allows viewers to see from the eyes of others and this is an excellent sporting opportunity to share scuba diving with a competitive edge! Imagine the impact a TV show can offer for the growth of scuba that will allow non-divers to explore a new paradise of the underwater world as each face their individual fears and questions that prevent them from taking the plunge!

The Ultimate Diver Challenge allows our industry to emphasize the extreme importance that is placed on education, safety and training. Although diving is typically seen as an individual, non competitive sport, our industry and each of us are obligated to maintain basic scuba skills that will keep our reefs and marine life safe from human harm. These essential skills, fine tuned and practiced will also maintain the safety and our obligation to be the "Best" Dive Buddy. Have some fun! Join us and see for yourself the significance of the event and the show! I can't say enough about the fun and excitement that divers display taking the challenges! Be sure to watch the trailer on you tube for a glimpse of the Ultimate Diver Challenge fun!

I invite you to visit the site frequently as we are constantly updating details as we prepare for this year's Ultimate Diver Challenge. Join us for some fun in the sun, to take the challenge, as a fun diver and/or as a volunteer. Dive Safely, Pam Bertrand, Executive Producer

Dive Safely,

Pam Bertrand, Executive Director