Posted by Jack L. Ruehlman on January 07, 2004 at 14:05:21:
Dear Sea Sabres and Guests,
It is our distinct pleasure and honor to present as speaker to kick off the New Year of 2004, for the January meeting, noted author, explorer, treasure hunter, historian and adventurer, Mr. David Finnern who will explore California wreck diving and treasure hunting. Please provide a warm Sea Sabre welcom
There's little wonder that shipwrecks and underwater exploration are common topics for David Finnerns stories. David first entered the undersea world in 1962 at the age of 12. He built his first underwater camera at age 15, and soon began exploring the ocean's depths for shipwrecks and treasures. He has worked on both underwater salvage and mining enterprises, and on various expeditions which have led to the discovery of a number of lost ships and submerged ruins. He has also invented and patented underwater equipment, and field-tested and written reports on various underwater devices. David has been elected a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, and has served as President of both The Adventurers' Club and California Wreck Divers, Inc.
As an award-winning writer, Finnern has published over 200 popular and technical articles on undersea exploration in magazines such as Scuba Times, California Diving News, Silver and Gold Annual, Treasure Diver, Porthole, Underwater USA and Wreck Diver. He has written numerous stories as a Contributing Editor for Western Diver and Western and Eastern Treasures magazines, and on assignment for Skin Diver and Immersed magazines. David has also written several technical papers on shipwreck exploration ethics, including an Amicus Brief presented to the United States Supreme Court and a paper presented at the United Nations Shipwreck Summit in Paris, France. In addition to his underwater writing projects, he has authored feature articles for outdoor magazines, such as Adventure West and The Adventurers' Club News, and won journalism awards for both newspaper and adventure stories.
Finnern has also authored several books including The Sport Diver's Guide to Sunken Treasure, which captured the "1997 Book of the Year" award in its category. One of his most endearing works is his autobiography, Passage Through Deep Waters. This book has received a wide array of accolades in both print and television mediums. Gavin MacLeod, host of the television series, Back On Course, cited, "This story is absolutely incredible." Beth Pratt, critic for the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, wrote, "It's a page-turner...1 didn't put it down until I finished." David has also collaborated on several books with other authors with such publishers as Harper-Collins.
Altogether, Finnern has published over 500 surface and underwater photographs, and his work has been translated into more than 40 languages and published in over 60 countries. He has been a featured speaker at various functions throughout the United States and appeared as a guest on national and international television, including an appearance as an on-air technical consultant for Fox Network News during the underwater search for John F. Kennedy Jr's sunken aircraft.
See David this Thursday January 8, 2004, at Fullerton Community Savings Community Room at 7:30pm. Located on the S.E Corner of Chapman and State College, North of the 91 freeway.
Don't miss this presentation.
Look forward to seeing you there.