History of the Sea Rovers
About Us
The Boston Sea Rovers are a 501C3 not for
profit volunteer organization dedicated to increasing awareness and appreciation
of the marine environment. We are one of the oldest and most distinguished underwater
clubs in America , and have a worldwide reputation of excellence. While the membership
has changed repeatedly over the years, we still hold true to a pledge that was inspired
in 1954, and we remain dedicated to "Raising the Level of Knowledge of the Underwater
World". In order to achieve this lofty goal, the early members of the club designed
and invented the first underwater film show available to the general public. They
called that first production a Clinic, and we have held the event every year since.
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Early Sea Rovers practicing at the Huntington YMCA during the winter months. |
The Clinic now comprises an entire weekend, which is typically the first full weekend in March. The event continues
to be held at the Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel in the Back Bay, in a gold-gilded
facility considered by many to be the Grand Dame of Boston’s hotels. The Clinic
consists of a world renowned film festival where international underwater film makers
present and premier their most recent works, over forty daytime seminars covering
a wide variety of topics, workshops focused on hands-on training, and an exhibit
hall filled with equipment, travel destinations, dive clubs, and more.
Founded when SCUBA diving was still in
its infancy, The Boston Sea Rovers are a group of people from diverse and varied backgrounds, who share the common bond of a love for diving and for the ocean. Perhaps
the best description of the organization is a quote from “Explorations”, the biography
of Robert Ballard, who at one point was Vice President of Boston Sea Rovers:
"I had also become active with the Boston
Sea Rovers, one of the oldest diving clubs in the country. The Sea Rovers membership
was eclectic, to say the least, cutting across social and economic lines to include
bank presidents, stevedores, surgeons, auto mechanics, college students, and the
heirs to old New England fortunes. The love of the sea and diving brought us together.
So did a thirst for cold beer and lobsters steamed over a roaring campfire."
Bob went on to a great career in the underwater
world, finding the Titanic and many other famous shipwrecks, and he presently heads
the Institute for Exploration at the Mystic Marine Life Aquarium in CT.
The Boston Sea Rovers are proud sponsors
of our Underwater Clinics, the last major dive show in America run solely by volunteers.
Proceeds from the Clinics are used for scholarships, internships, in support of
other non-profit organizations (in particular SeaMark, and the Cotting School for
Handicapped Children), and to continue and promote the goals of our organization.
Included on this website is a brief glimpse
at the illustrious history of our club. We are currently working on a detailed written
history of our organization, that includes hundreds of photographs accumulated over
the years. Details will be posted here at a later date when the tome will be available
for download. Continue Learning about the History of the Boston Sea Rovers....
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