Belated R.I.P. to Ray Manuel, Pensacola Fl

[SteveMKentucky]

While on a dive trip this last weekend I found that Ray Manuel Jr. passed away in 2014. Ray was a very well known diver in Pensacola who was largely known by the company with his own name Ray Manuel Diving. He was a fixture in the Pensacola Diving community back when I was diving there back in the late 70's.

His obit: Raymond Earl Manuel, Jr. Obituary - Pensacola, FL

 

[ofg-1]

Ray was quite a character around Pensacola. He would fill my tanks back in 1967, we did not have any C-Cards. Ray's mother would fill tanks and work the shop on 9th ave when he was out of town. He was a crane operator and commercial diver still using a Mark V into the 70's. Ray was the one that talked me into going to commercial diving school in 1973. He had a Mako boat mounted bow aft on a long trailer that he would back down into the surf with his 4 x 4 truck, and launch right off the beach, back when they let you drive on the beaches. I knew he was not in good health, but I did not know he was gone.

 

[SteveMKentucky]

Great to hear that someone else knew him.

 

[RyanT]

Great tribute and I'm sorry I never got to meet him. Another Ray (Ray Jones), was also a well known character on the Pensacola dive scene. He passed away in 2005. The Florida panhandle is an amazing place to dive, so...a toast to both; the world seems a bit less interesting without them.

 

[Stingrayvilla]

Ray certified me in 1977 and I dove with him till I went to the University of Florida. His teachings helped me make the move to Cozumel permanently. I will always remember him.

 

[AfterDark]

Sounds like Ray and I would have got along great back in 1967! Shame we never met. RIP Ray