Bob Hollis has passed, founder of Oceanic

[Akimbo]

I just received an email from Bernie Campoli that Bob Hollis passed away on 4 January 2023.

Industry Mourns Oceanic Founder and Industry Icon Bob Hollis - DiveNewswire

A life full of adventure came to a peaceful close on January 4, 2023, in Salt Lake City, Utah with family surrounding Bob’s side. Born on April 25, 1937, in Orland, California to Robert and Elinor Hollis, Bob leaves behind a legacy as a pioneer, entrepreneur, businessman, and most importantly, a...

www.divenewswire.com

Bob was a mentor and friend.

 

[Bob Evans]

What a special friend and mentor. Will

miss his smile.

 

[lowwall]

That is an impressive list of accomplishments. Do any of his businesses remain in family hands or were they all sold off to Huish?

 

[Wookie]

That is an impressive list of accomplishments. Do any of his businesses remain in family hands or were they all sold off to Huish?

I *think* that Huish didn’t want the younger Hollis’ gig, the tech diving side, the rebreathers and scooters, etc.

 

[Akimbo]

Here is an image of Bob suiting on our Doria dive in 1973.

 

[BoundForElsewhere]

What a life. Alhamdulillah.

 

[Akimbo]

Here is the chapter on Bob in Bret Gilliam's Diving Pioneers and Innovators.

 

[rhwestfall]

Another pioneer has passed....

 

[wetb4igetinthewater]

Sad to read this, but I knew of Bob's failing health for a few years now. We were hoping he would plan the excavation requirements/logistics for our underwater archaeology projects in Greece for the deeper wrecks. We just couldn't move fast enough.

My first encounter with Bob was actually his old shop in Monterey back in 2014. I hired a dive guide from his shop. He took one look at me as we were heading out. "Your [Apeks] regs are shiit!" That still cracks me up.

The scuba world lost a legend.

May his memory be eternal.

Edit: fun fact when Jacques Cousteau blew up part of the rim of the blue hole in Belize to bring in the Calypso, Bob was testing some equipment, most likely housing, when all this coral started falling on his head. This was shared to me by a friend of Bob's

 

[rhwestfall]

a real diver...