Bob Evans
Contributor
It's sad news that another Mentor and Friend has passed on. Bob did the first Force Fin test with me off Henry's Beach, Santa Barbara. 1979
Dear friends,
It is with great sadness that I inform you of the passing our friend and HDS USA Advisory Board member Bob Ratcliffe, who passed away peacefully October 29, 2024.
Bob started abalone diving in San Diego, California, in the 1950’s, forming life-long relationships with fellow ab divers Lad Handelman and Bob Kirby. All three eventually migrated north and became based in Santa Barbara. There Bob worked with Hugh Dan Wilson in the rapidly expanding field of commercial oilfield diving and became one of key divers in the “Santa Barbara Helium Rush” that Wilson launched with his 400-foot mixed gas dive in November 1962.
Bob built helium demand helmets for Wilson’s General Offshore Divers, later leaving with Handelman to form CAL Dive, along with Kevin Lengyel and Gene Handelman. While at CAL Dive Bob started his own company, the Ocean Development Corporation (ODC), and built the prototype of what would become the internationally famous Rat Hat diving helmet. In 1970 CAL Dive joined forces with CAN Dive and Worldwide Divers, and the three companies became Oceaneering International Incorporated (OII). OII acquired ODC from Bob, and the Rat Hat became proprietary equipment to OII, and was never available to the general industry market.
In later life Bob pursued an interest in aqua culture and became a regular attendee at local HDS USA functions with Handelman and Kirby. A very private man by nature, Bob led a low-key life and willingly supported HDS USA, joining the Society Advisory Board.
A two-part article on Bob’s career was published in issues 65 and 66 of the Journal of Diving History. A memoriam will appear in issue 122 of the Journal of Diving History. All at the Society extend their condolences the Ratcliffe family. Bob will be missed by many.
- Leslie Leaney, his friend.Tom
Dear friends,
It is with great sadness that I inform you of the passing our friend and HDS USA Advisory Board member Bob Ratcliffe, who passed away peacefully October 29, 2024.
Bob started abalone diving in San Diego, California, in the 1950’s, forming life-long relationships with fellow ab divers Lad Handelman and Bob Kirby. All three eventually migrated north and became based in Santa Barbara. There Bob worked with Hugh Dan Wilson in the rapidly expanding field of commercial oilfield diving and became one of key divers in the “Santa Barbara Helium Rush” that Wilson launched with his 400-foot mixed gas dive in November 1962.
Bob built helium demand helmets for Wilson’s General Offshore Divers, later leaving with Handelman to form CAL Dive, along with Kevin Lengyel and Gene Handelman. While at CAL Dive Bob started his own company, the Ocean Development Corporation (ODC), and built the prototype of what would become the internationally famous Rat Hat diving helmet. In 1970 CAL Dive joined forces with CAN Dive and Worldwide Divers, and the three companies became Oceaneering International Incorporated (OII). OII acquired ODC from Bob, and the Rat Hat became proprietary equipment to OII, and was never available to the general industry market.
In later life Bob pursued an interest in aqua culture and became a regular attendee at local HDS USA functions with Handelman and Kirby. A very private man by nature, Bob led a low-key life and willingly supported HDS USA, joining the Society Advisory Board.
A two-part article on Bob’s career was published in issues 65 and 66 of the Journal of Diving History. A memoriam will appear in issue 122 of the Journal of Diving History. All at the Society extend their condolences the Ratcliffe family. Bob will be missed by many.
- Leslie Leaney, his friend.Tom
