Early diving pioneer and famous Oceanographer Dr Ray McCallister has died

[danvolker]

I just heard he died on Monday, at the age of 90. Ray was an incredible "character" I had the privilege of knowing. His wit and personality, along with his great insights into the ocean, will be sorely missed by many.
He was a member of the Bottom Scratchers, the first dive club in America ( if not in the world). If I remember correctly, he was an avid diver in the 50's and perhaps earlier.
I will miss him....

There is a ceremony on Saturday...

 

[fdarden]

I have enjoyed many of Dr. Ray's documentations, and descriptions of the local reefs. One of my favorite dives is "Rays North" and "Rays South" as well as "rabbit ears" reef. I never knew much about the man, but I am very familiar with his work in the local area on the reefs. I am sorry to hear of his passing. I can well imagine that he was quite the character. If you look at some of the South Florida diving maps, his name is all over many spots. I have often wondered who this Dr Ray Mcallister was. Thanks for sharing this Dan.

 

[RickI]

I am pulling together some background information on Dr. Ray. I had known and worked with him starting in the 1970s on all sorts of interesting ocean projects. More about his life and times at the link below along with information on the Services to be held this Saturday morning.

So long Dr. Ray, thanks for all the great memories.

Dr. Ray McAllister Passes On - FKA Kiteboarding Forums

 

[Sam Miller III]

He was a member of the Bottom Scratchers, the first dive club in America ( if not in the world).
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The SAN DIEGO BOTTOM SCRATCHERS had only 19 members--Ray was never a member

1933-1969

Members Name Joined Nickname Deceased 1. Glenn Orr (Founder) 1933 Grand Exalted Walrus 1971 2. Jack Prodanovich (Co-founder) 1933 Walrus 2008 3. Ben Stone(Co-founder) 1933 Porpoise 2005 4. Jack Cobeluy 1933 Frog-kick 1976 5. Bill Battzlof 1938 Barnacle Bill 1966 6. Wally Potts 1939 One Long Dive 2002 7. Lamar Boren 1943 Soupfin 1986 8. Tucker Miller 1943 Big Bug 1945 9. Rob Rood 1943 Flat Fish 1985 10. Don Clark 1950 Trigger Fish 1988 11. Jim Stewart 1951 Sheephead ? 12. Al Larson 1953 Dr. Grouper 1960 13. Bau Smith 1954 Flying Fish ? 14. Carl Hubbs 1955 Professor Gray Whale 1979 15. Earl Murray 1955 Great Cormorant ? 16. Earl Habecker 1960 King Fish ? 17. Bill Johnson 1964 Sand Dollar Bill ? 18. Harold Riley 1969 Parrotfish 1970 19. Jack Taylor 1969 Sea Horse 1979

 

[danvolker]

He was a member of the Bottom Scratchers, the first dive club in America ( if not in the world).
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The SAN DIEGO BOTTOM SCRATCHERS had only 19 members--Ray was never a member

1933-1969

Members Name Joined Nickname Deceased 1. Glenn Orr (Founder) 1933 Grand Exalted Walrus 1971 2. Jack Prodanovich (Co-founder) 1933 Walrus 2008 3. Ben Stone(Co-founder) 1933 Porpoise 2005 4. Jack Cobeluy 1933 Frog-kick 1976 5. Bill Battzlof 1938 Barnacle Bill 1966 6. Wally Potts 1939 One Long Dive 2002 7. Lamar Boren 1943 Soupfin 1986 8. Tucker Miller 1943 Big Bug 1945 9. Rob Rood 1943 Flat Fish 1985 10. Don Clark 1950 Trigger Fish 1988 11. Jim Stewart 1951 Sheephead ? 12. Al Larson 1953 Dr. Grouper 1960 13. Bau Smith 1954 Flying Fish ? 14. Carl Hubbs 1955 Professor Gray Whale 1979 15. Earl Murray 1955 Great Cormorant ? 16. Earl Habecker 1960 King Fish ? 17. Bill Johnson 1964 Sand Dollar Bill ? 18. Harold Riley 1969 Parrotfish 1970 19. Jack Taylor 1969 Sea Horse 1979

On many occaisions, Ray spoke of his times diving with the Bottom Scratchers....maybe he did not actually join...