Mr. Scuba Hal Watts

[greeniguana]

I grew up in Orlando. I remember the Mystery Sink stories.

 

[Trace Malinowski]

I was the training director for the Americas for PSAI from 2011 - 2016. One DEMA show, two beautiful young women walked by the PSAI booth. Hal said hello to them as they passed us. They each replied with a quick, courtesy hi, and proceeded on their way. I forget Hal's exact words, but he said something to the effect, "Ladies, you're barely giving me the time of day. That wounds me. Back when I was a young man, you would have stopped to have a conversation." They did. They came over to the booth, and he had them charmed. He still had game in his 80s. He was both a legend and a character.

 

[The Chairman]

Pete, we met each other at the Hal's Grotto with Greg Holt from Scuba Radio. Will post some images.

We actually spent the previous day at Weeki Wachee! I had just undergone ankle surgery for a bad Achilles Tendon and we tried fins together.

I do remember buying those JetFins from Hal back in '69. He told me that I could kick the crap out of the reef and not hurt the fin. My, how times have changed. And, yes, he would deny that with a wink and a sly smile as well.

 

[Bob Evans]

No word's necessary.

 

[Kay Dee]

What a character Hal was! RIP Mr SCUBA!

He certainly aged very well. Seems he never passed his 'use by' date.

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

What a character Hal was! RIP Mr SCUBA!

He certainly aged very well. Seems he never passed his 'use by' date.

Wow exact same smile in both pics and they were probably 50-60 years apart?
It sounds like he was a great guy and a lot of fun to know and be around. A real character!

I got to ask, being that he was a deep air record holder and advocate of deep air diving, was he ever at odds with the anti deep air groups at all?

 

[Gene]

Loved Hal's old school ways and I always enjoyed diving at 40 fathom, especially as it's only one exit south of me! I'll miss him....
(I told him twenty years ago that I don't drink anymore but I can safely enjoy some narcosis now and then! He gave me that Hal smile and agreed wholeheartedly!)

 

[Bob Evans]

Special moment.