 The AUC gratefully acknowledges and thanks the many tireless volunteers who helped shape the AUC in every decade.........
—from creation of the Council in 1960 up to the current mandates of the AUC supporting Alberta's u/w sports community into the 21st century.
Brief Highlights of AUC History:
1960’s—1970’s: Originally called the Alberta Skin & Scuba Diving Council which provided the much needed basic skin/scuba diver and instructor training here in Alberta. This was long in advance of the formation of the now established & recognized international scuba training agencies and their expansion into Western Canada (e.g. PADI began in Illinois in 1966 & finally came to Alberta in mid to late seventies). The AUC also assisted with providing an affordable insurance program for many local instructors, divemasters and dive clubs who certified 1000’s of Alberta’s skin and scuba divers for over 20 years. Dive events (like the Jasper Aquathon) were created to keep divers busy underwater and often included spear fishing and other competitive-type activities.
1980’s: The Alberta Scuba Diving Council continued to support Alberta’s dive clubs and retailers in the ’80’s. The AUC’s accomplished volunteers created a Snorkel Student Manual & Snorkel Instructor’s Guide & Reference Manual that was used to assist in teaching basic snorkel instruction. These resources are still being used today by many lifeguards and swim instructors at local pools across Alberta. Increased funding support came from the Alberta government thru Alberta Sports Recreation Parks & Wildlife Foundation, Alberta Lottery Funds and Alberta Gaming (revenues from our volunteers working at bingos & casinos). Families still came out & participated at many club & AUC dive events.
1990’s: The AUC embraced the inclusion of underwater sports (like underwater hockey) into the organization as reflected by the society’s official name change from Alberta Scuba Diving Council to the Alberta Underwater Council. The AUC continues to support & sanction many yearly events for Alberta’s underwater hockey clubs and enthusiasts, including UWH World Championships in Calgary in 2002 & the Canadian National UWH Championship in Edmonton in 2009. In the 90’s, the AUC offered testimony & successfully lobbied governments opposing the ban of scuba diving in the National Parks. The "Diver Down Flag" program was started with a PSA developed for TV & signs posted at the busiest Alberta lakes. The AUC, partnering with local dive clubs & retailers, helped sponsor the development of steps and washroom facilities at Lake Minnewanka in Banff National Park for the use of divers. The AUC additionally continues to support the efforts of local diver volunteers with the placement of safety marker buoys at Banff’s Lake Minnewanka 1912 dam site which helps keep boaters away from this very popular diving and training location in Alberta. Divescapes Conference & Exhibition was started in 1995 by hard-working & dedicated volunteers and was held every year until 2001 in both Edmonton & Calgary. The Underwater Archeology Society of Alberta had numerous projects including the Oldman River Dam study & new plaque underwater at the Jasper Habukkuk site. In the early nineties, progressive volunteer directors of the AUC created & began the then controversial "Discover Scuba" program for schools and youth groups. This program has now become one of AUC's the most important - introducing thousands of Alberta's youth & school students to the "Discover Scuba" experience for over 20 years!
By the late nineties society has changed greatly and this affected the clubs & many dive events with low attendance as busy families and dive retailers struggled to make ends meet.
21st Century: Celebrating 50 years of supporting underwater sports in Alberta: 1960 - 2010
 Safety & education programs continue with the AUC’s newly revised “signage” at local Alberta boat launches and marinas to help remind boaters about the “DIVER DOWN FLAG”. On-going “Dive Flag Safety Awareness” program targets both boaters and divers at boat/sports shows for continuing education benefiting the in-water safety of Alberta’s divers.
The recent Twin Lakes Diver Training Facility rejuvenation has received AUC support for the benefit of local divers, clubs and stores. Area divers—please show your support by becoming a member in these clubs and in the Alberta Underwater Council (AUC). Many hours of volunteer work from hammer & nails, to working bingos & casinos to help pay for the materials went into this project. Twin Lakes continues to be a popular training lake for advanced, divemaster, instructor & even technical diver certifications for many training agencies like PADI, SSI, SDI/TDI, etc.
The AUC, with the assistance of volunteer divers from all over the province, has produced the ALBERTA DIVE GUIDE/LOG BOOK, which continues to be a high quality local guide and log book that includes the most popular diving locations and conditions of many dive sites in Alberta. This excellent resource is undergoing a complete revision and will be available again soon thru the AUC office or at your local favourite Alberta dive retailer.
 Divescapes Conference—returned with the help of volunteers in 2006 and continues the tradition of bringing internationally recognized speakers, film-makers, dive industry personalities to Alberta. Combined with trade/travel show exhibition, it provides a local showcase for diving equipment, dive safety, dive retailers, training and dive travel. Next Divescapes Conference is tentatively scheduled for the fall of 2011, in Edmonton, depending on the availability of funding.
Annual Dive Alberta Events—including underwater lake cleanups and dive events continue to be very popular with Alberta divers and are supporte d by very enthusiastic clubs and retail dive stores. The dive event season starts with the Jasper Aquathon on May long weekend. Thanks to many AUC volunteers, it has been held annually since 1962 and is a premier & very fun dive event. Dive events and/or Lake Cleanups are now held every month during the Alberta dive season (from May to September) all around the province. A resurge of great attendance at AUC Dive Events in the new millennium was seen due to increased sponsorship of the local Alberta Dive Retailers, increased members joining dive clubs - as divers always need dive buddies and by Alberta divers wanting to "give back" by participating in the many underwater lake cleanups.etc. Big changes from the sixties when divers were seen as mostly underwater hunters not underwater conservationists.
AUC members’ contributions are always welcome & needed—whether as a contributor to the AUC’s website or newsletter, as a board member, or a volunteer at an Alberta lake cleanup or dive event, dive leader/instructor/club member or as an uw hockey enthusiast/coach/referee/club supporter!
If it’s underwater in Alberta—think AUC!
Attn: AUC Alumni, Past Presidents, Board Members, Volunteers, etc: please critique the above article and send your additional comments, old photos, etc to: Cathie/AUC Office Ph: 1-888-307-8566, 780-427-9125,
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