Remembering Zak Jones
Thanksgiving
Day, 2005 Zak was currently working as an
instructor
with Pro Dive International and was participating
in a recreational technical dive
at Tenneco
Towers
with several of the other
instructors. Zak and his dive partner
descended to 194 feet and exchanged “OK” signals and then went about
exploring
the site. Sometime afterward another
diver watched Zak handling a large grouper that he had just speared. Everything seemed to be fine and Zak seemed
pleased with his catch. A few minutes
later something went terribly wrong. His
dive partner found him at 160 feet, motionless and with his regulator
floating
free of his mouth. His partner inflated
Zak’s BC and sent him to the surface where resuscitation efforts failed.
Over a
year has passed since that day and we still have many questions and no
definitive answers. There has been much
speculation about the investigation, the autopsy and inspection of
Zak’s
equipment.
Here at UAS we have heard many
different stories and version of the “facts”. Just
as we believe we have heard the definitive
answers we hear more
information from other very credible sources that would lead to another
conclusion. Rather than add to confusion
and uncertainty by adding our speculative thoughts we will refrain from
commentary.
Zak’s
passing is a reminder to us all that our time in this life is
limited and
none of us know when we will be called away.
We need to live our lives to the fullest and best possible purpose
while
we are here. That is something that Zak
taught us all by his outstanding example.
I know very few people who lived their life with an enthusiasm and
brilliance that made the most of living.
This enthusiasm positively touched and motivated all those who he came
in contact with and called friend.
Director’s Tributes
Robert Mester
Mark Allen
Zak
Jones
1975
– 2005
Zak
Jones has over 12 years of diving experience with
over 10 years as a full time professional diver. A
few of Zak’s specialties include technical mix
gas scuba, semi-closed and fully closed mix gas rebreather diving,
cave, and
wreck exploration.
Zak is
an
accomplished and active diving educator who earned his first instructor
rating
at age 18. In 2001 he earned his Course
Director (Instructor Trainer) Certification making him one of 1500
active
Course Directors in the world for the Professional Association of
Diving
Instructors (PADI). Additionally, in 2004 Zak earned his Tri-Mix
Instructor
Trainer rating with Diving Science And Technology (DSAT), making him
one of 125
in the world.
Throughout
his diving career, Zak has logged dives at:
Truk Lagoon in the South Pacific, the Southern Channel Islands of
California, Caribbean
Sea, lakes in the Alps of Austria, cave systems on the Yucatan
Peninsula of
Mexico, the Kodiak Island off Alaska, Mediterranean Sea, Sea of Cortez,
and
Belize, Central America,
where he lived for a year training local dive leaders to become PADI
diving
instructors.
Zak was
a dive instructor at Pro Dive International
in Fort Lauderdale
Florida. He had previously taught technical mixed gas
diving
and rebreather
diving for Underwater Sports, Inc. in Seattle. He
had been an Instructor at the Divers Institute of Technology (DIT),
one of the top commercial diving schools in the world.
In addition he is a contracted consultant for
the Port
of Seattle Police Dive Team
assisting them
in dive training and developing team procedures.
He was a
member of the Board of Advisors at Underwater Admiralty Sciences and
helped develop
the Introduction to Microgravity and Scuba Diving program that is
conducted at
the Museum of flight.
Zak was
a
valued member of the 2004 Labrador
B-17G
recovery team.
Zak
thrives
on underwater exploration and adventure. He
enjoys documenting his experiences and sharing
them with others.
In
addition
to exploring and teaching, Zak enjoys spear fishing, skiing, hiking,
and
camping with his wife Robyn.
PROFESSIONAL
DIVING CERTIFICATIONS
- PADI Course Director
(Instructor Trainer)
- PADI Emergency First
Response (First Air & CPR) Instructor Trainer
- DSAT Tri-Mix (HE, O2,
N2) Instructor Trainer
- PADI Specialty Instructor
Trainer, 14+ Specialties
- DSAT Tec Deep Instructor
Trainer
- DSAT Gas Blender (Tri-Mix)
Instructor Trainer
- DSAT Dräger
(Semi-Closed Rebreather) Instructor Trainer
- DAN Oxygen First Aid
Instructor Trainer
- DAN Hazardous Marine Life
Injuries Instructor Trainer
- Scuba
School
International (SSI) Dive Control Specialists Instructor
- IANTD CCR (Closed
Circuit Rebreather), CCR 2000
- IANTD Full Tri-Mix Open
Circuit Diver
- IANTD CCR Inspiration Diver
- IANTD CCR Megalodon
Tri-Mix Diver
- IANTD
Full Cave
Diver
- ScubaPro Regulator
Technician
- Zeagle
Regulator Technician
SPECIALIZED
UNDERWATER EXPERIENCE
- Videography and photography
- Diver Vehicle (DPV)
- Aircraft and marine vessel
salvage and rigging
- Hydraulic cutting tools
- Surface supplied diving
procedures and equipment maintenance
- Confined space and
overhead environments
- Decompression dive planning
- Propulsion
