PSAI Merit Awards
This year PSAI established the PSAI Merit Awards to recognize outstanding PSAI Professionals and members. There are three categories of PSAI Merit Awards:
The PSAI Heroic Merit Award
The PSAI Heroic Merit Award is presented to a PSAI Professional or member who has played an integral role in saving the life of a diver.
The PSAI Public Service Merit Award
The PSAI Public Service Merit Award is presented to a PSAI Professional or member who has rendered outstanding service through aiding or assisting a government agency, in a significant way, in matters related to diving.
The PSAI Public Safety Merit Award
The PSAI Public Safety Merit Award is presented to a PSAI Professional or member who has made a major contribution to diving safety.
The 2012 PSAI Merit Awards Recipients
The 2012 PSAI Heroic Merit Award Recipients:
Edd Sorenson
Edd Sorenson (3 Heroic Merit Awards) for:
1) Rescuing 2 divers from Jackson Blue Springs, Florida on February 25, 2012.
2) Rescuing 1 diver from Twin Caves in Marianna, Florida on August 7, 2012.
3) Rescuing 1 diver from Jackson Blue Springs, Florida on October 15, 2012
Frank Gonzalez
Frank Gonzalez (2 Heroic Merit Awards) for:
Both occasions: Took the emergency calls, notified all response parties, collected and then assembled all of Edd Sorenson’s gear while in transit. Was initial incident director at the surface. Frank was responsible for communications for incidents. His efforts resulted in aiding Edd Sorenson in saving lives on the following two occasions:
1) Rescuing 1 diver from Twin Caves in Marianna, Florida on August 7, 2012.
2) Rescuing 1 diver from Jackson Blue Springs, Florida on October 15, 2012
Lee Jung Hyun
August 21, 2012: Rescuing 2 German trimix divers who ran out of gas and panicked during the salvage of the downed plane of the Philippines Secretary of Interior.
The 2012 PSAI Public Service Merit Award Recipients:
Lee Jung Hyun
Assisting the Philippine government by leading the technical dive team which successfully salvaged downed plane of the Philippines Secretary of Interior and recovering the bodies of the Secretary of Interior and his pilot.
The 2012 PSAI Public Safety Merit Award Recipients:
Jack Lim & John Lee
For installing new signage to replace the old and worn sign at Turtle Tomb, Sipadan Island Park, Sabah, Malaysia.