Captains Paul and Ruth Hepler were awarded the first ever Northeast Diver Pioneer Award at the 2011 Beneath The Sea dive exposition.
Paul and Ruth Hepler run the charter scuba diving, fishing and commercial boat, Venture III, out of the Belmar Marine Basin on the Shark River in Belmar, New Jersey. Veronica, Tom and I have known Paul and Ruth for over thirty years and they are two of our favorite people. There is no one that we can think of that deserves the award more than them. I remember bringing my young son, Tom, aboard the Venture II, a sturdy wooden boat that chugged along at a steady six knots or so. Tom made his first scuba dive without me as his buddy aboard the Venture II. He partnered up with one of our great friends, who has since passed, Dan Kirby. Paul is a quiet-gentle person and Ruth is a bundle of energy. I remember being on the boat and watched Ruth go into the water after all the divers had returned to the boat. She boarded the boat with a bag full of lobster to the amazement of the divers who came up empty handed.
I started looking through some old slides to see what I could find of Paul and Ruth and came up with some oldie but goodies. All are circa 1968 or so.
These were taken aboard the Venture II. I had been diving about six years. Paul and Ruth are incredible divers and equally incredible boat captains. I’ve watch Ruth pull an anchor and I don’t too many people, man or woman, who could keep up with her.
There wasn’t much in the Beneath the Sea program so I wanted everyone to know about this prestigious award. I hope that all of you will join me in congratulating Paul and Ruth Hepler on their award. They are two of the best people that I have ever met and I value their friendship greatly. Please post any thoughts that you have about them here. They are truly the Northeast Diver Pioneer Award winners in anybody’s book.
© 2011, Herb Segars. All rights reserved.
Herb, Great pictures and Thank you for posting this.
Although, I mainly dived with and mated for George Hoffman. I can say that George had the utmost respect for Paul and Ruth. In many of his conversations, he would speak highly of their skill as divers, their waterman ship and captaining abilities. You earned that respect because of your humble ways.
I had the pleasure of diving with Paul on the salvage dives of the tug Thomas Herbert. Congratulations to both of you on this distinguished award. I am glad you have finally been shown the appreciation of the diving community.
Respectfully yours,
Gene Peterson
Atlantic Divers
Congratulations Paul & Ruth, I Can’t think of anyone more deserving of recognition among the dive community. I’ve spent quite a few great days at sea sea with Paul and Ruth and look forward to many more.
John Glynn
SO glad that Paul and Ruth got recognized by the dive community. So many wonderful hours on the Venture II and some treasure to show for it. There is no one I can think of that we would trust on the ocean more than Paul and Ruth.
Congrads to you both!
It’s been 30 years since I plunged from the deck of the old Venture II on one of my very first N.J. wreck dives and went on to enjoy many more dives aboard the Venture II & III.
It’s a great pleasure to send Paul and Ruth my congratulations for an award that is well deserved. Their contribution to the New Jersey Wreck diving community has been truly earned and respected by many.
I had the pleaseure of diving with Paul and Ruth several times when I lived in NJ and always enjoyed my time with them.
With bodies shuffling and gear passing and suddenly it all just flowed….. Paul gearing people up, Ruth directing traffic….. with a calm and a confidence that comes from both knowlege and experience they moved divers along.
Heartfelt congratulations to them both.
Truly deserving of this award and New Jersey divers are the lucky ones for having Ruth and Paul in our backyard.
Since Herb brought up anchoring, one of my favorites is “pre-hydraulic” days.
Paul might have had the wrong words one night when Ruth was pulling the hook, the look she gave him was priceless and it wasn’t long after that we saw a hauler.
Congratulations Ruth and Paul and it has been a pleasure knowing and diving with you guys.
Geez Herb – 30+ years!
“Herb- Thanks a heap for making your blog report on this. I don’t know them as I don’t dive your area, but wanted to see the presentation at the Embassy Suites Fri night, but stayed at the Fish and Famous Party too long. Your comment that there wasn’t much on the BTS program about them is true, and I’m disappointed in that. Should have been more hoopla. Zig and others created this award to put more emphasis on the ‘local heros’ who have been more or less behind the scenes for years supporting local divers/diving. From your remarks, I concur, they did pick great ‘pioneers’. Just wish they’d promoted it better. – ciao, Soggy”
Congratulations! Although I’ve never had the chance to dive on the Venture III, I’ve been looking forward to getting my butt on there with them. I have always heard only the best about them. I look forward to congratulating them in person this season!
Mike
NJdive.com
Hi Herb great pictures glad you posted this If anybody diserved an award it was them. I have been divng on there boat for more than 30 years. I Didn,t know about the award or I would have been there.
Tony Cianci PS miss the good Ol times when we all use to party and dive together
Thank you Herb, Ronnie and Tom for getting this out to us.
To Paul and Ruth: Thank you for over thirty years of friendship and all the good times on your wonderful fleet of crew boats. Wes joins me in congratulating you on well deserved recognition and the award. Scottie.
Two nicer people you will never meet. Congradulations. They run in my opinion one of the most freindliest charters around. Paul always was willing to answer questions and his wheelhouse was always open to all.
Safety and Helpfullness is always their top priority.
Paul & Ruth received the well deserved award by being the most kind, generous, and safest dive operation on the water. When diving on their vessel, all divers received the same warm welcome and departure. Safety and kindness are their Hallmark.
This couple loves the ocean and divers alike. May they continue their great operation and love of the sea for many years ahead.
Thank you Ruth & Paul,
Pierre Guibor, MD
DAN Referral Physician
The perfect choice for the award. They are the best. [I do prefer my photo of Ruth.]
Thanks so much for posting this!
Paul & Ruth – You guys introduced me (and countless others before and since) to NE wreck diving. I will dive with you guys as long as you’ll let me! Congratulations on this prestigious award!
Although I’m a little late, and have not dived on Venture III since the 2000’s I would like to congratulate both Ruth and Paul who always ran a tight ship. But they also let you spread your diving wings. I miss diving with them and Marty Dick,
Paul & Ruth are retiring this year???