Russian Diving Ambassador - Val Darkin
Val Darkin is truly Russia's first ambassador for diving!
He has been living on the Russian Pacific coast nearby Vladivostok since 1958. He learned to SCUBA dive in 1969 at the age of 13. In 1980 he graduated from Vladivostoks Far Eastern University as a marine biologist and he started working for the Russian Academy of Sciences and his accomplishments in the dive industry have never stopped.
He started the first live aboard diving company in Russia
Carries a Life Time membership with the American Academy of Underwater Sciences.
Opened the first PADI Dive Center in Russia in 1993.
2005 he was the 1st recipient of Russians most prestigious diving award Black Pearl
As an underwater photographer and videographer he has contributed to numerous articles in to Russian diving magazines and been involved since 1998 in producing local weekly TV show on diving and marine life. He is an active instructor with PADI, IANTD and CMAS and by Russian qualification he is 1st class professional diver with over 6000 hours logged bottom time. Val Darkin dives with the Force Fin PRO and we are proud of his accomplishments and support!
If you are in Russia and need Force Fins start by going to http://www.aqua.ru/news/
