ISLAMORADA, Florida Keys — The Florida Keys History of Diving Museum is to hold a special event Saturday, Sept. 3, to celebrate the facility’s sixth anniversary as a unique showcase of mankind’s attempts to explore, understand and venture under the sea.
Scheduled from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., family-friendly activities include a silent auction, scavenger hunt and opportunities to suit up in a Mark V diving dress. An informal welcome is to take place at 1 p.m. with a cake cutting and presentation of the Joe Bauer Memorial Award.
Admission to the event is $5 per person, with free entry for children age 5 and under.
Intimate guided tours with the museum’s co-founder, Women’s Diving Hall of Fame inductee Dr. Sally Bauer, are scheduled at 11 a.m., 2:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. Each tour is limited to 10 people, so attendees are advised to call ahead for reservations. A nominal fee applies.
The History of Diving Museum is dedicated to collecting, preserving and displaying artifacts, antiques and photographs that relate to diving and its heritage. The facility’s 3,000 square feet of interactive exhibits feature the world’s largest and most comprehensive collection of diving artifacts from more than 30 countries.
Museum visitors can view the earliest diving machines, including a full-scale replica of an all-wood diving bell, as well as the Parade of Nations, an unparalleled collection of historic hard-hat dive helmets from 25 countries.
In addition, the museum is the future home of the Bauer Diving History Research Library, which is to feature a unique collection of rare research materials.
The museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at mile marker 83 bayside. Regular daily admission is $12 per adult, half-price for children age 6 to 12, and free for kids 5 and under.
Event and museum information: www.DivingMuseum.org or 305-664-9737.
Islamorada visitor information: www.fla-keys.com/islamorada or 800-FAB-KEYS
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