Patti Kirk Gross

Class of:  2016

Highly regarded conservation educator, Patti integrates science into marine conservation practices by developing diving specialty programs to educate, inspire and cultivate passionate ocean stewards. She the Dive Safety Officer for Coral Restoration Foundation inspiring Coral Ambassadors, by diving in the coral nurseries or transplanting nursery-raised corals back onto degraded reefs. A member of the CRF International Team, she installs coral nurseries around the globe while training ‘Citizen Scientists’. She crafted the Dive Safety Manual for the Coral Restoration Foundation and serves as their Dive Safety Officer and is on their Board of Directors, Executive Committee. With 35-years experience as a Scuba Instructor for PADI, NAUI, SSI and DAN, she has certified over 1,400 students with over 15,000 logged dives. Patti serves as the Vice-President for the WDHOF Board of Trustees and underwrites several Basic Training Grants for the WDHOF Scholarship Program. Patti is a 2016 Platinum Pro 5000 recipient and a 2015 Point of Light Honoree, a Volunteer Award Program established by President George Bush. She co-founded an endowment underwriting the only hospital-based hyperbaric chamber in the Florida Keys. Patti is an Officer with the Coast Guard Auxiliary, serves on the Board of Directors for the History of Diving Museum, a National Member of the Explorer's Club. and serves on the Board as Secretary, of the Ocean Agency. She is the Dive Safety Officer for Force Blue and is an AAUS Scientific Diving Instructor.