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Born:

Where: Italy

DIed: December 1995






Notable Achievements:

One of the early Mediterranean divers, he traveled the world promoting dive tourism.

Marketed some of the original diving equipment Americans and European divers used, under the Cressi brand.

 

Gustav Dalla Valle was born in Northern Italy. Fascinated by the sea, he started to free dive in the Mediterranean Sea in his youth.  A citizen of the world, he loved to travel and pioneered diving tourism in Haiti.  Representing the Cressi-line of diving equipment, he joined Dick Klein’s Healthways, helping to stimulate interest in championship spear fishing.  Gustav was responsible for placing the “Christ of the Abyss” statue on the reefs of the Florida Keys. 

Early in the beginning days of diving, Gustav created SCUBAPRO, the first company to seriously challenge Cousteau’s US Divers dominance in the industry. His company, through his ideas, elevated the dignity and popularity of diving everywhere, and his presence illuminated every affair that involved him. 

He retired to create one of the world’s finest wineries, Dalla Valle Vineyards in Napa Valley, California.  Gustav Dalla Valle was one of the most colorful and illustrious pioneers in the diving industry.