Joel D. Silverstein holds an enviable record of technical diving, diver training, and international publishing experience. His SUBAQUA magazine was one of the main voices in the wreck and technical diving industry from 1991- 1996. His relationships with the leading people in the mixed gas diving world have permitted him to learn and develop safe training techniques and procedures, and his journalistic and training skills permit him to communicate complex subjects to the diver in compelling and expert ways.

In 1992 Joel created the workshop Accident Prevention - A Community Workshop, held at the NAUI International Conference on Underwater Education, in Philadelphia, PA. Its proceedings were the basis of most of the technical diving safety procedures today. This workshop helped in the creation of the the non-profit Extended Range Diving Organization, Inc., a dive accident and communications company. 

In 1993, in a cooperative effort with Diving Unlimited International Inc., Mr. Silverstein contributed to the development of the two hour training program "What Recreational Divers Can Learn from Technical Divers." This program has been viewed by over 10,000 divers. His work with ERDO spawned the development of "Bends is Not a Dirty Word" a 50 minute educational program which has become the primary program for teaching divers about decompression illness. 

Joel has served on many dive training and accident prevention boards and panels as organizer, participant and keynote speaker. He has been instrumental in the development of safety and operational procedures for technical diving, has served as a consultant to the Scuba Diving Resource Group's Board members, and as an advisor and consultant to many equipment manufacturers on marketing and safety procedures. 

He has worked with Diving Unlimited International, Deep Sea Technologies Inc., Undersea Adventures Inc., Hamilton Research Ltd., and DEMA on the development of technical diving equipment and procedures. Mr. Silverstein was at the forefront of technical dive training as early as 1990, when he developed specific training and operational methods with technical diving pioneer Capt. Billy Deans and expedition leader Capt. Steve Bielenda. He holds instructor and instructor training ratings with NAUI as a Technical Workshop Director, and PADI as Master Scuba Diver Trainer.  In addition, he holds professional credentials with ANDI, IANTD, DAN and TDI. Since 1990 he has trained over 1,500 divers to all levels of expertise. He has over 4,800 logged dives with over 2500 being technical dives. 

Joel is a recipient of the SSI Platinum Pro 5000 Award, the Beneath the Sea Outstanding Service Award, the Eastern Dive Boat Association Outstanding Service Award, the 1996 NAUI Outstanding Service Award, annual Keynote speaker of the International Society of Aquatic Medicine, and is listed in the Who's Who of Diving. He also hosts a weekly interactive discussion on technical diving in the America Online Scuba Forum (for AOL Members only).

His work today continues in authoring papers and publications, training divers and instructors, developing safety and operational plans, technical training programs, market analysis for scuba and hyperbaric industries and consults on diving safety procedures. He is also active in shipwreck exploration and research. 

Most recent projects in co-authorship with Dr. Hamilton include: 

• NAUI Nitrox: A Guide to Diving with Oxygen Enriched Air, text
  NAUI Nitrox: Instructor Guide and 14 Module Powerpoint Presentation
  NOAA Diving Manual,  Nitrox Diving and Mixed Gas Diving chapters
  Diving with Special Breathing Gas - Course Outline and Presentations
  USN Worldwide Survey of Air and Air with Oxygen Decompression
  
  The current project on the table is a comprehensive text:
  Scuba Diving with Mixed Gases, due out winter 2001 and 
  YMCA Enriched Air Nitrox Diver's Guide, due out Summer 2001 

Mr. Silverstein can be contacted at JoelSilverstein@snet.net