To honor and thank those serving in the military, on Armed Forces Day, the History of Diving Museum will hold complimentary guided tours included with an admission ticket.
Tours will take place at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 16 to kick off the 2026 Blue Star Museums program, a partnership between the National Endowment for the Arts and Blue Star Families that offers free admission to active duty military and up to five members of their family.
The museum offers free admission to all active duty members of the U.S. military year-round, but the Blue Star Museums program allows it to extend this offer to their families. It is the only Blue Star Museum in the Upper Keys. The program begins on Armed Forces Day, Saturday, May 16 and ends on Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 7.
Saturday’s guided tours will offer an in-depth look at the History of Diving Museum’s exhibits, with special emphasis on the military history of diving and the critical work of Navy salvage and combat divers. Visitors can learn how World War II jumpstarted the development of modern scuba, and how salvage divers worked in deep, deadly environments to recover sunken ships and submarines from the seafloor.
On Wednesday, May 20, the museum will hold a grand opening of “Prescribed Pressure.” This limited-time featured exhibit explores the world of undersea medicine and how pressure can harm and heal the body. It describes how the first people to suffer from pressure sickness were not divers, and how life-saving treatments are given to divers today.
The event begins at 6 p.m. with light refreshments. A ribbon-cutting ceremony is set for 6:30 p.m. At 7 p.m., an “Immerse Yourself” presentation will take place in the library with Matías Nochetto for a talk on 45 years of Divers Alert Network (DAN).
Nochetto has been involved with DAN for more than two decades. In his role as executive vice president of global medical affairs, he oversees the organization’s overall medical direction, including medical policy, strategy, education and global partnerships that support divers and dive professionals. Originally from Argentina, Nochetto has given lectures internationally on a wide range of dive medicine topics, with a practical approach to dive safety grounded in real-world experience.
In his talk, Nochetto shares the story of DAN and its evolution over the past 45 years. This presentation also challenges common perceptions, highlighting that DAN’s role extends far beyond any single product or service.
Those interested in attending the lecture either in-person or via Zoom may register at divingmuseum.org. This session will also be recorded and posted to the museum’s YouTube channel. The “Immerse Yourself” and exhibit sponsors are the Carolan Foundation, DAN, Florida Arts and Culture, the Newton Family, Hyperbarics International, Silent World Dive Center and the Monroe County Tourist Development Council.
