Tribute to Michael Bourne

Mike Bourne

On January 10, 2012, the diving industry lost one of its regional icons

On January 10, 2012, the diving industry lost one of its regional icons, I lost a great friend, and the SEAduction family lost a cherished member with the passing of Michael Bourne after a long battle with cancer. 

It was through the most fortuitous of circumstances that I came to know Mike in the mid-1990’s.  At the time, he was the Captain of a volunteer search and recovery team in Western Virginia and I met him when the team brought me in to do some training.  I knew immediately that Michael was unique.  He had a quiet presence that could permeate a room and an insistent, but never demanding desire for quality in everything that he did.  It was the start of a long, close friendship spanning well over a decade and a half.  Over that period, Mike and I worked together as sales reps at various companies and did training around the world.  He was a gifted diver and an excellent instructor and always a pleasure to be with, no matter the circumstances. 

As I sat down to write this article, I reflected on the various projects that we had worked on together over the years, how close a friend Mike had become and tried to find the word that best described Mike and his interaction with those around him but there simply is no one word.  One of the most cordial and upbeat people that I have ever met, he was always the positive energy that any project or gathering needed.   No matter how wry the situation went, he could find a way to make those around him smile about it.  When situations with a student approached exasperation and many instructors would be at their wits end, Mike would take a step back, find a different angle, and bring everything quickly back into focus, placing a smile on the student’s face at the same time.

Mike co-founded the Tech Divers Boot Camp, the Sub-Aquatic Survivor Projects, and the Master Diver University programs with me.  At the time, these programs were cutting edge and well outside the norm.  When my initial proposals were first presented, unlike everyone else, Mike never said anything negative.  There were a few times that I could tell he wanted to ask if I was insane, but he never did! Instead, we had a short hand, he would just say:  “let me think about that”, and he would, and then come back with something that made my insanity realistic.  Together, we trained dozens of technical divers, public safety divers, and public safety instructors across the U.S. and as far away as Thailand.  Michael was an innovator, finding a way to solve any problem with the materials and the personnel that we had on hand, sometimes in very remote locations.  He seemed to perform best when faced with adversity of some sort and he would never lose his cool under any circumstance – he was absolutely unflappable.  I can recall diving with a group at 150 feet, two of the divers became hopelessly entangled, and the situation could have easily gone very badly.  As I was trying to assist the divers, I heard through the water column, Mike’s quiet chuckle through his regulator as he swam up and took charge of one of the divers, shaking his head with a twinkle in his eye you could even see underwater.  Returning to the surface, most instructors would have been a bit upset, but Mike quietly exited the water, took off his gear then asked:  “Do you think that was really the best way to complete the assigned task?”   

 His quiet demeanor was always noted by his students and it became his signature.  He could be standing amidst total chaos on a deck full of mixed gas students, but he never rushed, he never spoke loudly, and he never, ever lost hi s cool.  His mere presence had the effect of calming the most difficult of situations.  He had a dry sense of humor that he brought to everything that he did and an ability to ask a question that would make you think in ways that you never thought about it before, and generally make you smile at the same time.  Over more than 20 years in the diving business, hundreds of students and instructors were privileged to be trained by Mike and he touched many of their lifes in ways that far exceeded their training as a diver.  Always available with a kind word, a little encouragement, and any help he could give to anyone, friend or stranger, Mike was a role model to us all and he will continue to be.  He was friend and mentor you could always rely upon no matter the situation.

Mike had many interests outside of diving and a dedication to his family that seems increasingly rare in the modern world.  Some of the times he seemed the happiest were at late night meals after a long day of diving when he would share an adventure that he and his son had with an old Jeep or at a dive site somewhere in Western Virginia.  Few people I know have been blessed with a more supportive and loving partner than Mike had with his wife, Diane.  Although his son, Kristopher, Diane and the rest of his family have suffered a great loss, I feel certain that this sense of loss will be tempered in time by the many warm memories and the blessing of sharing their lifes with one of the finest men that I have ever met.  Mike performed many tasks in the years that I knew him - sales rep, business manager, dive store owner, diving instructor - but the tasks he loved most were being a Dad to Christopher, a partner with Diane, and sharing other moments spent with precious family. 

I have hundreds of memories of Mike, but one of my fondest was in a moment of tragedy in my life.  Several years ago when my father died, many people called and offered their support, not Mike.  Mike drove six hours from his home to the small town where I grew up, walked in, taking me totally by surprise, just to spend a little time and show his support.  He then drove six hours back home so that he could be at work the next morning.  That is the kind of fried that Mike Bourne was.  His loss will affect many lives, but in the end, we all have to be thankful that we had the rare privilege to know and share memories with a man like Mike.  Life is a series of journeys, and after his long illness, Mike has left us for his next journey which I hope is filled with all the things that he loved – warm tropical breezes, crystal clear water, and endless caves!  Thank you , Mike, for the wonderful memories touching so many lives and making us all better people by your presence and your example. 

A celebration of Mike’s Life is planned in Christiansburg, VA at Horne Funeral Home, Thursday evening 12 Jan. and a memorial service will be held on Friday.  In lieu of flowers, Mike requested gifts to two initiatives at his church, Mt. View United Methodist Church, 6648 Wilderness Road, Dublin, VA  24084.  The first, assistance with the funds necessary for roof repairs, and, second, support for the backpack program sponsored by the church which provides a backpack of food to children on the weekend so that these children can continue to eat while school is out of session.  And, I suppose, just one final example of the caliber of man that we, who called him friend, have now lost!

This article is open for comments.  Please leave your reflections for Mike below.  We will collect them in a file and send them to the family.