Zale Parry obit

Zale Parry, Diving Industry Pioneer and Goodwill Ambassador, Passes Away 

She was not on the list.

Women’s diving pioneer Zale Parry has died at the age of 93, according to the Women Divers Hall of Fame and the Diving Equipment and Marketing Association. She was also called Zale Bivens.

Often celebrated as the “First Lady of Diving,” Parry was a legendary diver, actress, underwater photographer, author and advocate who dedicated her life to advancing the sport and sharing the wonder of the underwater world, according to DEMA:

“To the DEMA community, Zale was much more than a diving pioneer. She was a cherished friend, a passionate supporter, and for many years the Hall of Fame Ambassador at DEMA Show, where her warmth, generosity, and enthusiasm made everyone she met feel welcome.

“Zale’s extraordinary career spanned decades and helped define the modern diving industry. Among her many accomplishments were pioneering achievements that helped shape recreational diving as we know it today.”

Parry helped popularize scuba diving through her roles in the TV shows “Kingdom of the Sea” and “Sea Hunt” in the 1950s and ’60s and was featured on the May 23, 1955 cover of “Sports Illustrated” magazine.

She was also an advocate for underwater arts and documentation:

International Underwater Film Festival: Co-founded by Parry in 1957, this festival provided a global platform for underwater cinematographers and photographers to showcase the beauty of the ocean.

Underwater Photographic Society: She served as the first female president of the society, mentoring countless underwater image-makers.

Preserving Diving History: Co-authoring historical works on the evolution of recreational diving, Zale dedicated decades to ensuring that the roots and early pioneers of the sport were never forgotten.

Additionally, Parry was on the front lines testing untried gear and pushing technical boundaries, including:

Pioneering Hyperbaric Safety: In the early 1950s, alongside her husband, Dr. Parry Bivens, she helped design, build, and market California’s first civilian hyperbaric chamber through Scientific Underwater Research Enterprises (SURE). Their work helped lay the groundwork for civilian hyperbaric medicine and diver safety.

Setting the Deep Record: In 1954, while testing the Hope-Page non-return valve mouthpiece in open water, Parry set a women’s depth record of 209 feet/63.7 meters. Her successful test demonstrated the reliability of the safety valve, which subsequently became a standard feature on scuba regulators.

Instructional Leadership: Demonstrating an early commitment to formal diver education, Parry became the third woman to graduate from the legendary Los Angeles County Underwater Instructor Certification Course (UICC).

Parry was also a member of the inaugural class of the Women Divers Hall of Fame, who paid tribute to her this week:

“Long before opportunities for women in diving were common, Zale was breaking barriers. She set records, helped establish one of the first civilian hyperbaric chambers in California, became one of the earliest female scuba instructors, and inspired countless people through her underwater photography, television appearances, and lifelong passion for exploring the underwater world.

“More than her accomplishments, Zale will be remembered for the doors she opened for those who followed. Her legacy lives on in every woman who dares to explore, discover, teach, and lead beneath the surface.

“We extend our heartfelt condolences to Zale’s family, friends, and the global diving community. Thank you, Zale, for showing us what was possible.

“Fair seas and following currents.”

As a young woman, while working in Santa Monica, California, for the Douglas Aircraft Company, after meetong co-worker (and future husband) Parry Bivens, Zale Parry became involved in pioneering diving and scientific work as reported in a 1955 issue of Sports Illustrated magazine.

In 1954, Parry set a women's depth record to 209 feet, exceeding the previous record of 80 feet.

In 1954, Parry made her screen debut in Kingdom of the Sea, a Jack Douglas Production.[7] She appeared in 78 episodes of the series. Because of her work in Kingdom of the Sea, Parry was tapped by the producers of the new show, Sea Hunt. Parry referred to Sea Hunt as an "underwater western". The lead character, Mike Nelson (played by Lloyd Bridges), was introduced to an undersea problem or villain at the start of the show. By the end of the half-hour show, he had resolved the problem.

Parry's acting continued on other shows, including GE Theatre, Wagon Train, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, Peter Gunn, and The Magic Circus, etcetera. Parry continued as an actor for a number of years including many commercials and as a stunt woman on a wide variety of shows involving underwater scenes. By 1967, Parry's TV work was primarily in commercials.

Parry doubled for Sophia Loren in the film Boy on a Dolphin (1957). In 2006 she was in the film Tillamook Treasure, in which she played Sam, the owner of a hardware store.

Actress

The Legend of Tillamook's Gold (2006)

The Legend of Tillamook's Gold

4.8

Hardware Store Owner

2006

 

Marineland Carnival

TV Special

Aqua-Maid

1967

 

Max Baer Jr., Donna Douglas, and Irene Ryan in Marineland Carnival (1966)

Marineland Carnival

TV Special

Aqua-Maid

1966

 

Yvonne De Carlo, Fred Gwynne, Al Lewis, Butch Patrick, and Pat Priest in Marineland Carnival: The Munsters Visit Marineland (1965)

Marineland Carnival: The Munsters Visit Marineland

5.1

TV Movie

Aqua-Maid

1965

 

Richard Basehart and David Hedison in Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (1964)

Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea

7.2

TV Series

Angela Madison

1965

1 episode

 

Lloyd Bridges in Sea Hunt (1958)

Sea Hunt

7.7

TV Series

Woman on BoatLiza KennyQueenie Miller ...

1958–1959

7 episodes

 

Dan Dailey and Claire Kelly in Underwater Warrior (1958)

Underwater Warrior

5.3

Girl Swimmer

1958

 

Stunts

Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (1961)

Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea

6.0

underwater stunts (uncredited)

1961

 

Lloyd Bridges in Sea Hunt (1958)

Sea Hunt

7.7

TV Series

underwater stunt double: Lynette Bernay (uncredited)

1959

1 episode

 

Thanks

Diving Into 'Blue Water, White Death' (2007)

Diving Into 'Blue Water, White Death'

Video

thanks

2007

 

Self

The Legend of Ivan Tors (2011)

The Legend of Ivan Tors

6.5

Self - Interviewee

2011

 

Diving Into 'Blue Water, White Death' (2007)

Diving Into 'Blue Water, White Death'

Video

Self

2007

 

Groucho Marx in You Bet Your Life (1950)

You Bet Your Life

8.5

TV Series

Self - Champion Skin Diver

1954

1 episode

 

Alternative name

Zale Bivens

Born

March 19, 1933Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States

Spouse

Parry Bivens1955 - 1963 (his death)

Other works

Co-author (with Al Tillman) of "Scuba America", a record of the early history of scuba and skin diving in the United States.