Andre Galerne is the founder and former Chairman of the board of I.U.C. Born in 1926, in Pairs, France. Mr. Galerne was recruited into the French Underground Resistance to fight against the German forces occupying France during World War II.

He took his first dive in 1943 using Le Prieur apparatus and worked closely with Jaques Yves Cousteau and Phillipe Taillez in the early days of Aqua-Lung development. Later he honed his engineering skills at l'ecole Tecd'Aeronatique et de Construction Automobile.

In 1952, he founded society technique General de Travaux Marine et Fluviaux, SOGETRAM, one of the world's first international firms providing professional diving in industrial work. Using the Aqua-Lung, and light diving helmets, Mr. Galerne's firm revolutionized the underwater industry. In 1959, he left France to start I.U.C. - Canada, in Montreal. In 1962, he emigrated to the United States where he formed THE IUC GROUP, Inc., serving as President until 1993. In 1966, Mr. Galerne began Inspectronic Corporation to service the offshore oil industry. In 1978, he formed Deep Sea International to operate marine vessels, and submersibles and ROVs for the same industry. As President of the Association of Diving Contractors, he introduced the region chapter system, modified the bylaws and articles of incorporation, and instigated the formation of Underwater Magazine.

Mr. Galerne is further credited with starting several professional diving schools and several Hyperbaric treatment facilities. He holds four U.S. Patents on methodology and equipment advances in the industry.

Mr. Galerne is the recipient of the following awards:

  • Honors with appointments as Knight of the "French Legion de Honor," for his service to his country in WWI
  • 1981 13th Annual Lockheed Award
  • 1983 Special Commendation for Improvement Safety and Training Practices from the Diving Industry by NOIA
  • 1986 Lowell Thomas Explorer's Club Award
  • 1988 NOGI Award for Distinguished Service, from the Underwater Society of America
  • 1989 New York Academy of Science Sea Award for Achievement in Science and Technology
  • 1993 Lifetime Achievement Award, from beneath The Sea
  • 1995 Association of Diving Contractors John Galetti Memorial Award. The ADC Board modified their rules, for one time only, to present the award to a sitting Board Member
  • 1999 Historical Diver Pioneer Award, The Historical Diving Society USA