Drinking and diving have a long and colorful history together and I’m not just talking about the sharing beers on a boat from the Islands. No, there is a richer history dating back to the golden age of diving during the 1960s and 70s. At one point, diving was such a popular sport that it was considered commercially advantageous to feature it in advertising for national ad campaigns. Periodically here at CDF, we’re going to take a look back at some of the ways diving and drinking were commingled on the world stage from a time when SCUBA could drive the marketplace.

 

First up is this “man o’ man” ad for Hiram Walker Blended whiskey featuring champion spearo Art Pinder. Not sure what’s better? Blending several different whiskeys to make one smooth pour or mixing high-grain alcohol with a sport where you’re armed with a spring-loaded spear. Pro tip here – Best thing about drinking in your skin diving kit is that throwing up on yourself makes for easy clean up. This is some real “Mad Men” gangster stuff.

 

 

Not sure what’s happening here in this ad for velvety Hiram Walker Imperial Whiskey. I guess it just goes to show that in the ocean, sea lion + alcohol = instant asshole. Not sure how it sells whiskey but I’m always glad to see pinipeds called out for being the jerks of the ocean that they are but that’s another story for another day.

I look forward to sharing more with you as we head into diving season. It’s been a long 2020/2021 and I hope we keep being safe to enjoy the fun that diving brings. Hopefully, we’ll see you out there.