2025 Divers of the Year

Norm Berhannan spent his early years snorkeling and spearfishing off the shores of Long Island, NY. Scuba certified in 1970, he has since made over 2500 dives. He attended the first Beneath the Sea scuba show at the Westchester County Community Center in 1976, since then he has been a loyal volunteer serving as Sr. Director of Guest Relations. Today, Norman serves as a Trustee. In 2017 he was the recipient of the BTS Presidents Award. Norman is a PADI certified scuba instructor and former aquatic instructor for the Physical Education department at Stony Brook University. He's a former president of the Aquatic Voyagers Scuba Club, the New York chapter of the National Association of Black Scuba Divers, and member of their executive board since 1996. Norman served as NABS Northeast Regional Rep and with the NABS Aqua Corp. In 2012 Norm was honored as NABS Diver of the Year and inducted into the NABS Hall of Fame in 2013. When not diving, Norman is fond of cruising his catamaran on the Long Island Sound. Beneath the Sea honors Norman Berhannan as their Diver of the Year in Service.

Dr. David Charash has been a Hyperbaric and Dive Medicine Physician for over 30 years. He received his initial training in Emergency Medicine and Hyperbaric Medicine in Detroit, Michigan. He is board certified in Emergency Medicine and Undersea/Hyperbaric Medicine. He has supported the Undersea Community both nationally and internationally, through lectures, symposiums and workshops. Dr. Charash has offered education and training in all aspects of Dive Medicine, Dive Safety and Dive Technology. He is a board advisor to both the New England Aquarium and the Maritime Aquarium Dive teams. He has volunteered as a Field Researcher with Divers Alert Network. He was awarded the DAN/Rolex Diver of the Year in 2022 and recognized by the Naval Undersea Medical Institute for his dedication and support of the Navy’s Undersea Community. Beneath the Sea honors Dr. David Charash as their Diver of the Year for Science.

Born in Italy, Cristina grew up in the Congo where she developed her love of the outdoors. In 1994, she become an Open Water diver. A year later, she was a PADI Open Water Instructor with 800 logged dives. She is a PADI Course Director, advanced cave diving instructor, and mixed gas/rebreather instructor. She spends her time teaching, working with sharks, exploring, and mapping underwater cave systems. Cristina is a shark behaviorist and ecologist. She is the first diver to connect an ocean blue hole with a land-based cave. A part of several expeditions, including the 2015 National Geographic survey of Abaco’s Crystal Caves, the 2019 Channel Islands, Cristina appeared on TV programs such as BBC’s Blue Planet Live. Her advanced survey technology, creating interactive and 3D maps, is in extensive use. In 2019 she founded the nonprofit People of the Water, widening studies of water, ocean, and environmental issues. Cristina is an inductee in the Women Divers Hall of Fame, and member of the Explorers Club. Beneath the Sea honors Cristina Zenato as their Diver of the Year for Environment.