The global diving community is mourning the death of Michael “M2” Menduno, the pioneering editor and journalist who helped shape the language and culture of technical diving. Menduno passed away several weeks after suffering a stroke in early September, news that has left divers, colleagues, and friends devastated.
A Driving Force in Technical Diving
As reported by Divernet, Menduno was based in Florida and remained active in publishing and event organizing until his final days. He was widely credited with popularizing the very term technical diving and giving the movement its identity.
In 1990 he launched aquaCORPS: The Journal for Technical Diving, a groundbreaking magazine that addressed subjects once taboo in recreational diving, including mixed gas use, rebreathers, deep decompression theory, and incident analysis. His editorial courage and insistence on open dialogue helped lay the foundations for modern technical diving practice.
Menduno also played a central role in creating community hubs, from the early tek.Conferences to and the influential Rebreather Forums, organising RF1, RF2 the most recent RF4 in Malta in 2023. He later guided InDEPTH Magazine, which became a leading platform for advanced diving journalism and thought leadership. Michael was also awarded a EUROTEK Lifetime Achievement Award.
Tributes Across the Diving World
News of his passing has sparked an outpouring of grief and remembrance across the diving community.
On ScubaBoard, user BoltSnap reflected: “That is very sad indeed. I have known him since the 1990s, when ‘technical diving’ was starting to become popular and getting out of the closet.”
The dive center StuartScuba wrote on Facebook: “It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of Michael Menduno. He was a dear friend, a thoughtful listener, a consummate guide …”
On Instagram, divers posted tributes such as this remembrance: “Rest in Peace Michael Menduno … today is a sad day for the diving community as we lost a legend.”
The Rainbow Reef Dive Center also paid respects: “Saddened to report the loss of two diving journalism icons, Michael Menduno and Jerry Beatty. Michael coined the term ‘Technical Diving’…”
Meanwhile, Divernet’s Mark Evans shared his personal grief, recalling recent conversations with Menduno about planned projects that now remain unfinished, a sentiment echoed by many who had been inspired or mentored by him.
Enduring Legacy
Menduno’s influence is impossible to overstate. Through his editorial work and community building, he:
- Normalized advanced practices such as mixed-gas diving, rebreather use, and incident transparency.
- Built platforms for dialogue and innovation through conferences and publications.
- Inspired generations of divers, journalists, and explorers to push limits responsibly.
As noted by TDI/SDI, Menduno was not only a chronicler of technical diving but also a catalyst who elevated standards, advanced safety, and gave divers the language to define themselves.
Carrying the Torch
In the wake of his passing, divers around the world are calling for Menduno’s legacy to be honored with memorial sessions at conferences, reprints of his most influential work, and perhaps scholarships for emerging dive journalists and explorers.
Michael “M2” Menduno leaves behind more than publications and events — he leaves behind a community that feels his absence profoundly, yet remains bound together by the vision he helped create. His work ensured that technical diving was not a fringe pursuit, but a legitimate and respected discipline.
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