FSU PC dive program to honor late Navy Capt. Ringelberg with dive helmet dedication

The Advanced Science Diving Program at Florida State University Panama City will hold a dedication ceremony honoring the late U.S. Navy Capt. John Michael “Jack” Ringelberg at 2 p.m. on March 25, in the Holley Academic Center’s Allan Bense Atrium, 4750 Collegiate Drive.

Ringelberg was a pioneer of military diving, having shaped modern dive operations, said Mike Davis, the director of dive operations at FSU Panama City’s ASDP.

"Capt. Ringelberg's importance to the military, and by extension, the civilian dive community, cannot be overstated,” Davis said. “As the inaugural commanding officer of the Navy Experimental Diving Unit, he was singularly responsible for identifying and validating the safety measures we all use today. It is not only appropriate to honor him with this memorial, but to use this as an opportunity to rededicate ourselves to his legacy of safe aquatic exploration."

Ringelberg, who died in 2024 at the age of 85, served 16 years as a Surface Warfare and Engineering Duty Officer specializing in salvage and deep diving operations. He was the first commanding officer of the Navy Experimental Diving Unit in Panama City and Chief Engineer of the aircraft carrier John F. Kennedy.

Ringelberg was also active in the surrounding community, with memberships in the Panama City Rotary Club and St. Andrews Bay Yacht Club. He was a past president of the Panama City Music Association, a former trustee on the board of Holy Nativity Episcopal School and a founding member of the Man in the Sea Museum.

As a Navy diver, Ringelberg was essential in developing rebreather training standards and advancing mixed-gas diving safety protocols. As an instructor, mentor, researcher and lecturer, he shaped the careers of untold numbers of diving professionals. And his commitment to diver safety — including decompression procedures and equipment protocols — saved countless lives.

“We hope his example will be a guiding force as we continue to expand our program capabilities into vibrant new areas of research and exploration,” Davis said.

As part of the College of Applied Studies at FSU Panama City, the Advanced Science Diving Program provides academic courses and dive training, engages in industry partnerships, and conducts a variety research and outreach programs. The core function of ASDP to train and educate university students and members of other agencies involved in maritime work in the techniques related to scientific diving. For more information, visit appliedstudies.fsu.edu/asdphttps://appliedstudies.fsu.edu/asdp.