Eagle Scout, 1972

Eagle Scout is the highest achievement or rank attainable in the Scouts BSA program of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA). Since its inception in 1911, only four percent of Scouts have earned this rank after a lengthy review process. The Eagle Scout must demonstrate Scout Spirit, an ideal attitude based upon the Scout Oath and Law, service, and leadership. This includes an extensive service project that the Scout plans, organizes, leads, and manages. Jeff is a Lifetime member of the National Eagle Scout Association (NESA), and has served on volunteer committees of NESA in multiple capacities.

DAN / Rolex Diver of the Year, 2007

DAN is Divers Alert Network, the diving industry’s largest association dedicated to scuba diving safety. The DAN/Rolex Diver of the Year Award is one of the most prestigious honors in scuba diving, and has been given annually to an individual who has contributed significantly to dive safety since 1989. Dr. Bozanic was the 19th recipient. His citation noted his prolific publication list; his unflagging efforts to increase safety in cave diving, scientific diving, and scuba instructor development; and thousands of hours of volunteer service over a 23-year period to help promote Divers Alert Network (DAN).

Conrad Limbaugh Memorial Award for Scientific Diving Leadership, AAUS, 2015

The mission of the American Academy of Underwater Sciences (AAUS) is to advance and facilitate safe and productive scientific diving. It is the largest academic diving organization in the world, with about 100 organizational (university and governmental group) members. This award is presented every two years to an individual who has made a significant contribution in diving safety and diving leadership on behalf of the scientific diving community. Dr. Bozanic was recognized for his precedent setting work in scientific cave diving, nitrox diving, and the use of rebreathers in the broader academic community.

Diver of the Year (Science), Beneath the Sea, 2018

The Beneath the Sea Diver of the Year Award Program has honored men and women whose presence in the Dive Industry has made significant and lasting contributions to diving. By selecting for honor only those divers of eminence who rank in the top of their field Beneath the Sea created a fraternity of men and women whose visions are fixed on the future and whose future is tied to each other. Dr. Bozanic was honored for his ground-breaking work in scientific diving, and his long term actions in exploring the world’s oceans and other aquatic environments.

Lifetime Achievement Award, NAUI, 2014

The NAUI Lifetime Achievement Award Honors significant and continued contributions to diving and long-term service on behalf of NAUI. The award is open to any NAUI Hall of Honor member who has been a continuous member of the association for a minimum of 30 years. This award is the highest honor NAUI may confer upon a member. Dr. Bozanic was the 5th person in the 55-year history of the association to receive this award..

Fellow, Explorer’s Club, 1987

The Explorers Club is an international multidisciplinary professional society dedicated to the advancement of field research and the ideal that it is vital to preserve the instinct to explore. Since its inception in 1904, the Club has served as a meeting point and unifying force for explorers and scientists worldwide. Fellowship is reserved for those who have distinguished themselves by directly contributing to scientific knowledge in the field of geographical exploration or allied sciences. Dr. Bozanic was recognized with his Fellowship based on his contributions in the marine sciences, primarily for his exploration work in submerged oceanic caves, and the collection of new animal and plant species (with his two associates, about 200 species to date).

Sheck Exley Award, NSS-CDS, 2005

This award is administered by the NSS-CDS (Cave Diving Section of the National Speleological Society), and is presented to fully certified cave divers who have demonstrated a genuine dedication to cave diving safety, as evidenced by the successful completion of at least 1,000 cave dives post-Full Cave certification.

Professional of the Year, TDI, 2012

TDI (Technical Diving International) was one of the first agencies of its kind. Its focus was and still is on providing training materials and education for specialized diving situations ranging from Nitrox to Closed Circuit Rebreathers, as well as for overhead environments such as caves and wrecks. Dr. Bozanic was one of the original instructors in the organization. The Professional of the Year Award was presented to him in recognition of his volunteer efforts in standards development, review and editing of textbooks and instructor materials, and years of service on the Technical Advisory Committee.

NESA Outstanding Eagle Scout Award, 2015

The NESA Outstanding Eagle Scout Award (NOESA) is a distinguished service award of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA). It is awarded to an Eagle Scout by the National Eagle Scout Association for distinguished service to his profession and community upon the recommendation of his local BSA council NESA committee, Scout executive and council president.

SSI Platinum Pro 5000 Diving Award, 1998

SSI (Scuba Schools International) administers the Platinum Pro 5000 Award. “The SSI Platinum Pro 5000 Diver card is the calling card of the world’s most elite water explorers.” The list of cardholders is a “who’s who” of diving, containing the world’s most prominent dive leaders, scientists, photographers, manufacturers, retailers, and resort operators. What makes the SSI Platinum Pro 5000 Diver award so special is that it’s all about diving. The unsung dive master on any island and Jacques Cousteau earned their cards the same way—by diving 5,000 times, or verifying 2,500 dives, plus having made significant and lasting contributions to the field of scuba diving. Dr. Bozanic was invited into this community of recipients based on the 2,500 scuba dives he had completed as of 1998, and his numerous and varied contributions to diving education, as well as his volunteer service on numerous Boards and advisory groups in the industry.

Los Angeles County Underwater Instructor Association Education Award, 2002

Los Angeles County Underwater Instructor Association is the oldest scuba certifying body in the United States. Operating only in Los Angeles County, their program provided the model for the early national certification agencies like YMCA and NAUI. They confer one Education Award annually, recognizing significant contributions to dive education. Dr. Bozanic was the 2002 recipient. His selection was based on his volunteer efforts to help train new LACUIA instructors over the period of five years, focusing on dive physics, technical diving, and advanced diving practices.

NAUI Hall of Honor, 2002

The NAUI Hall of Honor was established to recognize and thank those most valuable NAUI members who have made outstanding contributions to the development of diving education, especially to NAUI—those very special individuals who went well beyond the call of duty to become the key contributors and leaders of the Association. Awarded to individuals who: · are certified as a NAUI Instructor at least 20 years before the date of induction. · have made outstanding contributions to the development of diving education, especially to NAUI · have been recognized for their contributions with an Outstanding Service Award · have performed service in the development of new NAUI Leaders · have performed service to NAUI in conferences and seminars · have performed service to NAUI in committees · have made significant contributions to NAUI's growth and stature The award requires contributions in two of these areas. Dr. Bozanic was acknowledged for his efforts in all of these categories, and was in the second group of recipients (four individuals).

Fellow, National Speleological Society, 2005

The National Speleological Society is an organization formed in 1941 to advance the exploration, conservation, study, and understanding of caves in the United States. Fellows of the Society are those members who, over a number of years, have exemplified by their actions their dedication to the goals of the Society or the Society itself. Candidates must have been NSS members for at least the past five years. Dr. Bozanic was selected based on his exploration and mapping activities of underwater cave systems on all seven continents.

NAUI Contribution to Diving Outstanding Service Award, 1984

NAUI (National Association of Underwater Instructors) is the largest not-for-profit scuba certification agency in the world, and the second oldest national certifying agency in the United States (after YMCA). The NAUI Outstanding Service Award is presented to NAUI members who distinguish themselves for service provided to the association. Their service to NAUI and our mission of dive safety through education can be on a local, regional, national, or international level. Dr. Bozanic was presented with this award based on his leadership is the development of instructor training materials and development of instructor and diver training standards.

NAUI Outstanding Contribution to Diving Continuing Service Award, 1986

The NAUI Continuing Service Award is awarded to NAUI members who have previously received an Outstanding Service Award and who have continued to distinguish themselves through further service to the association as described for the Outstanding Service Award. Dr. Bozanic received this award in recognition of his efforts to reduce diving fatalities in submerged caves, via standards development, multitudes of safety presentations at local, regional, national, and international workshops and symposia, and authorship of dozens of articles and textbook chapters on the topic.

NAUI Outstanding Contribution to Diving Continuing Service Award, 1996

The NAUI Continuing Service Award is awarded to NAUI members who have previously received an Outstanding Service Award and who have continued to distinguish themselves through further service to the association as described for the Outstanding Service Award. Dr. Bozanic received this second continuing service award for his research into the analysis of underlying causes of cave diving fatalities, and his leadership in the development of instructional standards for nitrox and rebreather diving (both advanced modes of diving at the time).

NACD Silver Wakulla Award, 1989

NACD (National Association for Cave Diving) is a not for profit, member's based professional cave diver training organization serving the cave diving community throughout the world since 1968. It is the oldest specialty certification agency in the United States. The Silver Wakulla Award recognizes exemplary dedication to cave diving safety, as evidenced by participation in a minimum of 500 cave dives.

Fellow, Royal Geographical Society, 2020

The Royal Geographical Society (with the Institute of British Geographers) is the UK's learned society and professional body for geography. They advance geography and support geographers in the UK and across the world. Fellowship is based on sufficient involvement in geography or allied subject through training, professional work, research, publications or other work of a similar nature. Dr. Bozanic was granted Fellowship based on his explorations of underwater cave systems, diving research in polar regions (particularly Antarctica), and extensive publication history.

Other Professional Awards

• NSS-CDS Chairman's Award, 1990

• TDI 50 Year Industry Anniversary

• Abe Davis Award for Safe Cave Diving, NSS-CDS, 1984

• NAUI Director's Service Award, 1996

• Henry W. Nicholson Safety Award (Recognizing Cave Diving Safety), NSS-CDS, 2002

• Outstanding Volunteer Award, NSS-CDS, 2008

Other Scouting Recognitions

• Silver Beaver Award, 2014

• District Award of Merit, Pacifica District, Orange County Council, 2015

• Bill Stewart Service Award, Amimi Chapter, Wiatava Lodge, Order of the Arrow, 2015

• Vigil Honor, Order of the Arrow, 2017

• Council Alumnus of the Year, 2018

• Regional Alumnus of the Year, 2021

Other Recognitions

• Orange County Spirit of Volunteerism Award, 2015

• Marina High School Alumni Hall of Fame (Charter Member), 1984