
MEISTRELL, Bill
USA (1928-2006)
Last updated: August 1, 2017 at 0:10 am
Pioneer instructor; commercial diver; inventor; co-founder of Body Glove International with brother Bob; co-developed his first wetsuit in 1953; bought Bev Morgan’s share of his dive shop, Dive N’ Surf, in 1957, which became the home of The Body Glove.
“In 1953 we invented the first practical wetsuit, which revolutionized surfing and diving. We came up with the phrase ‘fits like a glove’ and Body Glove was born.” — Bill & Bob Meistrell
Honours and Awards:
NOGI Award (Sports & Education, 2007)
DEMA Hall of Fame (1990)
Website(s):
Body Glove



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Jeffrey Gallant is the Editor-in-Chief and Records Keeper of the Diving Almanac. He is also a contributing editor of DIVER Magazine, and the scientific director of the Greenland Shark and Elasmobranch Education and Research Group (GEERG). Jeffrey started diving in 1982.