Walter Pickel - ADM Foundation Secretary
Diving for over 20 years, Walter grew up diving golf course lakes for golf balls and the black rivers of the South Carolina low country in hopes of treasure or anything historic. In the US Navy, he became a diver and worked as a ship’s diver (submarines) and as an underwater husbandry diver (submarine tender). After moving to Florida and a break from diving; Walter’s interests soon fell back to diving and he started focusing on technical diving eventually finding his way into the beauty of Florida’s caves and caverns.

Having developed the taste for exploration through participation in several expeditions to Mexico, as well as exploration projects in Florida, Walter generally focuses on lesser known or unexplored systems. Walter joined The ADM Exploration Foundation as a Board of Directors member in 2010 and brings with him his desire for exploration and research.

He is presently active in three major areas of exploration of both dry and wet caves. In Florida, Walter serves as an explorer and the Dive Safety Officer (DSO) for the Weeki Wachee Springs Exploration Project. In the Dominican Republic Walter has discovered significant fossil primate remains and continues this project with funded from The National Geographic Society and the National Science Foundation. Lastly, in Mexico, Walter serves as an explorer for various ADM Exploration Foundation expeditions.

Walter is a NACD Full Cave Diver (NACD Bronze Wakulla and NSS-CDS Abe Davis awards), DPV Pilot and Cave Rescue and Recovery diver. Additionally, Walter holds TRIMIX certifications as well as being certified as a NAUI Technical Support Team Leader. Previously he served on the board of directors of The Karst Conservancy and Karst Underwater Research as well as serving as the National Association for Cave Diving (NACD) Public Relations committee chairman and Election Administrator for the NSS-CDS.