Bernard Eaton dies at 86

Born in Lancashire in 1926, Bernard started his career in local journalism and went on to work on national newspapers. He had many colourful tales of his days working in Fleet Street. At the age of 35 he was invited by Peter Small, a fellow-journalist and co-founder 10 years earlier of the British Sub-Aqua Club, to help publicise the Second World Congress of Underwater Activities in London.

The success of the event prompted a further invitation from Peter Small to partner him in developing, at their own financial risk, BSAC's small club magazine Triton into a news-stand consumer title. As Bernard wrote later, he "became involved with diving at a time when underwater exploration and development were at their most exciting, the beginnings of underwater living and mixed-gas diving".

Peter Small died soon afterwards, in late 1962, in the process of becoming one of the first two divers to descend to 1000ft in a diving-bell. Bernard took control of Triton as editor as well as publisher. Next year marks the 50th anniversary of the magazine, which was expanded and later renamed as DIVER.

"For 12 years I had the dubious distinction of being the only non-diving editor of a diving magazine in the entire world," recalled Bernard later, but that changed in the 1970s with a visit to Australia's Great Barrier Reef, and qualification under instructor Mike Busuttili as a BSAC Third-Class Diver.

Bernard and his friends were soon making regular visits to the Red Sea, at a time when few divers ventured that far.

Under Bernard's editorship DIVER was closely linked with the growth of BSAC, and at the same time was instrumental in changing attitudes towards controversial diving practices such as spear-fishing and wreck-pillaging.

In the 1970s, amid a tide of concern about the state of Britain's seas, Bernard Eaton took a leading role in founding Britain's influential Marine Conservation Society, with HRH Prince of Wales as its President. He was Chairman for the organisation's first seven years and later a Vice President. The MCS remains a leading environmental force today.

He also took an active diving role in the excavation of the celebrated Tudor shipwreck Mary Rose in the Solent, and made many friends among Britain's underwater archaeologists during that period of his life. His recollections on the 20th anniversary of the raising of the vessel in 1982 can be seen here.

Bernard Eaton organised many international underwater conferences and introduced the International Festival of Underwater Film in Brighton – all of which succeeded in attracting the biggest names in diving.

His Diver Group companies have organised all of Britain's major Dive Shows since the early 1990s, in London (Olympia and ExCeL) and Birmingham (NEC), and on several occasions in Glasgow.

Apart from DIVER, the group also publishes the B2B titles Underwater Contractor International and International Ocean Systems, and publishes and distributes diving books.

In 1998 Bernard steered DIVER through its transition away from the club scene to the fully independent consumer magazine it is today, maintaining its status as Britain's best-selling scuba title. In recognition of his many achievements, he was an inaugural inductee into the International Scuba Diving Hall Of Fame in 2000.

Bernard Eaton's great strength was his ability to bring divers from around the world together, whether through his magazines, conferences, competitions, campaigns or shows – or, at a personal level, through his convivial companionship.

He is survived by his wife Vera and sons Nigel, Michael and David.