BOATERS OF INTEREST
The JACK-OF-ALL-TRADES
42
STEVE IRWIN
Steve Irwin, owner of Island Marine Services in Fort Pierce, has been a pilot since the early ’90s and likes to fly his helicopter deep into the Everglades.
BY KERRY FIRTH
Arecap of Steve Irwin’s life so far sounds like an Indiana
Jones adventure movie. The multitalented owner of
Island Marine Services has explored the depths of the
ocean as a commercial treasure diver, the expanse of the sky
as a pilot and the shadowy secrets of the Everglades swamps
as he wades waist deep to capture a perfect photo.
One would think being in the marine electronics business,
Irwin would spend his free time boating.
“I had my own boat for a while, but it seemed that I
couldn’t escape from my work,” Irwin said. “I’d always be
answering questions about boat maintenance and electronics,
so I decided to take the solitude of the sky and swamps.”
Irwin grew up on the water in Maryland and always had a
penchant for tinkering with mechanics and electronics.
“I realized I had an aptitude for that at a very young age,”
he explained. “I loved taking engines apart and putting them
back together. And I loved boating.”
When it came time to go to college, Irwin really didn’t
know what he wanted to do.
“I was going to a college and not doing well because I was
just studying the basics,” he said. “My roommate advised
me to figure out what I like to do and do it. I found an ad for
Florida Institute of Technology in Skin Diver Magazine and
thought that might be the answer. I came down to Jensen
Beach to visit the campus, fell in love with the area and the
curriculum and stayed.
“I studied underwater technology and graduated with
distinction, but I never really worked in the commercial diving
industry,” Irwin continued. “I did work with Mel Fisher
treasure hunting for about five years. That was a very unique
and wonderful experience because we were like a family of
pirates. It was hard work but so much fun.”
Hanging above his desk is a 400-year-old silver plate he
found during that time — an invaluable treasure given up by
the sea.
During the treasure diving offseason, Irwin worked with
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TREASURE COAST BOATING