A day after the 94th birthday of pioneer ocean explorer Austrian Professor Hans Hass, Swiss watch manufacturer Blancpain and the Historical Diving Society Hans Hass Award Committee awarded French marine biologist Laurent Ballesta the annual “Hans Hass Fifty Fathoms Award”. The public ceremony took place in Düsseldorf (DE) during “Boot”, the largest marine industry exhibition worldwide. In the year that celebrates the 60th anniversary of the Fifty Fathoms, Blancpain proudly presented the first modern diving watch to the winner in honor of his achievement and excellence in the fields of diving, underwater photography, and science.