2008 INTERNATIONAL SCUBA DIVING HALL OF FAME HONOURS sport?s founders

2008 INTERNATIONAL SCUBA DIVING HALL OF FAME HONOURS sport?s founders

Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands (January 22, 2007) The International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame recognised five extraordinary individuals for their outstanding contributions to the sport of scuba diving last Thursday, January 17th, at the seventh annual dinner and induction ceremony, held at the Grand Cayman Marriott Beach Resort. Two Caymanians were also recipients of this year?s Ministry of Tourism Local Honours Awards, which were presented, along with the awards for the international Inductees, by the Hon. Charles E. Clifford, Minister of Tourism, Environment, Investment & Commerce.

The international Inductees for 2008 are: Robert ?Bob? Halstead, Dr. Drew Richardson, Daniel Mercier, Ron Steven and local underwater photographer Cathy Church; Local Honourees are Jim Dailey and Kem Jackson.

?Tonight, as in years past, we are here to honour the founders of scuba diving, the pioneers, innovators, educators, artists and travel professionals who have contributed to the success and growth of the sport ? both at home and internationally,? said the Minister in his speech. ?This year I am delighted to note that, as well as our two local honourees ? Mr. Kem Jackson and Mr. Jim Dailey, we have a second Caymanian being inducted into the Hall of Fame (Cathy Church).?

The Minister also thanked the Board of Directors for their time and dedication to the Hall of Fame; and presented awards to Rod McDowall, Past President of the Cayman Islands Tourism Association, and Bob Soto, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2002 but never received his award.

?Tonight, I have a special recognition award to present to one of the Board members who recently retired from the Board of the Cayman Islands Tourism Association, but stood committed to the Hall of Fame Board,? said the Hon. Minister. ?Mr. Rod McDowall, thank you for your long service to the Cayman Islands tourism industry and your commitment to doing things ?right??.

Of the award presented to Bob Soto, the Hon. Minister commented: ?The impressive Caymanite International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame awards were still a figment of Horacio Esteban?s imagination back in 2002 when Mr. Bob Soto was inducted. Consequently he never received his award and I?d like to rectify this today?.

One of the Government?s goals for the International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame is to secure a physical site where Inductees can be honoured year round in a fitting and suitable location.

?While we continue to work hard to make this vision a reality,? said the Hon. Minister, ?I am delighted to announce that we now have a new virtual museum which showcases the artefacts already in the collection. This includes a detailed scaled replica of the original underwater camera housing that Louis Boutan used for images in his historic book ?La Photographie Sous-Marin et Les Progr?s de la Photographie?, published in Paris in 1900.?

A Board of Directors oversees the Diving Hall of Fame project. These Board members are comprised of internationally recognized individuals who have contributed to the sport and are actively involved in the scuba diving industry, and leaders of the local community. They consist of:

Hon. Charles E. Clifford, JP - Minister of Tourism, Environment, Investment and Commerce

Captain Charles ?Chuckie? Ebanks - President, Cayman National Watersports Association

Leslie Leaney - President, Historical Diving Society

Rodney McDowall - Past President, Cayman Islands Tourism Association

Tom Ingram - Executive Director of DEMA

Al Hornsby - President of DEMA

Carl Roessler - See & Sea Travel Services

Ty Sawyer - Editor-in-Chief, Sport Diver Magazine

Inductee and Honouree Bios:

Robert ?Bob? Halstead

Since 1973 Bob Halstead has been systematically exploring the reefs and wrecks of Papua New Guinea. Together with his wife, Dinah, Bob is credited with the birth of dive tourism in Papua New Guinea, starting the country?s first full time sport diving business in 1977 and the first live-aboard dive boat operation in 1986. Since then, the couple have led sport diving, filming and scientific expeditions exploring the underwater coastal regions of Papua New Guinea and have jointly made over 15,000 dives and discovered several new marine species in the process. Bob has won several gold medals in international underwater photographic competitions and has published eight books on diving and marine life and written hundreds of magazine articles on diving safety, marine life and Papua New Guinea dive sites.

Dr. Drew Richardson

Few people have influenced diving as much as Dr. Drew Richardson, President and Chief Operations Officer for the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) Worldwide. Respected by competitors and peers alike, it is safe to say that Dr. Richardson has improved and broadened access to diver education for more than 10 million divers around the world. He joined PADI in 1985 where, among his many landmark accomplishments, he guided the development of the Recreational Dive Planner ? the first dive tables developed and tested specifically for recreational divers; launched the SAFE Diver programme; laid the groundwork for the project AWARE Foundation; and oversaw the development of literally every course and course product introduced by PADI, DSAT and the PADI International Resort and Retailer Association. In his current role as President of Current Publishing, he is participating in the development of a marine sciences curriculum for national use in high schools.

Daniel Mercier A true environmentalist, Daniel has spent his life making divers and people aware of sea wealth and resources. He has made more than 7,000 dives, as many in exploration as through his job as instructor and guide, and has won numerous awards for his work in starting diving clubs, running diver education programs and organizing some of the earliest film and underwater festivals. Today, Daniel is the President of the World Festival of Underwater Images and of the European Committee of Professional Diving Instructors.

Ron Steven Known to the art world simply as "Rogest", Ron Steven's "dotillist" method of painting is one of the most recognizable styles in marine art today. But the real essence of this businessman-turned-diver/artist is how he uses his art to communicate marine conservation messages to ocean aficionados of all ages. A natural educator and former dive instructor, Ron's favourite activity is working with the most influential group of people that there is when it comes to our ocean's futures: the world's children.

Cathy Church Cathy Church has been photographing the beautiful underwater world since 1965. She was the contributing photo editor for SKIN DIVER magazine for 15 years from 1970 to 1985, and is today recognized as one of the world?s foremost teachers and authors on underwater photography. Cathy received the prestigious NOGI award for the arts in 1987, is a past President of the Academy of Underwater Arts and Sciences and was admitted to the Explorers Club in 2000.

James A. Dailey James ?Jim? Dailey?s 40-plus years of experience in, and knowledge of, the watersports industry and Cayman?s marine environment are an invaluable resource for this country. Mr. Dailey is today a consultant to the dive industry. Always willing to share his extensive knowledge with others, Mr. Dailey remains the man people call at any hour for advice on everything from how to prepare for bad weather to where to find equipment repairs. Mr. Dailey moved to Grand Cayman in 1967 after buying what was to become Surfside Watersports on the beach at the Galleon Beach and Royal Palms Hotels. He helped draft the country?s first marine conservation and marine parks laws; was a founding member of the Cayman Islands Watersports Operators Association and Mariculture Ltd, which became the Cayman Turtle Farm; built and managed Pure Air Ltd, Grand Cayman?s first compressed air delivery service and the first Nitrox station in Cayman; and co-founded DiveTech Ltd, Cayman?s first technical dive operation, with Nancy Easterbrook.

Kem Jackson

From seaman to dive master, treasure hunter to Vice President of the Catboat Association, Kem Jackson has devoted his life to the sea. Mr. Jackson?s marine adventures began as a child, growing up on the water and becoming a seaman at an early age with National Bulk Carriers. His diving career -- and lifelong friendship with Bob Soto -- began in 1965, when he became one of the island?s first dive masters at Bob Soto?s Diving. Mr. Jackson was Bob Soto?s right hand man and chief engineer until the business was sold to Ron Kipp in 1980. Today, this popular man continues his contribution to the Cayman Islands in another capacity -- as Vice President of the Catboat Association, an organisation dedicated to preserving this important piece of maritime heritage for future generations. Mr. Jackson spends his time lovingly restoring cat boats (often single-handedly) to their former glory, and making beautiful 18? replicas as gifts for family and friends.

Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2008 2:06 pm Post subject:

Hoooray for Cathy!!!!

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