See photos of the event on pages 17-18 of today’s Caymanian Compass.
Government is still committed to securing a physical site in Grand Cayman where the Scuba Diving Hall of Fame inductees can be honoured through a special museum.
Speaking Wednesday evening at the Induction Ceremony for the 2005 nominees to the International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame, Tourism Minister Charles Clifford said it was fitting to have a Hall of Fame based in the Cayman Islands, as it is one of the premier dive destinations, with thousands of visitors flocking here to dive each year.
Speaking from the Marriott Beach Resort where attendees were wowed by fabulous underwater décor, including various fish and shell designs, creative coral reefs, underwater vegetation and even live gold fish in bowls, Mr. Clifford described this year’s four inductees as pioneers, artists and entrepreneurs. They were being honoured for their outstanding contributions to the sport of scuba diving, including making it safer and more enjoyable.
This year was the fifth annual induction ceremony and dinner. This year’s inductees, Ernest Brooks II, Captain Don Stewart, the late Dr. Andreas B. Rechnitzer and the late Dewey Bergman were honoured along with Cayman Islands Ministry of Tourism Awardees, Peter Milburn and the late Tom Hubbell. Mr. Milburn was present to accept his award and the late Mr. Hubbell’s granddaughter Chelsea, 16, accepted the award on his behalf, as she is the latest certified diver in the family.
In his speech, Minister Clifford praised these awardees, saying they have dedicated much of their lives to developing sport diving here in the Cayman Islands.
Hall of Fame inductees Mr. Brooks and Captain Don were present to receive their awards, while Dewey Bergman’s award was picked up by Innes Bergman (wife) and Eric Bergman (son). Andreas Rechnitzer’s award was picked up by Martin Rechnitzer (son) and Andrea Fry (daughter).
Coming from diverse backgrounds and fields, all four inductees possess a track record of offerings to the development, growth and/or promotion of the sport of recreational scuba diving around the world. The honour bestowed upon them commemorates the achievements and contributions of the champions of diving. This year’s recipients will join past line-ups that include Lloyd Bridges, Jacques Yves Cousteau, Zale Parry, John Cronin, Chuck Blakeslee and Jim Auxier.
Speaking as Chairman of the Diving Hall of Fame Board of Directors, Mr. Clifford said, ‘We will continue to work to make the Hall of Fame a reality.’ He made special mention of Cathy Church who has put a lot of work into this endeavour. The plan is to house the Hall of Fame in downtown George Town near the waterfront, something that has been on the table for the last five years but was further interrupted last year by Hurricane Ivan.
Minister Clifford explained that the internationally acclaimed diving industry in the Cayman Islands began in 1957, and special thanks were given to Mr. Bob Soto (previously inducted into the Hall of Fame) for starting up scuba tourism.
Mr. Clifford also praised the Cayman Islands’ display during the recent DEMA (Dive Equipment and Marketing Association) in Las Vegas recently, saying that it was the most sophisticated and best, and this was to the credit of both the public and the private sectors.
Hall of Fame Inductee Captain Don from Bonaire read a letter from the Government of Bonaire commending the people of the Cayman Islands for coming through and rebuilding following Hurricane Ivan.
Also present at the ceremony and dinner was The Travel Channel, filming as part of a reality show based on the work of Celebrations’ Jo-Anne Brown, who had provided the décor for the evening.
The Diving Hall of Fame Board of Directors oversees the Diving Hall of Fame project. Along with Chairman, Minister Clifford, members are: 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; and Ty Sawyer – Editor-in-Chief Sport Diver Magazine.
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