Cayman dive pioneer Robert ‘Don’ Foster died on 13 Jan. at the age of 73.
Darvin Ebanks, one of the many divemasters who worked with Foster, recalled a man who was passionate about the sea and documenting it.
“We were both divemasters at Bob Soto’s back in the late 1970s and early 1980s and we were friends for years,” Ebanks said.
He credited Foster, an early honouree in the International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame, with inspiring him to get into underwater photography.
“Don won a couple of underwater photography competitions and that inspired me to get into the underwater photography thing as well. He loved the sea, and he was a really good person. I am going to miss him a lot,” he said.
Peter Milburn also worked at Bob Soto’s Diving with Don Foster.
“Don got married several times over the years, but seemed very happy and content with Timmy, his wife of the past thirteen years,” Milburn said.
He added that after Foster left Bob Soto’s, he came to work for his company before starting his own business.
“We remained friends over all these years. It is very sad to hear that he has passed on. He was very easy going and well liked by a lot of people. He was a great friend,” Milburn said.
Ebanks explained that Foster’s parents were one of the original owners of Royal Palms and the Coral Caymanian hotel located beside it. In 1982, Foster started his own dive business on the beach at the Royal Palms.
“He was an early pioneer of the Cayman Islands dive industry,” Ebanks said.
Don Foster’s Dive is still in operation today, over 40 years after it was first established. While the business is now under different ownership and located on South Church Street, it is still being managed by one of Foster’s former employees, Sergio Coni.
“Don hired me back in 1988 and I worked as his manager up until he sold the company to Mervyn Cumber in 1991,” Coni said.
“He was great person to work for and I am grateful for all the wonderful and inspiring experiences we had together in the dive business and on the sea.”
The social media account for Don Foster’s Dive Cayman had the following note regarding Foster’s passing:
“We are deeply saddened to share the news of the passing of our original creator and founder of our company, Don Robert Foster. Don created this company back in the 80s.
“He was a great Diver, awesome Captain and devoted father. His love for the Sea and our Islands shaped the initial steps of our dive company and the lives of those of us that were fortunate to know him. We will miss him. Our thoughts are with his family and all who cherish him. Dear Don, keep on diving and watching us from up above!”
Mike Nelson, who worked with Foster taking people out on bioluminescence and mangrove tours, said he was brilliant with guests.
“He also cared deeply about the environment and at one point he was chairman of the National Conservation Council,” Nelson said.
Foster was also a talented musician and played drums with a number of local bands over the years, including with Cally and Bruce Clark, who described Foster as one of their best friends.
Bruce Clark’s voice cracked with emotion as he recalled their first meeting.
“He loved music,” he said. “We first met Don in Lone Star in the early 90s, and while we were setting up, he said to me, ‘Do you mind if I sit in on drums?’ From then on we played regularly in many places, including the old Hyatt, Santiago’s and Decker’s. Our band was called Full Tilt and we had so much fun playing together.”
Bruce Clark added that Don was an excellent drummer and a good singer as well.
A note from Foster’s family said, “We are immensely proud of his relentless fight and honored to have witnessed the love and light he carried with him through every moment. Don was one of the kindest, most loving souls you could ever meet. His warmth, generosity, and laughter touched so many lives, and our family is deeply saddened by his loss.”
Left to mourn his passing are his spouse Timmy Foster, brother Gary Foster, sons Kirk, Brandon and Charlie, daughters Brandy and Alex, stepdaughter Kay Ann, grandchildren Drew, Koby, Kayla, Gigi and Ariana, and many other relatives and special friends.
The celebration of life for Foster will be held on Saturday, 18 Jan. at 2:00pm at the First Baptist Church of Grand Cayman. The public is invited to wear colourful Hawaiian shirts in celebration of his colourful personality.
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