For the first time, all the inductees to the International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame are women.
This year’s list of inductees was announced by the Cayman Islands-based hall of fame’s board of directors and the Cayman Ministry and Department of Tourism on Saturday, 8 March, which is International Women’s Day.
Established by the Cayman Islands Ministry of Tourism in 2000, the hall of fame celebrates dive industry leaders who have contributed to the success of recreational scuba diving worldwide through innovation and advancements made in the areas of dive tourism, equipment design, dive safety, inclusivity, exploration, adventure, innovation and more.
This year’s inductees include Simone Melchior-Cousteau (France) and Women Divers Hall of Fame (USA) as Early Pioneers; Michelle Cove (Bahamas), Anne Hasson (USA), and Rosemary E. Lunn (UK) as Inductees; and Hidy Yu Hiu-Tung (Hong Kong) as Trailblazer, which is a new category this year.
They join other notable women in the industry in the International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame, including Jill Heinerth (2020), Eugenie Clark (2010), and Cathy Church (2008).
The 2025 inductees will be formally inducted into the hall of fame at a ceremony in Cayman on 20 Sept.
This year’s inductees were selected for their significant contributions to the diving industry. The following biographies was supplied by the Department of Tourism.
Simone Melchior-Cousteau
The late Simone Melchior-Cousteau was a pioneering French explorer, widely recognised as the first woman scuba diver and aquanaut, and the beloved wife and partner of legendary oceanographer, Jacques-Yves Cousteau.
She was key in his co-invention of the Aqualung, a revolutionary invention that transformed scuba diving, introducing him to the engineer and the funding. Melchior-Cousteau witnessed the first successful test of the Aqualung prototype in the Marne River.
She was instrumental in the acquisition of Calypso, the Cousteau family’s famed research vessel, and played a key role in the operation at sea. For the Calypso’s early expeditions, she sold her family jewels and fur coats to purchase fuel and essential navigation instruments for the vessel.
Melchior-Cousteau, who passed away in 1990, was known as ‘La Bergere’, the Shepherdess, as she acted as nurse, psychiatrist and mother to the all-male crew for 40 years.
In 1963, she made history by becoming the world’s first female aquanaut when she visited the Conshelf II undersea habitat in the Red Sea. Her legacy as a pioneering woman in scuba diving and ocean exploration continues to inspire generations of explorers and conservationists worldwide.
Women Divers Hall of Fame
Dedicated to recognising and honouring the contributions of women divers, and supporting the next generation of divers, the Women Divers Hall of Fame is an international, non-profit, professional honour society, whose member contributions span a wide variety of fields including: The arts, science, medicine, exploration and technology, underwater archaeology, business, media, training and education, safety, commercial and military diving, free diving, and underwater sports.
The Women Divers Hall of Fame inducted its first class of 71 members in 2000, featuring some of the most influential women in diving history, such as Sylvia Earle, renowned oceanographer, and Eugenie Clark, famously known as the ‘Shark Lady’, who were recognised for their groundbreaking contributions to marine science and exploration.
As of 2024, there are 260 members in the hall of fame, hailing from 30 US states and territories and 22 countries worldwide. Members are selected on an annual basis.
The founders of the Women Divers Hall of Fame included Jennifer King, founder of the Women’s Scuba Association; Patty Newell Mortara, co-founder of Women Underwater; Carol Rose, president of the Underwater Society of America; Hillary Viders, an award-winning writer and speaker; Capt. Kathy Weydig, instructor trainer and course director with NAUI and SDI/TDI; and Armand ‘Zig’ Zigahn, president of Beneath the Sea, Inc.
Since 2002, the hall of fame has awarded US$915,000 in scholarships and training grants to support 700 women and men pursuing diving-related careers or advancing their underwater skills. Through their collective efforts, the Women Divers Hall of Fame continues to inspire future generations of divers and leaders in the underwater world.
For profiles of WDHOF members and nomination criteria, visit www.wdhof.org.
Michelle Cove
Michelle Cove was instrumental in developing Stuart Cove’s Dive Bahamas into one of the Caribbean’s largest dive operations.
She secured and grew watersports and diving concessions for major partners, like Atlantis Resort, Baha Mar, Carnival Cruise Lines, and private clubs.
Under her leadership, the company developed a diverse range of offerings, including scuba, snuba, Sea Trek, SUB (Submersible Underwater Bubble), snorkelling, watersports, and underwater photography and video, making world-class ocean experiences accessible to visitors worldwide.
A skilled shark dive leader, Cove is a lifelong shark safety, education, and marine conservation advocate.
Her collaboration with the PEW Environmental Group and Bahamas National Trust led to the creation of the Bahamas Shark Sanctuary in 2011, the first of its kind in the Atlantic.
She has also been a key advocate in invasive lionfish awareness and eradication efforts, as well as coral conservation, nursery implementation, and out-planting initiatives to help restore vital reef ecosystems.
A PADI open water scuba instructor, Cove has introduced countless divers to the beauty of the Bahamas, inspiring ocean conservation. She was integral in establishing Ocean Watch Bahamas and Children on the Reef organisations focused on educating Bahamian youth about the ocean, fostering careers in the watersports industry and marine conservation.
Her expertise extends to the film and television industry, where she has trained numerous television and movie personalities to dive, and served as a safety diver, on-camera talent, and stunt performer. Her work includes major productions such as James Bond, Into the Blue, Flipper, and projects for Discovery Channel, National Geographic, BBC Natural History Unit, Food Network and History Channel.
Today, Cove’s company Resort Lifestyle Ltd. owns and operates Albany and Lyford Cay Watersports, offering premier diving, snorkelling, and watersports experiences in the Bahamas.
Anne Hasson
Anne Hasson’s pioneering efforts revolutionised the liveaboard scuba diving industry, having launched the renowned Cayman Aggressor in 1984.
As vice president of Aggressor Adventures, Hasson oversees the reservations, marketing and advertising departments, maintaining the integrity and image of the 41-year-old company’s brand and corporate identity. Today, Aggressor Adventures sets new standards for dive and adventure tourism worldwide.
Under her leadership, Aggressor Adventures has expanded to include 24 international liveaboard dive yachts, signature lodges, bird watching and river cruises, operating in premier locations such as the Bahamas, Belize, Cayman Islands, Galapagos, Egypt, Maldives, and beyond.
A passionate advocate for sustainable diving, Hasson promotes eco-friendly travel practices to protect marine ecosystems at all Aggressor locations. She is also instrumental in establishing high customer service standards, solidifying Aggressor Adventures as a worldwide leader in the tourism industry.
She also serves on the board of directors for the Sea of Change Foundation, contributing to global conservation and is an inductee into the Women Divers Hall of Fame (2010).
Rosemary E. Lunn
Rosemary E. Lunn is a highly respected figure in the global diving community. Her induction marks a historic milestone as she becomes the first British woman to receive this honour.
Bringing decades of expertise to her diverse contributions, Lunn has played a pivotal role in shaping the diving industry. She is a valued professional, prolific journalist, speaker, educator, event organiser, and an advocate for dive safety and education.
An accomplished diving instructor, Lunn holds certifications as a PADI IDC staff instructor, BSAC advanced instructor, and a trimix and CCR diver, with extensive teaching experience in the UK and internationally.
Her influence extends beyond recreational and technical diving – she is the first non-military civilian and first female diver to join the UK Ministry of Defence as part of the Defence Diving Standards Team. As a senior diving standards inspector, she works alongside serving and former military divers and personnel, to assure and enhance safety protocols for military personnel. She is also an associate member of the Royal Navy Clearance Divers Association.
An innovator in technical diving, Lunn is a co-founder of EUROTEK, Europe’s premier biennial advanced and technical diving symposium, an event she has organised since 2008.
She also established TEKDiveUSA, a major meeting in the tech diving calendar, and coordinated Rebreather Forum 3 on behalf of AAUS, DAN, and PADI, advancing safety and innovation in rebreather diving.
In 2022, she launched the Defence Diving Symposium on behalf of the Superintendent of Defence Diving. This annual conference brings together personnel from all facets of military diving to discuss safety, share the latest research, and exchange critical information.
Beyond her work in diving safety, Lunn is a key industry networker, bridging communities and bringing influential figures together for strategic collaborations. She has served on the Scuba Industries Trade Association board and sits on the British Diving Safety Group, where she continues to shape industry standards and best practices.
Her outstanding contributions have earned her recognition, including the SSI Platinum Diver Award, and she is an associate member of the Women Divers Hall of Fame.
Hidy Yu Hiu-Tung
Hidy Yu Hiu-Tung is an acclaimed international actress and model with over 19 years of scuba diving experience, blending her passion for the ocean with a dynamic career in the public eye.
As a certified scuba diving instructor, technical diver, and free diver, Yu has not only mastered the art of underwater exploration but has also become a dedicated advocate for marine conservation.
In 2011, she was appointed the spokeswoman for Miss Scuba International, using her influence to champion the protection of marine ecosystems. Her commitment to ocean advocacy deepened in 2016 when she became an ambassador for the Asia Dive Expo (ADEX), where she continues to deliver compelling talks on marine conservation to international audiences.
Yu takes direct action in protecting marine environments, having led ghost net cleanup initiatives in Hong Kong since 2019. In 2023, she was named Ghost Net Ambassador for ADEX Singapore, and undertook an extraordinary 23-hour non-stop ocean clean-up in Sabah, highlighting her dedication to tangible conservation efforts.
Her contributions to the diving community and environmental protection have earned her several prestigious accolades, including the Industry Advocator Rising Star Award at ADEX China in 2018 and the NAUI Outstanding Service Award in 2021.
In 2024, she co-founded the Bling Bling Ocean Foundation, an organisation committed to promoting ocean conservation through charitable initiatives and educational outreach. Leveraging her platform as a public figure, she continually raises awareness on critical environmental issues and organizes regular conservation activities.
Click here for more information on the International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame.
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