Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands (28 September 2026) – The International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame hosted the 23rd annual induction ceremony on Friday, 4 September 2026 at the Hotel Indigo Grand Cayman. The ceremony celebrates international inductees and local honourees who have made significant contributions to the sport of scuba diving, while reinforcing the Cayman Islands’ longstanding connection to the sport and its continued commitment to recognising excellence, advancing marine stewardship, and inspiring the next generation of dive professionals. Ten individuals were inducted across five categories.
“Scuba diving is an important part of the Cayman Islands’ tourism heritage and helped lay the foundation for the industry we know today,” said Hon. Gary Rutty, Minister for Tourism and Trade Development. “It was a privilege to celebrate the pioneers who helped shape the sport, as well as those who continue to advance diving locally and internationally. In honouring their achievements, I am also keen to ensure that opportunities continue to be created for young Caymanians to develop the skills, experience and passion required to carry this proud legacy forward.”
The 2026 Local Honourees included three individuals who were at the forefront of establishing the Cayman Islands’ diving industry and ensuring it remains a sustainable and thriving industry. Eric J. Bergstrom was posthumously inducted for his work laying the commercial and promotional groundwork for the islands’ diving and tourism industry; starting in 1963, when he opened the original Tortuga Club in East End and later becoming the first Director of Tourism for the Cayman Islands. With a career spanning more than five decades, William Christoffers was honoured for being part of the pioneering generation that helped establish the Cayman Islands as a premier world dive destination and consistently advocating responsible diving practices and the protection of the islands’ marine ecosystems. Martin van der Touw was recognised for his work in dive operations, managing Reef Divers – Cayman Brac, and marine conservation in his current role as a Sister Islands Field Officer with the Cayman Islands Government's Department of Environment.
Caymanian dive professional Olivia Barnett made history as the first woman to be inducted as the Emerging Honouree. The category recognises upcoming individuals in the Cayman Islands diving industry who are making a difference. Olivia, a former Bob Soto Memorial Scuba Scholarship recipient, has since become a PADI Instructor at Divetech Grand Cayman and an internationally recognised underwater photographer, demonstrating the opportunities available to young Caymanians to build careers within the diving and marine tourism industries.
The 2026 international cohort reflected the continued evolution of scuba diving, spanning equipment innovation, underwater exploration and photography, environmental stewardship, education, accessibility, and inclusive participation.
This year’s Early Pioneer was posthumously awarded to Ludovico Mares, an inventor and entrepreneur whose innovations in diving equipment made it safer and more accessible. Today, the Mares brand is one of the most recognised names in diving equipment. Michael Steidley, Florida regional manager for Mares and Head Watersports, and Rachael Steidley, SSI marketing manager for Head Watersports in North America, accepted the award on behalf of Ludovico Mares.
The four International Inductees have each made an impact in their respective regions and beyond. Ed Uditis was 13 years old when he was introduced to scuba diving and went on to be a certified instructor, working at the University of Tampa developing scuba training programmes for marine biology students and later co-owning Fisheye and helping to introduce Nitrox diving in the Cayman Islands. An award-winning underwater photographer, Amos Nachoum founded Big Animals Global Expeditions and has led thousands of adventures and photographers on wildlife expeditions globally; his work challenges the perception of “dangerous” wildlife and reveals the complexity of animal behaviour. In Malaysia, Syed Abd Rahman teaches the next generation of divers and environmental stewards through Kids Scuba Malaysia as well as providing scuba therapy opportunities with Diveheart Malaysia. Jeff and Teri Leicher have spent more than four decades helping shape sustainable tourism in Hawaii, installing hundreds of permanent mooring systems to prevent anchor damage of coral reefs.
Thomas Koch was inducted as this year’s Trailblazer in recognition of his work to remove barriers for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals interested in scuba diving. In 2015, he became the first deaf PADI Course Director and now organises training programmes and dive travel for deaf divers through his company Aqua Hands.
“It was a privilege to recognise the outstanding honourees and inductees. In the Cayman Islands, the late Eric Bergstrom was instrumental in laying the foundations of our dive tourism industry, and it is important that we continue to honour pioneers like him while also recognising those who continue to contribute to the strength and evolution of the industry today, including William Christoffers, Martin van der Touw, and Olivia Barnett,” said Stephen Broadbelt, Chairman of the ISDHF Board of Directors. “The 2026 cohort reflects the remarkable breadth of diving, with contributions spanning innovation, exploration, education, conservation, accessibility, and inclusion. Together, their achievements remind us that the Hall of Fame is not only about preserving the history of diving but also celebrating the people who continue to move the sport forward and inspire the next generation.”
Beyond recognising achievement within the global diving community, a key focus of the International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame is using the knowledge and experience of its inductees and honourees to inspire young people in the Cayman Islands and broaden their awareness of careers and opportunities within diving, marine conservation, tourism, photography, education, and related fields.
The student poster competition returned for the second year with the theme, “Ocean Conservation – Celebrating 40 Years of Marine Parks in the Cayman Islands.” Open to students ages 8-17 across the Cayman Islands, the submissions were showcased at the induction ceremony. Winners Kristiana Scott Salazar (Junior category, aged 8-12) and Delora Johnson (Senior category, aged 13-17) were recognised during the induction ceremony, and 2026 Tourism Ambassador Arianna Chin presented them with their prizes during the reception.
Ahead of the ceremony on Friday, the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism coordinated career engagement sessions featuring the 2026 inductees, honourees and 2023 Emerging Honouree Kameron D’Hue for students from Layman E. Scott Snr. High School in Cayman Brac and students from University College of the Cayman Islands (UCCI), Clifton Hunter High School, John Gray High School, Cayman Prep & High School and CF School on Grand Cayman. The sessions gave students an opportunity to learn about different career pathways within the dive and marine sectors, hear first-hand how the speakers built their careers, and explore the skills, training, and experiences required to enter the industry.
The next ISDHF Induction Ceremony will take place in 2027. Information on nomination applications and event details will be shared on isdhf.com and Cayman Islands Department of Tourism channels.
A recording of the 2026 ISDHF Induction Ceremony is available on the Cayman Islands Government YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/naMjFuL2cIQ?si=RTocF0Y0SAC-HLgs.
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About the International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame
The International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame (ISDHF) was founded in 2000 by the Ministry of Tourism of the Cayman Islands. Since the Cayman Islands is a leading pioneer in dive travel and is a premier world destination for divers, it seemed only natural that the Cayman Islands should be home to the hall of fame honouring people who have contributed the most to the sport of scuba diving.
The mission of the International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame is to honour the people who have helped to make the sport of scuba diving possible, safer, more popular and more enjoyable. The annual induction ceremony takes place in the Cayman Islands every year. To learn more, visit isdhf.com.
About the Cayman Islands
The Cayman Islands features some of the world’s best diving excursions, with each of the three islands offering different diving adventures for all skill levels. Having received countless awards for Best Overall Dive Destination in the Caribbean and Atlantic, the Cayman Islands is also home to the International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame, recognizing dive industry pioneers since its inception in 2000. The destination is also renowned for its calm clear waters, which offer superb visibility for snorkelling and other underwater experiences.
Located 480 miles south of Miami in the vibrant western Caribbean, this trio of tiny islands is a premier destination for discriminating travellers, divers, honeymooners and families. World renowned for its idyllic beaches and recognized as a sophisticated, diverse and memorable tourist destination, the Cayman Islands offers spectacular recreational opportunities along with warm, impeccable service. To learn more about the Cayman Islands, please go to visitcaymanIslands.com or www.divecayman.ky or call your local travel agent.