Covid-19 Postpones Scuba Diving Hall of Fame Induction Until 2021
With the Cayman Islands' borders closed until 1 October 2020 in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, the International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame’s (ISDHF) milestone 20th Anniversary Induction, set to take place on Grand Cayman on 25 September 2020, has been officially postponed until 2021.
The ISDHF's Board of Directors, together with the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism (CIDOT), made the decision to delay the 20th Induction Ceremony to ensure that a proper in-person celebration can be held on-island for the Class of 2020 inductees. In addition, the ISDHF will forego extending additional invitations to potential nominees in 2021 to properly pay homage to the dive industry pioneers set to be inducted in 2020.
The Class of 2020 – which includes the president of DEMA, Tom Ingram, pioneering underwater cave explorer and filmmaker Jill Heinerth, founder of the Handicapped Scuba Association (HSA) Jim Gatacre and renowned explorer, videographer and founder of the Undersea Hunter Group, Avi Klapfer – will take centre stage at an official reception in 2021, recognised and inducted into the ISDHF for their accomplishments in the scuba diving community.
The ISDHF Class of 2020 (clockwise from top left) Tom Ingram Jill Heinerth, Avi Klapfer and Jim Gatacre
'While this year’s ceremony was set to be a milestone for the ISDHF, the health and safety of our honourees, guests and staff is our highest priority, and we are following the recommendations of health experts to postpone the gathering,' said Hon. Minister of Tourism, Mr. Moses Kirkconnell. 'We extend our sincere appreciation to the 2020 inductees who were primed to celebrate their accomplishment this year, and we look forward to applauding their lifetime achievements safely in person next year. Our celebration in 2021 will be even more special and sincerely worth the wait.'
The ISDHF was established by the Cayman Islands Ministry of Tourism in 2000 and 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.
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