23rd Annual International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony 2026

By Christopher Tobutt

The 23rd Annual International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony lit up Hotel Indigo on Friday night, celebrating pioneers, educators, conservationists, and adventurers whose work has shaped the global diving community. It was an evening filled with applause, storytelling, and deep appreciation for the people who have dedicated their lives to the ocean.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Tourism and Trade Development, Hon. Gary Rutty, MP, opened the ceremony by reaffirming the Cayman Islands as the natural home of the Hall of Fame. “Our rich marine environment and worldclass diving experiences make our islands a natural home for this prestigious institution,” he said, highlighting the shared values of exploration, education, and environmental protection.

Chair of the Board Stephen Broadbelt congratulated the inductees for their contributions to innovation, conservation, and education, and noted the significance of Emerging Honouree Olivia Barnett, the first woman to be inducted in that category.

Local Honourees — Cayman’s Own Trailblazers

Eric James Bergstrom

A founding figure in Cayman’s dive tourism, Bergstrom’s arrival in 1963 marked a turning point for East End. As operator of the original Tortuga Club, he ran one of the Islands’ first recreational dive operations at a time when the district had no telephones, no public electricity, and only a marl road. His stewardship brought Jacques Cousteau and Émile Gagnan to Cayman, and he worked alongside early local operators including Bob Soto and Tom Hubble. Bergstrom later led the Cayman Islands Tourist Board, helped shape the Department of Tourism, and mentored young Caymanians into the industry — a legacy recognised with an MBE and Heroes Day honours.

William Christoffers

Christoffers has devoted more than five decades to diving, marine conservation, and sustainable tourism in the Cayman Islands. As one of the original owners at Lime Tree Bay, he helped establish Cayman as a premier world dive destination. After relocating permanently to Grand Cayman in 1992, he founded Dive N Stuff, introducing thousands of visitors to Cayman’s underwater world. His commitment to diving excellence and conservation has left a lasting imprint on the Islands’ marine tourism story.

Martin van der Touw

Originally from South Africa, van der Touw built a career that blends dive operations with frontline conservation. After becoming a SCUBA instructor in 1992, he and his wife Liesel managed a resort at Sodwana Bay before relocating to Cayman Brac. As manager of Reef Divers and later cofounder of Brac Scuba Shack, he strengthened the Brac’s dive offerings. Today, as a Sister Islands Field Officer with the Department of Environment, he plays a direct role in safeguarding Cayman’s Marine Protected Areas, sharing his conservation knowledge with divers and residents alike.

Olivia Barnett — Emerging Honouree

Barnett’s recognition as the first woman inducted in the Emerging category marks a milestone for Cayman’s diving community. Her work represents the rising generation of ocean advocates — young leaders whose passion and innovation will shape the future of marine stewardship in the Cayman Islands.

International Inductees — Global Voices of the Ocean

Thomas Koch (USA)

Founder of Aqua Hands, Koch has dedicated his career to making scuba accessible to deaf and hardofhearing individuals through American Sign Language instruction. In 2015 he became the first deaf PADI Course Director, breaking a global barrier and mentoring a new generation of deaf divers and instructors.

Ed Uditis (USA)

A lifelong educator and explorer, Uditis began diving at thirteen and launched his own scuba business by sixteen. His structured training programmes for marine biology students at the University of Tampa helped shape academic diving instruction. Later, as coowner of Fisheye in the Cayman Islands, he specialised in underwater photography and played a key role in introducing Nitrox diving to Cayman.

Syed Abd Rahman (Malaysia)

Founder of Kids Scuba Malaysia, Rahman has spent more than two decades introducing children, teens, and individuals with disabilities to the underwater world. His programmes emphasise safety, conservation, and environmental stewardship, and his work with Diveheart Malaysia has expanded scuba therapy opportunities throughout the region.

Jeff & Teri Leicher (USA)

With more than forty years in the industry, the Leichers helped shape sustainable dive tourism in Hawaii. Their leadership at Jack’s Diving Locker established one of the region’s most respected operations. Through the Malama Kai Foundation, they championed permanent mooring systems to protect coral reefs from anchor damage.

Amos Nachoum (USA/Israel)

Nachoum is an internationally recognised wildlife photographer and expedition leader whose closeencounter images of whales, sharks, leopard seals, and polar bears have captivated audiences worldwide. Founder of Big Animals Global Expeditions, and subject of the awardwinning documentary The Picture of His Life, his induction honours a lifetime spent revealing the true nature of Earth’s great predators.

A Night of Legacy and Leadership

The 2026 Induction Ceremony honoured visionaries who dared to explore the depths before diving was widely understood, innovators who expanded access and safety, and educators who shaped future generations. From Cayman’s early pioneers to global trailblazers, the evening celebrated a shared commitment to the ocean — its beauty, its mystery, and its protection.