Underwater Photography Legend Marty Snyderman to set up Signature Room at Sunset House in continuing series

A week of diving, a fun photo contest, social media sharing and other activities planned in March to celebrate event; Snyderman joins a list of renowned underwater photographers to have signature rooms at Cayman’s best-known dive resort

Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, (Mar 4, 2015) – Renowned underwater photographer, film producer, author and speaker Marty Snyderman is the latest underwater photographer to invest in a signature room at Sunset House Dive Resort in Grand Cayman. He will be on Grand Cayman March 20 – 27 to decorate the walls of unit #405 with his stunning undersea photos from across the world. Sunset House and room sponsors Dive Training Magazine and Vivid-Pix, a photo editing software company, are planning a week of activities to celebrate, including a fun photo contest for amateur photographers, a social media photo sharing campaign and a ribbon cutting ceremony to unveil Snyderman’s room at the end of the week. Sunset House General Manager Keith Sahm says it will be a celebratory week with a serious message.

“The idea behind our signature room campaign is to promote the beauty of the ocean as seen through the eyes of professional and passionate underwater photographers to encourage those who see the photos to act to save this fragile marine environment.”

Sahm says it’s also about building a faithful and committed dive community, and that is where the fun comes in. Marty Snyderman, also a great photography teacher, will be on the dive boats offering tips and advice to amateur underwater photographers using today’s convenient digital cameras.

“I love to share my underwater photographic insights and experiences with other shooters, and I enjoy getting to know and spend time with other divers, especially underwater photographers, said Snyderman. “And there is no doubt about it – teaching helps keep me abreast with the state of the art in my profession to be a better photographer. In short, if you let it happen, teaching can be a great teacher.”

Once back at the resort, the Vivid-Pix team will be at Sunset House’s famed My Bar in the evening helping customers get a better picture by offering them software downloads and editing assistance. Vivid-Pix founder Rick Voight says the software is specifically designed for amateur, underwater photographers.

“People always say ‘help me to get a better picture’ and now, we can. Marty helps them take better pictures and we help them fix and enhance those photos, then share them online,” Voight said. “We want people to share this experience with friends who cannot be on Grand Cayman with us; so, we will provide tips and tricks for posting pictures.”

Voight says there will be an amateur photo contest for people on Grand Cayman and another contest for people joining in for the Take a Picture and Share the Fun Photo Contest online at www.facebook.com/vivid-pix-fix. Daily winners will be announced each night at My Bar and the overall winner of the contest will be named the day Marty Snyderman’s signature room is unveiled. Winners will receive either a free enlargement of their best photo to take home, or an enlargement of Humpback Whales by Snyderman.

Sunset House guests won’t have to wait until the end of the week to peek behind the scenes in room #405. Snyderman and Voight are doing the hammer and nail work of putting up the photos on the walls, but visitors will be welcomed.

“We want people to be involved in the process of setting up Marty’s room by stopping in and scoping it out before the official ribbon cutting,” says Keith Sahm. “It’s about being a dive community and sharing this experience in a top destination for underwater photography.”

Marty Snyderman is one of 22 underwater photographers who will have signature rooms at Sunset House by the end of the year. Four have already completed their displays, and those rooms are available for rent: Sunset House Photo Pro Cathy Church, Courtney Platt, Ellen Cuylaerts and Jim Hellemn.

“I feel honored to be asked by Sunset House, considering its long history as an iconic resort in the greater diving and underwater photographic communities, and the accomplishments and reputations of the other photographers involved,” said Snyderman. “I am flattered, and a little nervous about whether or not “my room” will measure up. There are some wonderful photographers involved in this project.”

Many professionals, including Marty Snyderman, consider Cayman a perfect place for underwater photography because of its great visibility, exciting marine life and reefs, and variety of dive sites. Snyderman even says Grand Cayman changed his life.

“I went there for the first time in the mid-1970s, and I’ll never forget the first time I dived the North Wall – it was the first dive of our trip, and we hit it on a typical, yet spectacular, day, and the drop-off was breath taking. There was color everywhere, and the reef was so alive,” he remembers. “At the time all I knew about underwater photography was that I wanted to give it a serious try. And that trip put me over the top. I wanted to share the magic with my camera.”

About Sunset House

Sunset House/Sunset Divers has been welcoming divers to the Cayman Islands for more than 55 years. It is the only resort in the Cayman Islands, designed by divers, operated by divers, for divers. It’s also the only resort on Grand Cayman that has its own coral reef, with modern and ancient shipwrecks in shallow water right off shore. Underwater visibility on Sunset House’s reef can exceed 200 feet, and a remarkable variety of marine life to be seen there. Our own spectacular 9’ bronze sculpture of the mermaid Amphitrite is one of the most popular shore dive sites in the world. The resort features 52 guest rooms, including 16 deluxe Oceanview rooms, 2 spacious suites and 2 apartments with full kitchenettes. All rooms are air-conditioned, with phones and private baths. Free Hi-Speed Wireless Internet can be accessed throughout the property and a convenient computer station is located in the lobby. SeaHarvest Restaurant offers full menus for some of the healthiest breakfasts, lunch and dinners around and is famous for its East Indian menu. My Bar a popular hangout for both locals and visitors, has been voted “Best in the Caribbean” by Caribbean Travel and Life and the Best of Cayman. Sunset House also features an inviting seaside fresh water swimming pool.

For information or reservations
Call Toll Free: (800) 854-4767
On Grand Cayman: 345-949-7111
Web: www.sunsethouse.com
E-mail: [email protected]
Facebook: www.facebook.com/sunsethousecayman
Twitter: www.twitter.com/sunsethouse

IMAGES:
Marty Snyderman
Marty Snyderman signing a print of his photo “Humpback Whales” which will be one of the prizes in the photo contest. Photo courtesy Marty Snyderman and Vivid-Pix
Sunset House, the hotel for divers by divers, is one of the best known dive resorts in the Caribbean. By the end of 2015, 22 of the world’s finest underwater photographers will have their own signature room at the resort. Photo courtesy Sunset House
The Cathy Church signature room at Sunset House resort is available for rent. This idea behind the resort’s signature room series is to raise awareness of the underwater world.