Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, 8 October – 2014 – The Cayman Islands is pleased to announce the International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame (ISDHF) Local Inductees. The announcement was made by the Acting Minister of Tourism, Mr. Joseph Hew.

The following individuals have been selected for induction in 2014:

Rodney ‘Rod’ McDowall, has been a resident of the Cayman Islands since 1982. Rod has been actively involved in the Scuba Diving and Watersports industry since his arrival in the country. After working with Bob Soto’s Diving and Surfside Watersports, he joined Red Sail Sports in 1987, becoming the Operations Manager in 1989, which is a position he holds today. His leadership through the years has positioned Red Sail Sports, Grand Cayman as one of the world’s premier and successful diving and water-sports companies. His accomplishments in the watersports industry in Cayman are unparalleled as he has served as President of the Cayman Islands Watersports Operators Association; helped in the formation of the Cayman Islands Tourism Association, serving as its President and sitting on its Board for many years; and a founding Board member of the International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame. He is married to Penny and has two children, Jamie and Jessica.

Winston McDermot was introduced to diving at the age of 23 before there was any official certification. He became a certified dive master at the age of 30 when he owned his own business, Brac Aquatics in Cayman Brac. With his career spanning 50 years, he has assisted with the creation of many dive operations and initiatives throughout his time. Winston has made approximately 7,000 dives and has played an integral part in establishing the first permanent dive moorings in Little Cayman and Cayman Brac. He was a pioneer for encouraging the Caymanian government to declare Bloody Bay and the Jackson Point as the first marine parks in Little Cayman. His love for diving also accompanies his love for boats he is well-known for the many live-aboard dive boats he has crafted from scratch over the years. His favorite dive sites are the Anchor Wall, Bloody Bay and Jackson Point in Little Cayman.

Captain Frank Ebanks, began his business, Frank’s Watersports, in April 1968 and he has been diving over 50 years. At the early stages of tourism on Grand Cayman, he conducted dives for the original Holiday Inn hotel guests. During those humble beginnings, he would ride from his home in Boatswains Bay (West Bay) to South Sound (George Town) to book tourists with his dives and charters. By doing this, he was able to book out weeks of charters. Considered a veteran of the sea, he has made over 100 voyages to the Florida Keys and was a pioneer in Cayman Islands’ turtling industry. In addition, he was very instrumental in setting up the turtle farm through financial investment. Capt. Ebanks was an important part of the first tours that went to the North Sound when visitors arrived in Sea Planes. He was a popular dive master and well-liked by his regular customers who continue to ask for him when they visit the island.

For more information on the International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame, visit www.scubahalloffame.com. To learn more about the unparalleled diving in the Cayman Islands, visit www.caymanislands.ky/divecayman.

IMAGE: Rod McDowall dinnerreviews.com