INDUSTRY NEWS
ISDHF: Diving’s Legacy, Cayman’s Future by Amber Wagenknecht, Executive Editor, TX, Interviews & Ceremony Video is here.
A S OUR PLANE TOUCHED down on Cayman Brac, one of the Cayman Islands' beautiful sister islands, we were beginning
One of the most moving encounters involved Thomas Koch , the 2026 Trailblazer Honouree and the first deaf PADI
Course Director. Through Aqua Hands, Thomas has dedicated his career to making scuba accessible to deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals. Throughout the week, Jeffery and April Dunlop accompanied him, in- terpreting his American Sign Language presentations and conversations.
to understand that this would be no ordinary Hall of Fame celebration. Our group included some of the most accomplished individuals in recre- ational scuba diving. These were pio- neers, educators, conservationists, pho- tographers and innovators whose ca-
Cayman Brac School Presentation
reers have changed how people experience the underwater world. Yet their first assignment wasn't to attend a reception or accept an award. It was to visit a local high school and inspire students who might someday follow in their footsteps. That experience captured the heart of the 2026 Cayman Islands International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame (ISDHF) in- duction week in September. Through the shared vision of the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism, the ISDHF Board of Directors, including Chairman Stephen Broadbelt , Suzy Soto and Anthony Scott , and Executive Director William Cline , the program has grown beyond celebrating diving's greatest achievements. It now places greater emphasis on inspiring the next generation by connecting these remarkable individuals with young Caymanians and introducing them to opportunities in diving, marine science, conservation, pho- tography and tourism. "We are honored to host the dive industry's latest inductees, but our program through the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism is more than just toasting and honoring diving's su- perstars," William explained. "We want them to inspire the next generation of divers, and that is exactly why we were on the Brac during the 2026 induction week." Where Inspiration Begins: At Layman E. Scott Senior High School on Cayman Brac, inductees shared stories of how their careers began, the obstacles they overcame and the opportunities that opened when they followed their love of the ocean. Similar presentations on Grand Cayman brought together students from several high schools. Hundreds of young people met individuals whose accomplishments they might otherwise have known only through photographs, doc- umentaries or stories.
Watching Thomas communicate with students was extraordinary. His message was simple but powerful: barriers do not have to determine what a person can accomplish. Equally inspiring was Syed Abd Rahman of Malaysia, founder of Kids Scuba Malaysia and an advocate for adaptive
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