International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame Website Goes Live at Beneath the Sea
ISDHF and Cayman Islands Department of Tourism Celebrate with Awards Presentation to Original Inductees Hans and Lotte Hass
The International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame (ISDHF) launched its official website at an event in conjunction with Beneath the Sea, America's largest scuba and dive travel show, last weekend. The launch was accompanied by a special awards presentation ceremony for Hall of Famers Hans and Lotte Hass.
Tom Ingram, President ISDHF, served as Master of Ceremonies to the room full of media and elite members of the scuba diving field. With the help of ISDHF board member Carl Roessler, the event kicked off with www.scubahalloffame.com going live for the first time. Roessler navigated the website, and showcased some of the site's key features, including bios, photos and videos on all of the 40 members; news and feedback sections; the organization's history; and an invitation to the 2007 induction ceremony.
Pilar Bush, Cayman Islands Director of Tourism, presented the award to Hans and Lotte. The couple, who celebrate 56 years of marriage, happily accepted the award and then charmed the crowd with dive stories from their younger years.
Hans and Lotte Hass achieved fame as pioneer underwater filmmakers and remain towering figures in the history of underwater exploration. The Hass's early films of undersea adventure, from Manta! to Under the Red Sea inspired young people around the world to imagine having their own diving adventures. Original inductees to the Hall of Fame (2000), Hans and Lotte did not receive their awards then as the official award was not created by Caymanian artist Horacio Estaban until the second year of the induction ceremonies.
During her speech Ms. Bush commented that while the search for a permanent land based home is ongoing, the website would provide the Hall of Fame with a "virtual home" where scuba diving fans, enthusiasts and participants can learn about the sport's pioneers.
The launch of the website was made possible by the joint efforts of ISDHF, Cayman Islands Ministry of Tourism and the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism.
