Cayman dive pioneer Nancy Easterbrook, owner of DiveTech, will be honored for her contributions to the dive industry at the 2015 International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame (ISDHF) induction ceremony in Grand Cayman October 2. A long-time core member of local dive leadership, Easterbrook is one of three local and five international honorees to be recognized at the ceremony, the highlight of Cayman’s 2nd annual Legends and Lions scuba diving festival.
“I am humbled to be included with so many icons in the industry that I look up to, and many of whom have guided me,” said Easterbrook.
Easterbrook began diving in 1973, and bitten by the diving bug, moved to Grand Cayman with her kids in 1994 and started Divetech. Over the past 21 years, Nancy has developed Divetech into a leading dive training facility and topnotch dive operation. She pioneered technical diving, Rebreathers and free diving, and she has made conservation and ocean education a priority. Easterbrook spearheaded an 8-year project to bring the USS Kittiwake to Cayman as an artificial reef.
To celebrate Divetech’s 20th anniversary in 2014 Nancy and her husband Jay, sank the Guardian of the Reef statue just off their dive shop at Lighthouse Point in Northwest Grand Cayman. A portion of each fee for diving the site goes to ocean conservation efforts and education. Divetech sponsors the West Bay Eco Warriors, an after school program for local kids to learn to swim, snorkel and dive.
“Our children’s diving programs are all about the next generation of divers, it’s the coolest sport in the world for young and old,” says Easterbrook.
A dedicated environmentalist, Nancy has been a pillar of support for enforcing conservation guidelines and organizing local beach and underwater cleanups as well as other programs and events. In 2014 she received the Governor’s Conservation Award for the Cayman Islands. Easterbrook is also a member of the Women Divers Hall of Fame.
Gladys Howard and the late Dr. James “Jimmie” Poulson will also be recognized at the induction ceremony, which caps off a month of dive specials and events hosted by various dive operators and hotels including: Red Sail Sports, Sunset House and Divetech. Package prices vary and include:
- Seven nights accommodation
- Six two-tank dives
- Photo Clinic with the option to submit photos for the final week competition
- Scuba social – e.g. catamaran to Rum Point Club for a beach barbeque
- Lionfish seminar with Lionfish dive
- Treasure hunt or similar activity
- Equipment manufacturer’s demo
Divers who book the package for the final week will also attend the induction ceremony on October 2.