Scuba diving pioneer Bob Soto dies at 88

Bob Soto, the man credited with creating the Cayman Islands’ recreational dive industry, has died. The legendary diver died on Tuesday (17th March) at the George Town hospital after being taken there early in the morning. Soto, who was 88-years-old, opened Cayman’s first dive shop in 1957, before the islands had become a tourist destination. A member of the Scuba Diving Hall of Fame, he was awarded the Marine Conservation Award in 1996 and had also received an MBE.

Born in Cuba in 1926 to a Caymanian mother and Cuban father, Soto settled in Cayman in the 1950’s after serving in the US Navy, where he learned to dive. He began as a diver tender on a salvage tug, progressing to assistant diver and then to hard hat diver. After the war, Soto joined the Merchant Marines, giving him the opportunity to dive in many places, such as the Red Sea, the Persian Gulf and the waters off South America. Returning home, he realized that the underwater scenery in Cayman was “second to none”.

Known as the “father of diving”, Soto was active in marine and environmental conservation and played an important part in the establishment of the local marine conservation law in the 1980’s, long before many others appreciated the need.

Soto is survived by his wife, Suzy, and a large family of children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Source: caymannewsservice.com