Well-known popular figure in dive travel passes away of apparent heart attack.
With great sadness, we announce the death of our friend and colleague Dan Tibbetts. Dan died of an apparent heart attack on June 23, 2006 at Little Cayman, Cayman Islands.
Born Daniel E. Tibbetts in St. Petersburg, Florida, on December 18, 1953 to a family of hoteliers, Dan opened Little Cayman Beach Resort in 1993 and later built the Conch Club and The Club Condominiums. He also formed Reef Divers on both Little Cayman and Cayman Brac to become the only dive operator at the time on both islands. Dan helped form the Sister Islands Tourism Association and was instrumental in promoting the growth of tourism in the islands. He had an infectious love for the islands and a passion for giving guests an exceptional vacation and dive experience. He was well loved and respected by his staff and in turn his operations were continually voted Best Dive Operators, Best Dive Boats and Best Facilities for several years running.
Surviving are his parents, Linton and Polly Tibbetts of St. Petersburg, Fla.; son Michael Tibbetts of Boston, Mass.A; daughters Emily and Jessica Tibbetts, both of New York, N.Y.; twin sister Donna Hooker ofr Louisville, Tenn.N; sister Mary Brandes of St. Petersburg, Fla., and six nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held Wednesday, June 28, 2006, at the 11 am, Starkey Road Baptist Church in Seminole, Florida.
A memorial service was also held on Saturday, July 1, 2006 at First Baptist Church on Grand Cayman.
The family has requested donations be made in lieu of flowers to either "Light in Africa" (www.lightinafrica.com) or "Starfish Africa" (www.starfishafrica.org). Please make checks payable to one of the organizations and mail them to Tibbetts Holdings who will forward them accordingly.
c/o Tibbetts Holdings attn: Dan Bowman 695 31st Street South St. Petersburg, FL 33712
Carolyn Pascal, Sport Diver Publisher: Dan will always stand out in our minds as an exceptional industry partner and friend. I say "exceptional partner" because he understood the value of marketing, and getting into the 'nitty- gritty' details of a plan as much as brainstorming the Big Ideas. I say "friend", because we sincerely enjoyed connecting regularly over the years, here and there, with family, friends and business associates all equally welcome. Dan was a true gentleman, with an understated pride in his accomplishments, and an equally dry sense of humor. The industry has lost an important partner much too soon, and many of us will sorely miss our good friend.
