Anyone who is familiar with Grand Cayman has likely heard the name Ron Kipp. The man did in Hollywood what most of us only hear about. Fed up with the 1980s corporate world, he left a high-paying job at IBM and bought a dive shop in Grand Cayman: Bob Soto’s Diving Ltd.

During Kipp’s reign as owner (1980 to 2001), his dive shop employed 200 divemasters. (Full disclosure: I joined the team in 2003, and they were still talking about him.) In that 21-year period, the staff tallied 10 marriages (seven divorces), three children and more than 595,000 dives. Kipp has been part of Grand Cayman’s dive scene for decades. Needless to say, the man has quite the logbook.

From the staff-family Christmas parties hosted at his home (once it was held during a nasty Nor’wester) to his work with scuba-diving legend Jean-Michel Cousteau, and photo icons Paul Tzimoulis and Geri Murphy Tzimoulis of Skin Diver fame, Kipp has enough water-logged memories to write a book.

Thankfully for those who love reading dive tales, Kipp has done just that: From “Big Blue” to the Deep Blue was released last fall.
An easy read (your buddy could steal it and return it the next day fully finished), it’s part memoir, part rare gift. The book taps into the legendary diving history of Grand Cayman from the voice of the man who lived it. The book examines the early days of scuba diving, inserts anecdotes about some of the industry’s most respected pioneers, and includes tons of pictures as proof that it all happened.

From “Big Blue” to the Deep Blue ($26.96) is available on amazon.com and at local Cayman retail stores.

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After more than three decades of living on the island, Kipp knows his stuff when it comes to top picks for where to dive, eat and have a beer.

Favorite dive site (North End): Eagle Ray Pass — you always see rays.

Favorite dive site (West End): Trinity Caves is my all-time favorite. Take Tunnel No. 2 out to the wall and turn left at the orange sponge. Follow the wall on your left, and enter the Cathedral from the rear. It’s beautiful, draped by black coral on all the sides. Enter through a big opening to the wall that drops straight to 5,000 feet. Great photo opportunity; I do not think it has even been captured. Be the first!

Favorite dive site (East/South): Iron Shore Gardens. This is a shallow dive with unbelievable caves and tunnels.

Favorite spot for a post-dive meal: Sunshine Grill at the Sunshine Suites. They have the best lunch burger in town.

Favorite spot for a post-dive beer: Any place that has my favorite: free and cold.

Favorite thing to do on Grand Cayman (besides diving)? I don't know. I always liked to work.

For more on Ron Kipp and From “Big Blue” to the Deep Blue: How I Jumped Off the Corporate Ladder at IBM and Into My Dream of Owning a Cayman Islands Dive Center, visit ronkipp.com.