This year’s inductees into the International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame (ISDHF) will have to wait to be recognized for their accomplishments due to COVID-19 travel restrictions.

The ISDHF’s 20th-anniversary induction was originally to take place September 25, 2020, in the Cayman Islands, but Cayman’s borders will be closed until October 1, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The ISDHF Board of Directors and the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism have decided to postpone the induction ceremony “to ensure a proper in-person celebration can be held on-island for the Class of 2020 inductees,” according to a Department of Tourism press release.

“While this year’s ceremony was set to be a milestone for the ISDHF, the health and safety of our honorees, guests and staff is our highest priority, and we are following the recommendations of health experts to postpone the gathering,” Hon. Minister of Tourism Moses Kirkconnell says in the release.

The induction will now be held in September 2021 in Grand Cayman.

To ensure the spotlight shines brightly on the Class of 2020, the ISDHF will not choose additional inductees in 2021.

“We look forward to applauding their lifetime achievements safely in person next year,” Kirkconnell says. "Our celebration in 2021 will be even more special and sincerely worth the wait.”

The ISDHF was established in 2000 by the Cayman Islands Ministry of Tourism. It recognizes dive industry leaders from around the globe who have contributed to the advancement and innovation of scuba diving sectors including tourism, equipment, safety, inclusivity, exploration, promotion, and more.

There are four inductees in the Class of 2020: Tom Ingram, president of DEMA; Jill Heinerth, a cave-diving trailblazer and filmmaker; Jim Gatacre, founder of the Handicapped Scuba Association; and Avi Klapfer, a pioneer in exploring and protecting Cocos Island.

Including this year’s class, there have been over 100 inductees into the IDHOF, including artists Guy Harvey and Wyland, aquanauts Zale Parry and Sylvia Earle, engineer Bob Hollis, and actor Lloyd Bridges.