Bonaire Bids Farewell to Diving Legend and Island Icon, Captain Don Stewart
It is with much sadness that we report the passing of Captain Don Stewart today. Captain Don was a legend and pioneer of diving tourism on Bonaire.
To many, Captain Don was synonymous with Bonaire diving. After his arrival on Bonaire, 52 years ago just last week, he pioneered diving tourism on the island. After introducing dive tourism to several resorts, he founded Captain Don’s Habitat, now one of the island’s premier dive resorts.
It was through Captain Don’s efforts to begin conservation of Bonaire’s reefs that the mooring system began in the late 1980s. In fact, this system became the benchmark for marine parks all over the world. Furthermore, Captain Don led the campaign to ban spearfishing on Bonaire.
His accolades are many over the years, and in 2005 he was inducted into the International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame. Bonaire will surely miss this man who spent so many years of his life in support of Bonaire. Our heartfelt condolences go out to Janet Thibault, Don’s “first mate” in life. Good bye, Don, rest in peace, and thank you for all you have done. (Source: Bonaire Insider Reporter)
Posted by Susan Davis on May 28, 2014 at 4:21pm AST
People • Permalink
