The PSA’s were shot on location at Sunset House in Grand Cayman, site of fantastic shore diving. Videographer Tony Mark of the Cathy Church Photo Centre donated time, skill and equipment; Dan Orr lent his well-earned reputation and on-camera talent to the cause.
Dan Orr stars in “Share Our Seas” Public Service Announcements to be televised in the Cayman Islands
This fall the Cayman Islands Tourism Association (CITA) will launch a campaign called “Share Our Seas” featuring a series of televised public service announcements aimed at raising awareness of diver safety and marine conservation among residents and visitors. The on-camera star of the PSAs is dive industry legend Dan Orr who until recently was the driving force behind the Divers Alert Network (DAN) for decades, until forming Dan Orr Consulting. Videotaped on location at Sunset House in early September, the recognized industry ambassador for diver safety will be reminding locals and visitors to the Cayman Islands about basic safety in the ocean.
“The PSA’s are important because you have to continually remind divers about safety,” said Orr. “It’s importance to have a regular physical, especially after 35, or any time there is a health related change in your life.”
In addition to staying physically fit for diving, Orr will be reminding divers to observe other safety measures such as having proper scuba certifications, refreshing their dive skills, getting a proper medical clearance, ensuring their dive gear is in proper condition and doing complete buddy checks.
“There’s no one even close that walks the walk that Dan does on diver safety,” said Sunset House General Manager Keith Sahm who has been Orr’s dive buddy and knows first-hand how safety conscious he is. “Dan looked at me eye to eye, and we did a complete check list – he’s a true, true buddy.”
After his departure from Divers Alert Network was announced, Sahm and his wife Karin invited Dan Orr and his wife Betty to enjoy a week of complimentary accommodations and diving at Sunset House.
“This is our way to say ‘thank-you’ to the pioneer of diver safety,” he said. “Diver’s Alert Network and DAN Insurance are vital to resorts like Sunset House. If there are any questions about whether someone is at risk diving, we can call DAN and talk to their team of medical professionals who give us good advice and take away the guess work.”
CITA’s watersports members have long wanted to be more proactive in raising awareness of ocean safety and marine conservation among visitors and the decision was made earlier this summer to produce public service announcements. With Orr on the island for his dive vacation, Sahm, a CITA board member, saw the perfect opportunity to get the PSA’s shot. He enlisted the services of in-house videographer Tony Mark of the Cathy Church Photo Centre and asked Dan Orr to help out.
Safety Ambassador for the international dive industry Dan Orr is the on-camera messenger on a series of public service announcements promoting watersports safety and ocean conservation.
Through the PSA’s resident and visitors will also be reminded to respect the marine environment, not litter and clean up trash when they come across it. Divers will be asked to be responsible when culling lionfish and dispose of the fish properly. People will be reminded to stay within the 200-yard marker when swimming, use a flag when diving and snorkeling and remind those on powered watercraft to be respectful of dive flags and buoys.
CITA plans to launch the public service announcements at the Underwater Film Festival on November 13, 2013. The association hopes to have them aired in theaters, on local TV and radio, plus in-house TV channels at all major hotels. CITA will also promote the PSAs through social media.
As he reflects on a career that spanned 50 years, Dan Orr is proud of his body of work and hopes it’s had an everlasting impact on diver safety. Doing these PSA’s for the Cayman Islands, which he first visited in 1960, allows him to keep getting the word out in a destination that prides itself on diver safety.
“I love the Cayman Islands!” he said. “Easy access, fantastic diving – as good as you are going to find any where else in the world.”
About Sunset House
Sunset House/Sunset Divers has been welcoming divers to the Cayman Islands for more than 55 years. It is the only resort in the Cayman Islands, designed by divers, operated by divers, for divers. It’s also the only resort on Grand Cayman that has its own coral reef, with modern and ancient shipwrecks in shallow water right off shore. Underwater visibility on Sunset House’s reef can exceed 200 feet, and a remarkable variety of marine life to be seen there. Our own spectacular 9’ bronze sculpture of the mermaid Amphitrite is one of the most popular shore dive sites in the world.
The resort features 52 guest rooms, including 16 deluxe Oceanview rooms, 2 spacious suites and 2 apartments with full kitchenettes. All rooms are air-conditioned, with phones and private baths. Free Hi-Speed Wireless Internet can be accessed throughout the property and a convenient computer station is located in the lobby. SeaHarvest Restaurant offers full menus for some of the healthiest breakfasts, lunch and dinners around and is famous for its East Indian menu. My Bar a popular hangout for both locals and visitors, has been voted “Best in the Caribbean” by Caribbean Travel and Life and the Best of Cayman. Sunset House also features an inviting seaside fresh water swimming pool.
For information or reservations
Call Toll Free: (800) 854-4767
On Grand Cayman: 345-949-7111
Web: www.sunsethouse.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/sunsethousecayman Twitter: www.twitter.com/sunsethouse
