Diving Pioneer Passes Away

[Dave Dillehay]

I just got word that Bill Horn (of Aqua Safari) passed away this week. As of now we do not know the cause. He was indeed a Cozumel pioneer, like Dive Paradise, and even predated my arrival.

Dave Dillehay

 

[ggunn]

I just got word that Bill Horn (of Aqua Safari) passed away this week. As of now we do not know the cause. He was indeed a Cozumel pioneer, like Dive Paradise, and even predated my arrival.

Dave Dillehay

I heard of him but never met him. Sad news.

 

[Dave Dillehay]

As best I know, Bill had a very curious backstory. The Aqua Safari business was started by a relative and then turned over to a young Bill, who was a US Citizen at the time. Early on, he was in the US and trying to return to Cozumel but there was a big problem with immigration and he had to give up his US citizen ship to reenter Mexico where his business was...at least that is as the story goes. Then Dave Dillehay comes along with Aldora, and not only does he raise the bar of service, but retained his US citizenship. Then the big three were Dive Paradise, Aqua Safari and Aldora.

As best I recall he hated my guts and was terribly rude every chance he got. Eventually he accepted that I was going to be a competitor and in later years was occasionally polite to me and smiled. After he sold Aqua Safari he became almost genial as I was no longer a competitor. I held no ill will then nor I do now.

I still have no idea for the cause of his demise, but maybe some other locals can fill us all in.

Dave Dillehay

 

[Diver#336]

Sad to hear this. Had dinner with Bill once during my one of my solo diving trips to Cozumel. He told me lengthy stories of the history diving in Cozumel and of his diving company.

R I P Bill

 

[Alan P]

I just got word that Bill Horn (of Aqua Safari) passed away this week. As of now we do not know the cause. He was indeed a Cozumel pioneer, like Dive Paradise, and even predated my arrival.

Dave Dillehay

I met him once at that breakfast place on fifth that has since closed. RIP

 

[arkstorm]

About 15 years ago, my dad had a dive accident (DCI/AGE) while diving with Aqua Safari which led to ten consecutive days of chamber rides.

Bill was there every time my dad entered and exited the chamber and was also very compassionate towards my mother who was freaking out.

He had meals with us and seemed to genuinely care for what my family was going through which was not fun.

I remember him very fondly and am very sad to hear the news that he passed.

He was a good man.