Captain Wayne Hasson
President Aggressor Adventure
Wayne Hasson (1950-2020)
Captain Wayne Hasson was a family man, Marine, SCUBA Diver extraordinaire and instructor, boat captain, pilot, world traveler and true pioneer in the SCUBA diving industry. Wayne was born in Columbus, Ohio, lived in the Cayman Islands for 20 years, then settled in Naples, Florida in 1999. Wayne fell in love with the sea at an early age while living at the Outer Banks of North Carolina. There he learned boating, diving, fishing, and boat building. He studied business and accounting at East Carolina University. Wayne was a proud U.S. Marine serving from 1970 – 1978, including a tour to the Far East supporting operations in Vietnam and service aboard USS Okinawa assisting in the evacuation of Saigon. After the Marines, he moved to the Cayman Islands where he managed “Casa Bertmar” Dive Resort and met his wife Anne.
In 1984, Wayne became the first captain of the new Cayman Aggressor (one of the first liveaboard dive yachts) growing it to become the Aggressor Fleet. The fleet later became an internationally recognized brand and leader in exploratory and expeditionary travel known as Aggressor Adventures, with luxury yachts at the best dive, safari, and river boat locations around the world. Wayne later became partner and President of the new expanded travel company until his passing.
Wayne’s passion was to inspire youth to explore, understand, and respect the ocean and its wildlife through SCUBA diving, ocean education, and conservation. He was also an avid pilot and encouraged countless students of all ages to fly through the Young Eagles program. Wayne served on numerous company boards and business groups, including President of the Cayman Islands Watersports Association, Vice President of the Sister Islands Tourism Association, the Diving Equipment & Marketing Association (DEMA), Board of Directors, Cayman Islands Hurricane Relief Team, the Sea of Change Foundation, Oceans for Youth Foundation, Friends of Rookery Bay, and the Florida Gulf Coast University’s Eagles Club Advisory Board.
Wayne received numerous awards throughout his career, including: Beneath the Sea’s “Legend Award,” “Pioneer Award,” and “Diver of the Year – Environment Award,”; SCUBA Schools International “Platinum Pro 5000 Recognition Award”; Rotary Foundation’s “Paul Harris Fellow Award”; and was inducted into the International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame. Wayne was an active member of the Naples Pelican Bay Rotary Club and the Naples Marine Corps League, E.T. Brisson Detachment, and donated much of his personal time to ocean conservation and civic service.
Sea of Change Lifetime Explorer Award recipients:
2024-Dan Orr
2021-Wayne Hasson
2019-Michele Westmorland
2018-Jean-Michel Cousteau
2017-Guy Harvey
2016-Stephen Frink
2015-Dan Badgley
2014-Doug McNeese
2013-Stan Waterman
