Diver Dan

For several years I lived alone on "Little Stirrup Cay",

a secluded little island about a mile long and 1/3 of a mile wide in the northwest Berry Islands (map) of the Bahamas (map) about 55 miles south of Freeport, and 55 miles north of Nassau. (A message in a bottle came from Latitude: 26' 01.37N, Longitude: 078' 21.06W, although GeoCaching.com points to a more accurate N 25° 49.057, W 077° 56.201) I lived as caretaker of the island for a friend of mine who owned the island.

When I lived there between 1980 and 1985, I lived in a thatched hut, cooked over a campfire, ate coconuts, lemons, turtlegrass seaweed, and whatever fish, sharks, stingrays, and lobster I could spear,

and basically lived like Robinson Crusoe.

Most of the time I wore a Tarzan loincloth,

and my hair got bleached really blonde

from the sun and salt water.

In 1985, I went back and managed the Out-Island Activities department for Eastern/Admiral Cruise Lines through 1987. I lived on both Little Stirrup Cay, as well as onboard the cruise ship the S.S. Emerald Seas. During this time, I bought six peacocks for the island, and ran a crew of 7 divers and about a dozen Bahamians and Haitians who worked on the island with us. Since I was a PADI diver and an SSI Scuba Instructor, I was known as "Diver Dan".

Some of my underwater friends

Since then, the cruise lines has bought the island and they've renamed it Cocoa Cay. I understand they have also remodeled the island and tried to create an inner harbor - From what I have heard, it has almost caused the island to erode in half. Maybe you've visited it on a cruise on the S.S. Emerald Seas or more recently with Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines? If you were a passenger on one of the 200+ cruises I was on from 1985-1987, or if you have recently visited Little Stirrup Cay (Cocoa Cay), please drop me an e-mail to just say "Hi!" and send photos or recollections of the island!

History of the S.S. Emerald Seas:

An unusual looking ship at various stages of her career, the Atlantis was originally built in Kearny, NJ in 1944 as the wartime troopship General W.P. Richardson.
She was rebuilt after the war as the American Export Lines' La Guardia, for services from the US to the Mediterranean. She was not very successful, being very expensive to operate.
After further trooping to Korea in the 1950s, and a period as Hawaiian Textron Lines' Leilani, she was sold to American President Lines as the President Roosevelt.
In 1970 she was bought by Chandris Lines who cut her down to two decks above the waterline before completely rebuilding the upper hull and superstructure.
She began cruising out of New York as the Atlantis, but was again found to be too expensive to operate.
In 1972 she was sold to Eastern Steamship Lines as the S.S. Emerald Seas in exchange for their Ariadne, which moved to Chandris Lines to become their Bon Vivant.
Eastern Steamship Lines, became Eastern Cruise Lines, then in 1986 changed names again to Admiral Cruise Line, both times with changes in funnel colors.
Admiral Cruise Line was acquired by Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, who disbanded the company and disposed of the older ships, including the Emerald Seas in 1992.
She operated as a hotel ship in various ports, including a short spell in Lisbon for their Expo '98 as the Ocean Explorer I.
According to Captain Daniel Zenicazelaya, someone told him that the S.S. Emerald Seas was cemented somewhere in Greece as a hotel, although he was not sure how accurate this information was.
The most recent news of the S.S. Emerald Seas according to Captain Daniel Zenicazelaya from a reliable source (Oct 2004): "The news about the fate of the Emerald Seas is very sad. She was sold to an Indian company for scrap metal. The Indian Engineers who came to Greece could not start the Engine Rooms and they asked for the help of Mr. John Skoularikis (1st Assistant Engineer). Right now she must be on her way to India..."
Here is a pdf document with the last known photo of the SS Emerald Seas in the process of being dismantled (photo in lower right hand corner). Recognize the blue and red smoke stacks? Sad picture for those of us who knew and loved her well.
Here is a page that gives the history of the S.S. Emerald Seas throughout her life.

Update on Crewmembers of the SS Emerald Seas:

Neil Ruzic, previous owner of Little Stirrup Cay and OutIsland Adventures, wrote a fictional book entitled "The Shallow Sea" in 1992 that was loosely based on our early adventures on Little Stirrup Cay between 1979-1987. Neil Ruzic died of cancer on Tuesday, January 20, 2004 in Michigan City, IN.
Dan Meyer ("Diver Dan"), former Manager of Little Stirrup Cay and Out-Island Adventures is a happily married and living in Hartselle, AL and working as a professional sword swallower/fire-eater performing on TV for programs such as America's Got Talent, and doing motivational/inspirational speaking events at colleges, universities, churches, youth conventions, Upward Awards Celebrations, and science/medical events around the world.
Jeff Lyons ("SeaLyon"), Assistant Manager of Little Stirrup Cay and OutIsland Adventures ('85-'86) is married to his wife Sue and raising their 3 children in Asheville, NC.
Pirate Philip Daye Jr. ("Blackbeard the Pirate") ('85-'87) lives in Boca Raton, FL, and got married on January 3, 2004 to his beautiful wife Shirley.
Diver Jon Foege ("Johnny Spin-hard Drano") ('86) lives in South Florida and sells art with his wife Carmen on cruise ships.
Diver Ray Bellarosa ('87) lives with his wife and children in New Jersey.
Diver Erik Neugaard ('86/'87) completed his MS in marine biology, has 3 sons and a daughter, and is a Lead Environmental Scientist in Ft. Lauderdale.
Diver Chris Brown is married and lives in Michigan with his 6 children.
Cruise Directors Jody Rapchik and Randy Gaughn are living in Florida with their daughter Brooklyn.
Keyboard player Mo Hubbard was known to be living in Asheville, NC playing piano at Grove Park Inn, and then relocated to Memphis, TN.
Steel Drum player Bill Bonaparte passed away in 2004.
Comedian Greg Davidson is based in Atlanta, GA and does comedy and motivational/inspirational speaking seminars around the country.
Comedian Dale Irvin lives in Downers Grove, IL and continues to do comedy and speaking engagements.
DJ Bob Leininger worked as Asst Cruise Director and Cruise Director on several other ships, and is currently writing a book on cruise ship life.
Captain Daniel Zenicazelaya originally from Madrid, Spain is now retired and living in Nassau, Bahamas.
Kip King, Chief Mate on Bridge of the Emerald Seas left the Emerald Seas in 1990, retired from cargo ships in 1993, became a Port Everglades pilot, and then re-retired and moved to Montana.
Kathy Rathgaber, who used to be the Staff Captain is now a Pilot in Alaska.
Sue York ("Nurse Susan") is now Sue Dean, married and living in Hawaii with a son - her email is skydean@hotmail.com
Manuel Rivas and Carlos Bouzon are both working for Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines.
Lisa Doran (Purser's Office) is married to Miguel Canda and they live in Miami - her email is Batplmiami@aol.com
Kristy Peterson Duritsch is married and living in Middletown, Fairfield, Ohio.
Anyone know what has happened to Asst Cruise Director Gil Seville, Diver Mark Yandel, Entertainer Bonnie Earl, or Singer/Dancer CC Carolyn Clark? If so, drop me an e-mail!