14 replies to this topic

[Nitrogen Jones]

I just got an email from his son Casey Smith that Larry passed away last night in a Sorong hospital. According to Casey, he had been fighting an infection, and had to be med-evaced from the Fak Fak to Sorong. He will be missed greatly.

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[okuma]

I am sorry to post that Larry Smith passed away today in Sorong, Indonesia due to a heart attack.

Those of you that have met and dived with Larry over the years will know of the void his passing leaves in the diving community.

"Just follow the big yellow fins"

I will be in booth #200 at BTS show this week end and booth #223 next week at Houston Sea Space.

Allan Jones
North American Representative
Adventure H2O

[docrobina]

I am sorry to post that Larry Smith passed away today in Sorong, Indonesia due to a heart attack.

Those of you that have met and dived with Larry over the years will know of the void his passing leaves in the diving community.

"Just follow the big yellow fins"

I will be in booth #200 at BTS show this week end and booth #223 next week at Houston Sea Space.

Allan Jones
North American Representative
Adventure H2O

Allan, I also learned this afternoon of Larry's passing. Larry's exuberance and enthusiasm for diving were unparalleled. He is already sadly missed.

Robin

[onokai]

Allan, I also learned this afternoon of Larry's passing. Larry's exuberance and enthusiasm for diving were unparalleled. He is already sadly missed.

Robin

This is really more bad news-He will be missed. Mark

[davephdv]

Sorry to here this. I went on a trip with him once and he was a great guide and diver.

[Drew]

Larry's enthuasiasm and wisdom will be sorely missed by many. Thanks for posting Allan and Yung. We'd heard of Larry's passing but held off until his family was notified and it seems Dewi, his wife, is away on holiday and still does not know.
As a tribute to Larry, Wetpixel will be putting together a page dedicated to Larry. For those interested in contributing their own words and experiences with Larry, please use a private message or email to Eric Cheng : http://wetpixel.com/contacteric/.
Having known Larry for such a long time, I do send my very deepest condolescences to his family in Indonesia and the US. We will report more as more information comes in.

[Drew]

The latest news is that Larry's body is being shipped from Sorong to Bali today(Mar 21st). As of yet, his wife and daughter, Dewi and Breezy, are on holiday in Java and cannot be reached.

[frogfish]

I've just been told that Dewi and Breezy, Larry's wife and daughter, were contacted in Java, where they were visiting relatives over the Nyepi holiday, and will be returning to Bali tomorrow.

I'm pulling together some photographs of Larry. I'm not sure exactly what we will do with them, but if you have one (or more) shots of Larry that you like to have included, please contact me by private wetpixel message or by email.

Robert Delfs

[okuma]

Larry's son, in conjunction with his state side accountant, is setting up a trust fund.

I'll post details when it is established.

Allan Jones

[echeng]

I've updated the front page article with photos and some of the letters that have been coming in:

http://wetpixel.com/...ll/larry-smith/

[seagrant]

I have close friends that were on this recent trip when Larry passed. It is hard on them - but at least Larry had some good friends with him.

But then I think Larry has a lot of good friends!! It is a measure of the person and how they have lived their life, how many friends he/she has.......

I met Larry at DEMA but never got to dive with him. I'm sorry for the loss of him, but his contributions will remain.

Best Wishes & Condolences to his family and friends,

Carol

[harryk]

Like many others I am touched and saddened by Larry's death and offer my condolences and thoughts to his family and friends.

I met Larry in 2000 on a Pelagian trip to Komodo. Certainly one of the best divemasters in the world, he left a lasting impression on me with his enthusiasm for diving and devotion to his guests. I have memories of 3 special dives on that trip. On one dive a lens popped out of my mask, so I was going to abort the dive and started to ascend when Larry grabbed me and offered me his mask so I could complete the dive. He wore my mask with one lens for the rest of the dive. I couldn't believe he would that for me. One night we went for a dive to see flashlight fish. Larry took us to the spot and we turned off our lights. Magically, as if on cue, a swarm of twinkling fish appeared in a coralhead in front of us and then flowed past us into the night. I swear Larry could find anything underwater! My favorite memory of Larry was another night dive when I asked him to find a Spanish Dancer (one of the animals on my wishlist). We went down and he wrapped my arm around his (his trademark arm lock) leading me on a tour of the site. He found 5 Spanish Dancers in about 15 minutes.

He made huge contributions to muck and liveaboard diving and inspired divers everywhere. He was an extraordinary person and a legend among dive professionals. I was privileged to meet him and wish I had taken another trip with him. It is a terrible loss.

The outpouring of love and tributes from friends all over the world is a deserved honor in celebration of a remarkable life. He will be missed, but never forgotten.

Rest in peace, Larry (hopefully, at your favorite divesite).

[frogfish]

There will be a cremation service for Larry on Sunday at Taman Mumbul in Bali on Sunday March 25 at 1:00 pm.

The address is :

Vasa Setra Mandala Mumbul
Jl. Bypass Ngurah Rai, Nusa Dua
(near the Chinese graveyard).

Friends of Larry will be gathering after the ceremony. Details about
that will be forthcoming later, or at the ceremony.

It's understood that wetpixell readers in the region are likely to be able to participate in this service, but we wanted to get the word out as widely as possible.


Robert Delfs

[echeng]

A fund has been established for Dewi and Breezy, Larry's wife and daughter. More information here:

http://wetpixel.com/...ll/larry-smith/

Also, there will be a memorial gathering this weekend at SeaSpace in Houston:

http://wetpixel.com/...th-at-seaspace/

[echeng]

I've updated the memorial page with an official obituary sent by Larry's family, as well as more stories and images.