Our friendship has been such an incredible underwater journey of discovery and respect for the ocean, and  now it’s hard to say goodbye . I will miss you every single day I look at the Living Waters of the Caribbean Sea.

When filming sharks you where my safety diver, keeping me safe while capturing images that allow myself to push the moment, the edge. I had the privilege to work together and share many dives, my photography has your underwater soul on them.

RIP my dear fried,  Million  Bubbles

I’m positing this on behalf of my parent’s dear friends Mark and Dorset Farmer:

“As newlyweds on a year-long science expedition to study the algae of the North Atlantic one of our major stops was the BVI. The dive outfit we first connected with was Aquatic Centres. As luck would have it, not long before our arrival George Marlerhad hired a new dive master, Randy Keil.

It was not long before we were fast friends with Randy and his lovely fiancé Maritha. We were truly honored when they invited us to be included in their memorable wedding celebration on Cooper Island. So, we have known Randy and Maritha since before that first day of what would prove to be a long and wonderful marriage together. The only hitch was that Randy lost his wedding ring two days later while recovering an anchor for someone!

Over the years we have learned so much from Randy. It is rare to find someone like him who not only shared our deep love of the ocean and all of its inhabitants but who always made us feel welcome and secure when diving with him. In all those years we think that we may be the only ones who, when asked before a dive what we hoped most to see, answered “algae.” And thuswe earned Randy’s nickname for us, “The algae people.”

But in return Randy earned a nickname from us. Lifelong friend.

With much love, Dorset and Mark (The Algae People)”

I was asked to post this on behalf of our friend Malvie:

“*A Tribute to Randy Keil*

It is with profound respect and heartfelt gratitude that I, Malvie Godfrey, a massage therapist, pay tribute to Randy Keil—a man whose kindness, humility, and warmth left an indelible mark on all who knew him. My journey with Randy began through his beloved wife, Maritha, whom I first met in 2017 at Amara Spa. From our first encounter, a bond of mutual respect and genuine friendship was formed.

Maritha enjoyed my massage therapy sessions so much that she was determined to share the experience with Randy. She set up an appointment for him, and I soon found myself welcomed into their home. Upon arrival, I was greeted by Randy with a warm smile and a helping hand as he assisted Maritha. His dogs, Blue and Bull, were always by his side, adding to the warmth of their household.

Randy, ever the gracious host, offered me a drink as he busied himself in the kitchen, feeding Bull scraps of chicken while explaining that Blue had already eaten. This simple act of care and attention to detail epitomized Randy’s character. Although initially hesitant about the idea of a massage, manicure, and pedicure, Randy soon agreed, convinced by my assurances of the health benefits.

From that day forward, it became a routine. Randy grew to enjoy these sessions, often watching his favorite TV shows or sports channels while I worked. His gentleness and lack of complaints made him a pleasure to serve. Randy's love for Maritha was evident in the small gestures, like playing love songs for her, showcasing a relationship filled with love and mutual respect.

December 2021 brought a period of illness for me, during which Maritha and Randy’s compassion shone brightly. They checked in on me regularly, and one day, they arrived at my door with groceries—more than I could have asked for—demonstrating their boundless generosity and care.

Randy was more than a client; he was a brother and a friend. His presence brought light into my life and the lives of many others. As I reflect on the countless memories shared with Randy, I am comforted by the knowledge that his kindness and spirit will live on in the hearts of those who knew him.

Randy, you have taken your special place in Heaven, and you are greatly missed. Your legacy of love, humility, and kindness will forever be remembered. Rest in peace, dear friend.”

A note to my old friend Randy

When I first arrived to the BVI’s in 1985, at the ripe old age of 23, i was already a certified and experienced divemaster. I had an Ikelite housing and my first Nikon in hand.

 Yet, I was as green as they came…..!

I honestly don’t remember when I first met you Randy. I did not do my dive training with you, nor were we in the same stage of life. Yet somewhere along the way, most likely during the transition from Aquatic Center to Basking in the Sun, I befriended you and Maritha.

I remember we managed to dive from time to time on your tours - you showed me speculator places in detail, helping me create a map in my head that would later help shape my underwater world.

You encouraged me to photograph and add words to a few stories - this is all I needed at the time to guide my restless spirit.

It was not until I joined you on what was my first ever live-aboard dive trip, a trip organized by Maritha and you to The Sea of Cortez aboard the Baja Explorador. It was there where it all clicked for me.                      I mean here we were doing some seriously amazing stuff!

I filmed the trip including schooling hammerheads, sea lion colonies, mantas and more and of course, I included all of the guests. You both graciously allowed me to market this video to all aboard helping me underwrite my trip. And just like that, with a seed of hope, professional encouragement our long time friendship was forged. I was hooked now more than ever and with a “quasi” business plan!

I never looked back!

You later invited me to the Bahamas aboard the Dolphin Dream and together we discovered swimming and interacting day after day with huge pods of Spotted Dolphins. A few years later I joined you on what is still for many that greatest wildlife destination of all - The Galapagos Islands. This expedition was simply life altering experience. 

Randy, you taught me one thing for sure- Never say no to a trip. Travel now, pay later! and so, I did.

These were great trips, full of adventure in a time when traveling across the world was still not available to all yet you made these available to me.

My first professional photo essay for the BVI Welcome Magazine, was sparked by an idea you put in my head Randy. The idea was simple. Take some pictures, write a good story and get a paycheck for it.           Who would have known that first $50 cover would guide the rest of my life.

I guess what I am trying to convey, is that all of these adventures, trips, Spaghetti / Slide Show diners at your home and years of laughter, cemented our friendship forever. Meeting you Randy, and without any doubt sparked a seed in me, a seed that is still there. 

Thank you my good friend, your passing saddens greatly...

Yet your smile, laughter and approach to living lives on with Maritha and in the lives of Lauren and Austin.

It would be an understatement to reiterate that the people we meet along our lives, those that inspire us the most and those that give us opportunities beyond benefit to themselves, are the most important and influential people we will ever encounter. Randy to me, is one of those people.                                                                      I will always hold the 20 years I lived in the BVI, diving, sailing, writing and photographing &  exploring  all the while a close friend to Randy and his family as the most important and formative period in my life.

mauricio- 

For two young kids growing up in the BVI, Randy Keil will forever be a legend.  The stories he would tell at the Keil dining room table were inspiring and incredible to hear.  I don't know what was better, to hear Randy tell them, or to hear others tell those stories!  For Tom and I, Randy was always a unique adult because he cared so deeply about the environment and marine life and always had time for you if you had questions or an interest in exploring it.  As a kid, to have the attention of an adult (and one as legendary as Randy) made us feel very important!  Randy instilled within both of us a deep respect for the ocean and what an incredible privilege it was (and is) to have such unfettered access to one of the most beautiful diving spots in the world. Randy never got tired of talking about the water, and no matter if it was your first dive (and his 100th), he would listen to your experience with so much excitement and rapture, making you feel like the most important person in the room.  Randy's love of the ocean and his family were the two biggest loves of his life and nothing ever surpassed them.  Now that we are adults ourselves, Tom and I will forever be grateful to have had a role model in Randy, who showed us that no matter what, we have everything we need, family is always the most important thing, and the world surrounding us is beautiful.  Let's aim to be as content with life as Randy.

Lots of love to Maritha, Lauren and Austin,

Chrissie, Tom, Layla and Lowen xxxxoooo

For Randy Keil:

I mainly knew Randy from being at Chandler School in Pasadena CA from 1978 and into the 80’s till he married Maritha and moved to BVI. His wife, Maritha, and I taught physical education at Chandler together and knew each other before that playing basketball in college. So during my time at Chandler, with Randy and Maritha, we all spent a lot of time out on the field. Maritha and I did the girls PE and Randy, (along with Mike Cotton, Mick MacQuoid and Chuck MacQuoid… Mac’s sons) would be working with the boys. But… on Fridays… we would do PE together and play the Chandler version of “Capture the Flag” using nerf footballs and flags. ALL THE COACHES would play with the kids. They all truly loved when Randy would play. They would always try and catch him and pull his flag off. Doing these games with their teacher really endeared the students to Randy!!!

I had the blessing of substituting for Randy’s 3rd grade class over the years. It was a nice change of pace for me… but they would rather have had…FUN Mr Keil!!! I also wondered why, a very healthy teacher, could miss some teaching time. Later I learned he probably was on some military mission of some sort. He had an amazing and surprising background!!! None of us knew.

Just like all the students… I loved being around Randy. Everyone loved him. I was slightly mad at Maritha for stealing him away from Chandler to go to BVI. Haaaa!!! Smart girl!!

About 6 years ago, Ross and I were able to see Randy and Maritha again in BVI (and saw Lauren for the first time since she visited in CA with our daughter Heidi, as babies.). We really enjoyed having that special time to catch up. We spent some great dinners and an amazing boat and snorkel trip together!!! Randy really knew what he was doing.

We are thankful and blessed to have known Randy, and meet their amazing family. May God bless you all as we remember this loving father, husband and caring man.

Ross and Tammy Jutsum 

For my family and me, words are simply insufficient to capture Randy’s impact on everyone he met, but especially on those of us who had the privilege to be included in his underwater world. Randy inspired us – his spirit, love of family, knowledge of and respect for the ocean, unending excitement and enthusiasm for diving, expertise and experience, and combination of care and toughness. He was a super hero with scuba gear and the Apache. He was the best – a terrific teacher and now a legend in the BVI.

Mimi and I first went diving with Randy in 1989 at Baskin in the Sun out of Prospect Reef and continued as he moved to Peter Island and ultimately established Paradise Watersports. For almost 30 years, Randy guided our diving journey, passing along his excitement for diving and respect for the ocean and its creatures and pushing us to be better divers.

We have so many wonderful and lasting memories of diving with Randy. There was that amazing night dive on the Rhone where everything Randy described in the pre-dive briefing actually occurred – the free swimming eel that caught a fish and tied itself in a knot to jam the fish down its throat, the rays swimming through our lights, a platoon of squid, bioluminescence – it seemed like Randy was directing a movie. After those night dives, we often sat in the shop, drinking warm Bailey’s or other beverages, while waiting for the ferry back to Tortola from Peter Island. Then there was the time we crawled around Santa Monica Rock after getting smacked by an unexpected current. We also loved Randy’s fish count dives – he was always teaching.

Of course, we were thrilled to join Randy, Maritha, and Lauren on a trip to the Galapagos Islands. Frankly, we were uncertain and maybe a little scared about the level of diving needed for this trip, but Randy had confidence in us and we knew he would be there to help us and keep us safe. That is what Randy did – giving all of us experiences of a lifetime and making life-long memories.

As he has for so many, Randy passed on his passion for diving and love for the ocean to our son Matt, who became a dive instructor and spent almost 8 years in the BVI. In so many ways, Randy’s influence is present every time Matt teaches or certifies a student or leads a dive, including using his slate to identify even the smallest creatures.

Randy will live-on in our hearts and memories, and his love and legacy will be carried on by Maritha, Lauren, and Austin. Thank you so very much for sharing Randy with all of us.  Rest in peace and love, Randy.