Daytime speakers

This presentation will expose the audience to the work and impact of Project Recover. Their mission is to locate and repatriate Americans missing in action (MIA) from our previous wars. There are more than 81,000 American MIAs and five million Gold Star MIA family members waiting for answers to what happened to their loved ones so that they can find healing and closure. Project Recover executes the entire mission set of research, search, documentation, and recovery in both the terrestrial and underwater environments. Their entire mission will be explored highlighting, challenges, success, and the impact around the world.

Derek Abbey, Ph.D. spent 23 years in the United States Marine Corps, serving as an enlisted Marine and an officer, both on the ground and in the air. This included serving as an F/A-18 aviator and in the special operations community. He has been a member of Project Recover for more than 20 years and currently serves as the President and Chief Executive Officer. Beyond his work with Project Recover, he supports several efforts and non-profits in support of the military population across the United States. He lives in Bend, Oregon.

Oceans do not recognize political borders, so we must work internationally to affect real change.” In this presentation, we will explore the critical role of international treaties in ocean protection. We'll discuss groundbreaking agreements like the High Seas Treaty, aimed at conserving biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction, CITES, which regulates trade in endangered species, and the International Plastics Treaty, which seeks to curb plastic pollution across global waters. Discover how these treaties collaborate to safeguard our oceans and why international cooperation is key to addressing the urgent challenges threatening marine ecosystems today.

While attending medical school, she took a year off to work as the Latin American representative for the Cousteau Society, which shifted the course of her career. For 20 years, she collaborated with Jay Ireland, creating an extensive underwater image database, judging international competitions, and contributing to hundreds of articles, books, and calendars. Witnessing the rapid deterioration of the oceans, she co-founded Sea Save Foundation to address these urgent challenges. In 2022, she earned a master's degree in CITES and has been actively involved in CITES and United Nations meetings for the past 20 years, advocating for marine conservation globally.

I’ve spent over a decade helping divers make underwater images, while continuing to hone my own craft; I’ve spent the last few months doing a deep dive into the hard drives of another - a Sea Rover, accomplished diver and explorer, photographer, and friend - Captain Joe Mazraani, who passed away July 29th, 2025. I have learned much from my journey into Joe’s images about growth as a photographer and the intersection of exploration, art, and legacy.  Join me in discussing why imaging in exploration matters and how to maximize the impact of your work.   

              Raised on wreck diving and photography Becca Boring has been the Operations Manager of Backscatter Underwater Video & Photo for the last decade. She is passionate about documenting and helping others capture the beauty of the underwater world and has a particular fondness for the wrecks of the Pacific.

During World War II, the Gulf of Finland and the Baltic Sea became the site of a fierce underwater war between the Allies (mainly the Soviet Union) on one side, and Germany and Finland on the other. Since that time, 24 Soviet submarines that went out on patrol have been missing in action up until the present day. The presentation will cover the main historical events surrounding this battle, the process of searching for, discovering, and surveying these submarines by a local search team (18 subs were found and successfully identified over a course of 10 years), and will feature a short documentary film (15 minutes) about the final mission of one of the most successful submarines.

Ivan has been diving for 20 years and hold certifications like TDI Advanced Trimix, GUE Tech2+/Cave2/CCR, etc. Over the last 10 years, he was a key member of an exploration team in the Baltic Sea region, where they discovered and identified around 50 new wrecks. These included the famous wooden battleship "Lefort", 18 Soviet WWII-era submarines that were missing for nearly 80 years, and many other fascinating finds.

Developing safe, sound, and proficient diving plans for operations in remote locations requires a comprehensive understanding and addressing of the specific challenges and associated risks.
Given the distance from advanced medical care facilities, ensuring the health and safety of the diving team in remote locations is a top priority.
The diving support available on-site could be minimal or inadequate. A critical point is the quality of breathable gas.
Another important thing is obeying local rules, laws, and regulations. Diving fees could be needed.

Dr. Giorgio Caramanna is a geologist and a professional diver with over 30 years of diving experience in many challenging environments.
In 2018, the International Academy of Underwater Sciences and Techniques awarded him the “Golden Trident.” He is currently a member of the Academy's board of directors.
Giorgio is an instructor of the Diving Program of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (MA, USA). He is also the author of “Risk Management for Diving Operations,” a textbook for WHOI's Dive Leadership, the Alvin scientific submersible pilots training, and the University of Helsinki (Finland) Scientific Diving training.

Rescuing and Researching the Ocean Sunfish, Mola mola, in New England waters. The New England Coastal Wildlife Alliance (NECWA) responds to ocean sunfish (Mola mola) strandings along the shores of New England. Each fall, healthy juvenile ocean sunfish become trapped inside Cape Cod Bay and surrounding areas as they migrate south to warmer wintering areas. Stranding numbers have increased since 2008 with over 150 strandings documented in 2024. NECWA rescues live ocean sunfish by towing them back into deeper water and necropsies dead animals that wash ashore. This work is helping expand our knowledge on the biology and ecology of an unusual looking “marine misfit” that summers off New England.

Carol “Krill” Carson is a marine biologist who has worked in the New England areas since 1980. Krill is the founder and President of NECWA, an all-volunteer nonprofit based in Southeastern MA. Krill works with the community on many of NECWA’s projects and oversees NECWA’s internship program for high school and college students.

Paul Cater Deaton is an award-winning Writer, Producer, Director and Cinematographer. Based in Galveston, he works all over the world on film, TV, music video and documentary projects.

He is a member of Boston Sea Rovers, Television Academy, Explorers Club, Historical Diving Society and American Advertising Federation. Credits include The Travel Channel, Discovery Channel, HBO Documentaries and The Amazing Race.

He is a NAUI SCUBA Instructor and TDI Nitrox and Rebreather diver. Certified in Global Shark Biology, Biodiversity and Conservation by Cornell University and the University of Queensland. He was named a Philippines Specialist by the Philippines Department of Tourism.

Exploration isn’t limited to distant oceans or polar frontiers—it begins in our own backyards. In August 2025, a team of Canadian divers made the first descent on a virgin deep-water schooner off Toronto, a wreck never before visited by divers. This expedition illustrates how disciplined planning transforms curiosity into discovery. The presentation highlights the four pillars of exploration—vision, preparation, flexibility, and documentation—through the lens of this first dive. Attendees will see how thoughtful planning not only enables technical projects, but also fosters a mindset of exploration that can be applied to any dive site, at any depth.

Diving since 2002, Heison Chak has explored Great Lakes shipwrecks and Florida’s submerged caves, uncovering hidden histories beneath the water. Passionate about mentoring divers, he provides training that opens pathways into technical and cave diving. Heison served on the 2023 and 2025 NAUI Technical Subcommittee and currently leads as President of the Ontario Underwater Council and Standards Trustee for GUE. Through his involvement with NAUI and DAN instructor training programs, he is committed to advancing dive safety, nurturing leadership, and inspiring the next generation of divers to approach exploration with curiosity, discipline, and a sense of discovery.

Managing a Diving Injury in remote locations can be a significant challenge. An overview of  these challenges will be illustrated using  real world dive injury cases. Outlined in the discussion will be appropriate considerations when preparing for your next dive in a remote location.

Dr David Charash is Dive Medicine Physician Board Certified in Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine and Emergency Medicine. He has been caring for the Undersea Community for over 30 years. He has lectured Locally, Nationally, and Internationally on all topics related to Dive Safety, Dive Technology and Dive Medicine. Dr Charash was honored in 2022 by receiving the Prestigious DAN Rolex Diver of the year, and has been recognized by the United States Navy for his dedicated teaching and Support of the Navy's Undersea Community. Dr Charash is a volunteer researcher with Divers Alert Network. He is also the Host of the Fitness in Diving Podcast features on Spotify and Apple

In 1943, a 35-year-old electrician defied age and nationality by renouncing his French citizenship to join the U.S. Navy in World War II. Serving aboard the USS Intrepid, he endures over two harrowing years, surviving torpedo strikes, kamikaze attacks, and the chaos of Operation Hailstone in the attack on Truk Lagoon. Here, his ship is responsible for the destruction of several large Japanese ships, including the largest casualty, the Aikoku Maru. Upon honorable discharge, he returns home to his family without collecting his war medals and leaves his story untold. Over 75 years later, his granddaughter, a passionate SCUBA diver, uncovers his Naval artifacts in the attic. Determined to honor his legacy, she embarks on her own journey underwater to retrace his wartime experiences through the Pacific WWII shipwrecks.

When  Kate Cialdea began diving, she was immediately hooked on underwater adventure and quickly became a part of the New England dive community. 10 years later, she is a member of the Red Bull Dive Safety team, serves as the Secretary of the Boston Sea Rovers, and is an active technical diver. You can hear Kate giggle into her rebreather as she hunts scallops in the cold water of New England or explores some of the world’s most renowned underwater destinations. Kate has visited Yucatan caves, Revillagigedo Island, and Bikini Atoll, but her favorite adventure has been exploring her family’s legacy in Truk Lagoon.

This presentation covers how physical and mental stressors are the leading cause of diving incidents and how to minimize all stressors when diving. This eye-opening presentation will allow the audience to think through diving in a new and positive way.

Tec Clark has held elite positions in the dive industry including managing director of the University of Florida’s Academic Diving Program and national director of the YMCA Scuba Program. He holds over 40 professional certifications with over 15 dive training agencies.  He has also been a police officer, dive rescue team member, and forensic dive accident investigator. He has appeared as a diving expert on A&E, The Learning Channel, and Outdoor Life Network. Clark was captain of the U.S. freediving team and founder of Reef Ministries. He is the associate director for scuba diving at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Emmy Award-winning cinematographer Cristian Dimitrius invites you on a journey through his evolving process of underwater image-making. Blending powerful stories from the field with cutting-edge equipment, creative lighting, and a unique artistic approach, this talk reveals how the search for the perfect light becomes an act of storytelling, connection, and transformation. From deep technical insights to poetic reflections, this is a masterclass in seeing — and feeling — the underwater world in entirely new ways.

Cristian Dimitrius is a Brazilian Emmy Award-winning cinematographer, photographer, and presenter specializing in wildlife and underwater filmmaking. Renowned for his bold visual style and innovative camera techniques, Cristian’s work pushes the boundaries of natural history storytelling. Over the past two decades, he has filmed in some of the planet’s most remote and challenging environments, contributing to acclaimed productions for BBC, National Geographic, Netflix, Disney+, PBS, and more. Named Boston Sea Rovers Diver of the Year in 2024, Cristian is on a lifelong mission to inspire love for nature through powerful, immersive imagery that connects emotion, science, and cinematic beauty.

In honor of the 70th anniversary of the Andrea Doria sinking, we will bring stories of the adventures of divers and artifact recoveries from the last 7 decades, many of which will be on display in the artifact exhibit.

Mike Dudas has been diving the wrecks off the East coast of the US since 1988. His first dive to the famed Andrea Doria was in 1998 and he continues to return as often as possible. Mike has also travelled extensively to dive shipwrecks from New Zealand to Thailand and spent some time working in Bikini Atoll diving the sunken nuclear fleet. Mike dives regularly in New Jersey with the D/V Tenacious on their east coast expeditions.

Richard M. Simon grew up diving and crewing on New England dive boats. Rick is a Boston Sea Rover, 2005 Frank Scalli Intern, and a TDI dive instructor with recreational and technical ratings. He is the president of Manta Industries, a dive equipment manufacturing company and the vice president of Shoreline Diving Services, Inc., a commercial diving company specializing in inspection, salvage and construction. Rick is an avid diver, especially enjoying cave and wreck diving mostly on the East Coast but anywhere around the world. When he is not diving, he enjoys spending time with his wife Erin and their many farm animals.

Torpedo boats were a frightening innovation during the epitome of fleet upon fleet naval warfare. These smaller, faster and cheaper craft dedicated to the use of the evolved torpedo added real complication to fleet tactics during World War One. Superior in numbers within Germany’s High Seas Fleet, they made up more than two-thirds of the ships interned in Scapa Flow as part of the November 1918 Armistice. Three wrecks remain in shallow water: the V83, S54, and S36. Each has it’s own unique story in the conflict, scuttling and salvage. Each is a pleasant, accessible, and exciting Orkney diving experience.

Tom Easop has been diving for forty-five years, exploring and photographing the underwater realm throughout the world. Since graduating from Brooks Institute of Photography, he has operated his own commercial studio since 1986. In addition to creating subsea images for the usual media, Tom is a master printmaker. His works grace the homes, offices and galleries of collectors and museums internationally. Known also as an underwater camera builder and self-publisher, his photographic project, The Guns and Armour of Scapa Flow, is a coffee table book. What’s next? Developing a new subsea large format camera with the greatest underwater optics ever.

The Shipwrecks of Martha's Vineyard & the Elizabeth Islands The maritime history of Martha’s Vineyard is vast and fascinating. Among the storied shipwrecks, the tale of the 1918 freighter Port Hunter, a shipwreck that caused a congressional inquiry when over $1,000,000 of her military cargo went missing, salvaged by Vineyard residents. The loss of the 6-masters Ruth E. Merrill and Mertie B. Cowley, two of the greatest sailing ships ever built, A dozen ships that met their demise on a dangerous rock reef off Cuttyhunk. The shipwrecks of Pasque and Nashon Islands. A Rumrunner who sank with her load of illegal booze aboard. The Trojan, a freighter that went to the bottom with a cargo of glass bottles.

Don Ferris over the past 45 years, has trained over 3000 people to scuba dive on Cape Cod. While doing so, I literally wrote the book on scuba diving on Cape Cod, (four books actually) ‘Exploring The Waters of Cape Cod’, ‘Beneath The Waters of Massachusetts Bay’, ‘Beneath The Waters Of Cape Cod’,  “Cape Cod’s Anthology of Shipwrecks” and my newest books, “Don Ferris Diving Guide to Massachusetts”, "Candles For the Trenches", and The Shipwrecks Of "Martha's Vineyard & the Elizabeth Islands".

Join this uncovering of  the secrets and stories hidden beneath the waves of Martha’s Vineyard.

Schoolyard Films inspires the next generation of ocean stewards through free, award-winning documentaries for students worldwide. This presentation highlights films on octopuses, polar bears, and oysters - stories that connect kids directly to the sea and the urgent need for conservation. From the intelligence of cephalopods, to the resilience of oysters, to the polar bear’s fight against climate change, each film shows children that they, too, can be scientists, advocates, and caretakers of marine ecosystems. By blending powerful imagery with accessible science, Schoolyard Films empowers young audiences to understand, value, and protect this magnificent blue planet.a

Amy Giannotti is a marine ecologist, scuba diver, and enthusiastic science communicator.  She is the Director of Development for Schoolyard Films, a 501c3 non-profit organization founded in 2008.  Schoolyard Films brings the planet’s most remote locations into schools and classrooms via high-end environmental documentaries for youth. Raising awareness through expert filmmaking provides a bridge for connecting humans to nature.  She is dedicated to making a positive impact on the environment, combining her scientific expertise, leadership, and a profound commitment to conservation through education.

Caribbean coral reefs have experienced dramatic changes over the past few decades, driven by both natural and human-induced factors. Once thriving ecosystems, these reefs now face increasing pressures from climate change, particularly marine heatwaves that are growing in both frequency and intensity. The extreme ocean temperatures recorded during 2023/2024 triggered the fourth global bleaching event, underscoring the vulnerability of coral ecosystems to rising temperatures. In response to this heatwave, the reefs of Little Cayman —an isolated and well-protected ecosystem— experienced dramatic changes in coral cover and species composition which will have implication for overall reef function. Similarly, well established coral nurseries suffered from near complete mortality. Here I will explore these changes in the context of long-term monitoring data and examine the cascading effects on the future success of restoration efforts. Finally, I will discuss emerging strategies to identify and protect potential climate refuges, such as deeper reefs and offshore seamounts, which may serve as sanctuaries for coral species and provide hope for sustaining these vital ecosystems amid rapid environmental change.

Dr. Gretchen Goodbody-Gringley received her PhD from Harvard University in 2009 where she studied the evolution of corals across the Caribbean. She subsequently held postdoctoral positions in Florida and Italy, before settling at the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences. During her time at BIOS she became heavily involved with studying the invasive lionfish, a project that led her to technical diving as they discovered dense aggregations on deeper reefs. She quickly became fascinated with mesophotic coral reefs and over time transitioned to a closed circuit system. In 2020 she joined the Central Caribbean Marine Institute as the Director of Research where she lead a team focused on documenting biodiversity on deep reefs, understanding community dynamics, and examining the potential of mesophotic reefs as thermal refuges.

For 21 years, the Sea Rovers’ Summer Internship has played a major role in our mission to produce the next generation of diving leaders.  During the summer, the Intern partners with members of the Boston Sea Rovers and associates located throughout the United States to experience a wide variety of jobs and career choices.  Based in part on the personal interests of the Intern, the Internship provides advanced dive training courses and ample opportunities to dive and train with a variety of dive professionals in a broad cross-section of diving environments.  Opportunities can include hands-on work with professional under water photographers and filmmakers, educational specialists, marine engineers and scientists, equipment manufacturer’s representatives, and dive shop owners.  In addition to the unique time spent with some of our most distinguished members, the Sea Rovers Intern is outfitted with dive equipment (provided by Sea Rover corporate sponsors) for their use throughout the summer and will receive the necessary financial support to ensure travel and living expenses.  

Sofia Butler of Boston, Massachusetts is the 2025 Boston Sea Rovers Annual Summer Intern. Sofia will be attending the University of Rhode Island and plans to major in marine biology. She wants to use her education and diving skills to contribute to marine conservation eff orts through fi eld work and research. Sofi a holds Advanced, Nitrox, and Dry Suit certifi cations. She has worked as a Conservation Intern at the New England Aquarium, as a field technician doing sea turtle rehabilitation in North Carolina, and on coral restoration projects in Florida. Sofi a is also very active in theater arts.

Today, filmmaking serves as one of the most impactful ways for conservationists to reach a broader audience and raise awareness. In this presentation, discover the art of crafting compelling conservation documentaries that resonate with audiences long after the credits roll. We’ll explore the crucial stages of ideation, production, and story structure. We’ll also dive into how to tackle bigger topics and break them down into comprehensive and engaging material, making it suitable for people who may not even be interested in environmental issues in the first place. By the end of this presentation you’ll be equipped to create films that do more than entertain—they’ll empower people to take action for our planet's future.

Madeline Kennedy is a filmmaker who grew up on Grand Bahama Island in The Bahamas. Living on an island has helped foster her love for marine life and filmmaking. Since she was twelve, she has been diving and exploring vast underwater landscapes and shipwrecks. She graduated from Emerson College with a BFA in Visual Media Arts and a minor in Environmental Studies, where she made her award-winning directorial debut documentary, Ocean’s Rose, which centers around the life and legacy of Ben Rose, an environmental conservationist and the world’s first shark whisperer.
Based in Boston and The Bahamas, she is currently collaborating on a documentary with world-renowned diver and marine expert Cristina Zenato about her efforts to protect the Lucayan underwater cave system.

Mine diving is not for the faint of heart! Swimming through shafts, tunnels, and down railway beds often in dark, icy cold water is truly an adventure.  However, diving in mines is a great way to learn about history, archaeology, technology and people. A particularly specialized form of overhead diving, mine diving requires some additional skills. Sometimes mines are in remote locations, deep underground and require special access. One must be self-sufficient and physically capable of getting to and from the water’s edge in addition to doing the dive. Join us as we share our explorations of mines in Sweden, Hungary and the Northeast US.

David Caldwell and Heather Knowles are the co-founders of Northern Atlantic Dive Expeditions, Inc. They operate their dive charter boat, Gauntlet, with a focus on shipwreck diving and exploration. Dave and Heather are fellows of the Explorer’s Club and have explored some of the world’s notable shipwrecks, mines and caves. They have made shipwreck discoveries and identifications in their local waters, including the steamer Allentown and USS Nezinscot and have collaborated on research projects with NOAA in support of exploration in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. Dave is a passionate educator as a NAUI Technical Examiner and Northeast US and Eastern Canada regional manager. Heather served as the diving member on the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council, holding leadership roles, from 2008-2023.

For nearly 40 years, I heard my father's sea stories from his WWII experiences serving in the Polish Navy.  Although he passed away in 2003, in 2014 I began a journey which started by chance, and culminated in the discovery of the wreck of his ship, 83 after its loss at the height of WWII. This is the story of that journey, the planning and preparation undertaken, the friendships made, and the results of the efforts of a multi-national team of shipwreck hunters, historians, and archaeologists. 

Chris Kraska is the son of an Irish mother and Polish Father who met and married in Scotland at the height of WWII while father was a seaman in the Polish Navy. As a marine archaeologist, divemaster, and underwater photographer Chris has made hundreds of dives in warm waters as well as on Lake Erie.   As part of his avocational work, Chris has been a member of MAST, the Maritime Archaeological Survey Team, since 2006 and served as the chairman of the board from 2012 until 2018. He has participated in numerous archaeological surveys as as a survey diver, dive safety officer, and project manager.Chris became involved with DWP CARES after meeting its Director while filming a documentary on Lake Michigan in 2019.  Since that time, he has helped shape the organizations educational platform and course structure as part of their education advisory board.Chris has degrees in political science, archaeology, and education.

Krista Laforest attributes her love of diving to her time as the 2017 Boston Sea Rovers Intern. Her work focuses on coral research in Florida and the broader Caribbean, including Bonaire and Panama. She has years of coral restoration experience outplanting corals, assessing coral health, and most notably monitoring coral spawning both in the wild and land-based coral production facilities. Currently, Krista is pursuing her Ph.D. at the University of North Carolina Wilmingtonfocusing on the effects of climate change on Caribbean coral reproduction. 

The unprecedented 2018 outbreak of Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease highlighted the need for immediate large-scale interventions. As part of the Florida Coral Rescue Plan, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission identified the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) member facilities as the only U.S. entities having the skills, expertise and resources to receive and manage corals rescued from the Florida Reef Tract. The AZA Florida Reef Tract Rescue Project is a network focused on the rescue, housing and production of Florida corals affected by Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease that began in 2019. Since its inception, the project now includes 19 zoos and aquariums managing 24 rescue coral holding facilities, including Disney, The Florida Aquarium, Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium, and SeaWorld, located in 13 U.S. states.

The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) Dive Program Research and Engineering techs are vital to science-diving operations. WHOI’s dive program began in 1952 with the inception of recreational diving and training.  Numerous institution professionals beyond academic researchers have conducted science diving as the years have passed. The path to science diving is not always straightforward and with 60 active science divers in all ocean research disciplines, projects span worldwide.  Learn about where it started and where the WHOI dive program is today, its current projects, and numerous advanced technologies being used.

Kim Malkoski’s experience with the ocean began early with trips to the beach, aquariums, boat trips, and getting scuba-certified at the age of 13.  She was named the 2008 BSR Frank Scalli Intern and currently serves as the President of the Boston Sea Rovers, the first woman president. She works as the WHOI Diving Safety Officer, the first female and fourth ever in the institution’s history. Kim serves every two years on the civilian dive safety team for the Foundation for Underwater Research & Education’s International Submarine Races at the Carderock Naval Warfare Center. An instructor trainer with NAUI allows her to evaluate diver authorization and training requirements for scientific divers. Kim is an advanced technical CCR diver, making her current participation in the developmental process of modifications/testing of current dive procedures more valuable, as well as research data collection with the Reef Solutions group, specifically in the mesophotic zone (30-70Meters). She holds a MA in Sustainability and Environmental Management from the Harvard Extension School and a BS from the University of New England in Marine Biology.

The Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life at the New England Aquarium is a groundbreaking initiative designed to expand the Aquarium’s cutting-edge applied marine research and data-driven conservation solutions.
Through the work of the Anderson Cabot Center, our researchers offer practical solutions to mitigate human impacts on our oceans. We promote these science-based solutions in New England and beyond, building on the Aquarium’s nearly 50-year legacy of protecting our blue planet and advocating for vital and vibrant oceans.

John Mandelman PhD. is Vice President and Chief Scientist of the Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life, the Aquarium’s solutions-based ocean research, policy, and technical advising institute. Dr. Mandelman has resided at the Aquarium in various capacities since 2004. In collaboration with various colleagues around the globe, John’s scientific research has focused on better understanding and reducing negative effects of human-induced disturbances on vulnerable ocean species, including sharks in the North Atlantic. The research has also been routinely used to inform fisheries management, industry practices and ocean policy.

Need an altruistic reason to justify your next dive trip? Join Nancy for an inspiring seminar on the unsung ecotourism heroes of Misool, Indonesia, and Helen Reef, Palau—two of the world’s most stunning marine destinations. Through captivating video footage and firsthand stories, discover how passionate individuals and organizations are protecting these fragile ecosystems with sustainable scuba diving and conservation efforts. Watch how coral reefs are being restored, endangered species protected, and local communities empowered. Learn how you can support these initiatives through responsible travel. Don’t miss this chance to explore the intersection of adventure, conservation, and community empowerment in marine ecotourism!

Nancy McGee is a celebrated underwater explorer, filmmaker, and adventurer with over three decades of experience. A member of the Women Divers Hall of Fame and an Explorers Club Fellow, Nancy has piloted the Exosuit, scuba dived on all seven continents, and captured rare footage of extraordinary marine encounters, including snorkeling with whales, crocodiles, and diving with an elephant. Known for blending scientific exploration with storytelling, her work promotes ocean conservation and has been featured in numerous documentaries, publications and exhibitions. Nancy continues to inspire others to explore and protect our planet’s most remote and fragile aquatic environments.

The Batavia, a Dutch East India Company ship, wrecked off the coast of Western Australia in 1629 during its maiden voyage. The ship struck a reef near the Houtman Abrolhos islands, stranding over 300 survivors. Chaos ensued as mutineers, led by Jeronimus Cornelisz, plotted to seize control, resulting in a brutal massacre of around 125 people. Meanwhile, Captain Francisco Pelsaert journeyed to Batavia (modern Jakarta) for rescue. Upon his return, the mutiny was suppressed, and justice was administered with executions and punishments. The incident remains one of the most infamous events in maritime history.

Rich Napolitano is the creator and host of Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs, a podcast launched in 2022. I earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Communications from the University of Florida, and a Master Degree of Education from Xavier University. I have a background in television production, website development, graphic design, and was an educator from 2005 to 2024. My podcast provides me with an outlet for my life-long love of history and creativity.

Faith's recent expeditions to the Southern Ocean have set records for exploration and their discoveries. Learn more about the challenges of this type of exploration and the incredible things we have discovered along the way.

Faith Ortins has spent her life educating people about diving through her love and enthusiasm for the ocean. She inspires people and instills in them a passion for diving in all its forms. In early 1990’s, she worked with DUI to develop the first women’s drysuits before becoming DUI’s VP of Sales and Marketing for 20 years. She created the DUI DOG Rally and Demo Tour Program which promoted local diving facilities across the US, teaming dive retailers together while divers test dive DUI products. She now is the co-owner of Blue Green Expeditions which guides expeditions to all the oceans on the planet including multiple polar expeditions. She is a 2010 Inductee to the Women Divers Hall of Fame and associate member of the Boston Sea Rovers.

The dive profile is most important, but there are a multitude of factors that can alter decompression stress, many of which are not captured in current decompression algorithms. This presentation will consider key and contributing factors and the inter-relationships between them that can alter risk. Tools and practical strategies to optimize decompression safety will then be discussed.

Neal W. Pollock, PhD holds a Research Chair in Hyperbaric and Diving Medicine and is an Associate Professor in Kinesiology at Université Laval in Québec, Canada. He was previously Research Director at Divers Alert Network (DAN) and conducted research at Duke University, both in Durham, North Carolina. His academic training is in zoology, exercise physiology, and environmental physiology. His research interests focus on human health and safety in extreme environments, including decompression safety for both divers and astronauts.

Does Artificial Intelligence make you feel stupid? Get smarter about incredible new AI in Lightroom and Photoshop. At its best, Artificial Intelligence works to improve and speed up editing that in the past could be accomplished with mere mortal ingenuity and elbow grease. Lightroom's Tools may be all the voodoo you need, but Photoshop's dark arts can work even crazier magic on your underwater photos. Learn how to harness AI powers for good and a little bit of evil too!

Erin Quigley is an award-winning underwater photographer, editor, and educator. She’s widely recognized as the world's leading authority on Lightroom and Photoshop for underwater shooters, and is the first Adobe A.C.E. certified expert to specialize in  post-processing techniques specifically for underwater imaging. 

Erin is the creator of GoAskErin.com, a comprehensive library of published articles, downloadable resources, and on-demand video tutorials. GoAskErin free online workshops energize a huge global audience, creating a hopeful, inclusive, unifying space for education and advocacy. Erin is a member of the Women Diver's Hall of Fame, the Boston Sea Rovers, and the Ocean Artists Society. 

The three islands of the Republic of Malta (Malta, Gozo and Comino) lie in the heart of the Mediterranean Sea, between Sicily and Tunisia.Today, Malta is emerging as a tourist mecca and one of Europe’s capitals of culture. For SCUBA divers, the clear waters of Malta abound with diving opportunities waiting to be explored, from historic shipwrecks to spellbinding blue holes. In this presentation, Eco-Photo Explorers will journey to Malta and reveal its underwater treasures.

                 Michael Salvarezza and Christopher Weaver have been diving the waters the world since 1978.  They have presented their work numerous times at the Boston Sea Rovers Underwater Clinic, and all of the major dive conferences, and have published more than 200 articles in numerous magazines, including National Geographic Adventure. Their work has been used to support a variety of research and educational programs. Their expeditions have taken them from the Arctic to the Antarctic and many places in between.

Diving the Nantucket Shoals is not for the faint of heart. Deep water far from shore and ferocious currents make Nantucket Shoals diving a challenge even for the most experienced divers. Captain Eric Takakjian discovered numerous shipwrecks off the coast of Nantucket and dived these waters for years. During the past two summers, dive teams from D/V Tenacious have continued Takakjian’s work exploring and re-exploring wrecks he discovered many years ago. Join Rick Simon and Eric Takakjian as they discuss diving M/V Oregon, SS Newcastle City, and SS North American and other Nantucket shipwrecks. They will discuss the advantages of technical diving in these waters, what it is to hunt and explore shipwrecks there, and what’s left to do in an area they consider to be the next frontier of North Atlantic wreck diving. 

Richard M. Simon grew up diving and crewing on New England dive boats. Rick is a Boston Sea Rover & 2005 Frank Scalli Intern and a TDI dive instructor with recreational and technical ratings. He is the president of Manta Industries, a dive equipment manufacturing company and is also the vice president of Shoreline Diving Services, INC., a commercial diving company specializing in inspection, salvage and construction. Rick is an avid diver, especially enjoying cave and wreck diving mostly on the East Coast but anywhere around the world. When he is not diving, he enjoys spending time with his wife Erin and their many farm animals.

Captain Eric Takakjian, a professional mariner, has been sailing ships and ocean going tugboats to various corners of the world since 1978.  Since 1985, Eric and his friends have conducted research and expeditions resulting in the location and exploration of over 70 previously undiscovered shipwrecks in the waters around New England and outer continental shelf waters. An avid shipwreck diver since 1975, Captain Eric has been a fellow of the Explorers Club since 1997, a member of the Board of Directors of The Steamship Historical Society of America and an associate member of the Boston Sea Rovers.

In 1978, I made one of my checkout dives off the Caribbean island of St. Croix to earn my YMCA certification. Like so many others, I immediately fell in love with the clear waters of the tropics. At that time, I was hoping to become a coral reef ecologist if I didn’t make it as a shark researcher. For the last 25 years, I have been doing both. This presentation highlights the intense research we have been conducting on the sharks of the Caribbean. You will learn how high-tech tagging is now revealing the ecology of tiger, lemon, reef, and other shark species in this incredible ecosystem.

Dr. Greg Skomal is an accomplished marine biologist, photographer, and author. He heads up the Massachusetts Shark Research Program, which studies the life history, ecology, and physiology of sharks. He has written dozens of research papers, and his work has been highlighted in several film and television documentaries for National Geographic, Discovery Channel, and PBS. His most recent books are the Great White Shark Handbook and Chasing Shadows, which debunk the mysteries of the great white shark. Greg is a member of the Explorers Club and the Boston Sea Rovers, and he is the 2016 Diver of the Year.

Amidst the vast, sandy expanse and rugged seascape, an oasis of life emerges, teeming with a myriad of peculiar and enchanting creatures. Beneath this seemingly barren landscape, divers can encounter bobtail squid, a blue-ringed octopus, ghost pipefish, colorful nudibranchs, and other fascinating macro subjects. Each species reveals remarkable adaptations that allow them to thrive in this shifting environment. Join Jim and Pat for an extraordinary underwater adventure as they uncover the secrets, behaviors, and habitats of these strange and captivating creatures that turn the sandy seafloor into a vibrant, living world waiting to be explored.

Jim and Pat, Associate Members of the Boston Sea Rovers and Fellows of The Explorers Club, are acclaimed underwater filmmakers known for capturing extraordinary animal behavior, shipwrecks, and remote dive destinations around the world. Popular presenters across North America, they inspire audiences with breathtaking imagery and tales of discovery. The Stayers have discovered several shipwrecks, co-authored three books, and produced hundreds of multimedia presentations. Their footage has appeared on major international networks, and they’ve directed several film festivals. Pat is a member of the Women Divers Hall of Fame, and Jim, a USCG Captain. Together, they continue to lead a remarkable life of exploration and adventure.

In 2015 I was recruited to join a Greek Archeological Dive Team to investigate the waters around a small island located off the coast of Asia Minor. The island was chosen to investigate reports from sponge divers that there were an abundance shipwrecks in the area. We arrived on the island in June of 2015, and in two days we located 3 ancient shipwrecks with on dated 800-600 BC. After 13 days, we had located 22 ancient shipwrecks. We were astounded of the number and diversity of the wrecks. After nine expeditions, we now have an astounding 58 ancient shipwrecks that have been discovered and documented. The Fournoi archipelago has earned itself the title "the Shipwreck Capital of the World". This season we were joined by a film crew from the Discovery Channel's Expedition Unknown with Josh Gates. Our story will premier in June, 2025.

John Stella is a dive industry professional with over thirty five years of industry experience.  An avid wreck diver, he has dove all over the world, with a passion for ancient shipwrecks. John is member of a Greek underwater archeological dive team where he serves as a technical advisor and senior dive team member.  John is a veteran of the United States Navy and is a member of the Explorers Club, John is also honored to be a member of the a Boston Sea Rovers.

Donald Stevens started diving on the day the Andrea Doria sank off of Nantucket, Ma.  The wreckage inspired a lifelong love of diving in New England.  I opened Atlantic Aquasport 52 years ago serving the local divers.  I spent twenty years in commercial diving, and now as a NAUI course director, I train the NH Fish and Game Law Enforcement Division, consult the with USNavy, and other environmental agencies, and am currently working with a team of Dartmouth Drs on physiological events while diving.

New England Diving Year Round in a Wetsuit will present the correct way to dive in a wetsuit, year round, and stay warm, in New England.  I will also speak on how to set up your weight system for proper buoyancy control.

Marine Mammal Rescue - Seacoast Science Center   All marine mammals are protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act, enacted by the federal government on October 21, 1972. Fulfilling this requirement, Seacoast Science Center Marine Mammal Rescue staffs a 24/7 hotline (603-997-9448) and responds to all reports of marine mammals that haul out or strand on the shore in New Hampshire and northern Massachusetts (from Essex, MA to the Maine border). MMR leads the response and rescue and conducts health assessments and triage while collaborating necropsy labs conduct postmortem exams and rehabilitation facilities care for and release animals.

Ashley Stokes is the Director of Marine Mammal Conservation at the Seacoast Science Center’s Marine Mammal Rescue (MMR) team which advances wildlife conservation through stranded marine mammal response, care, and community outreach in New Hampshire and Northeastern Massachusetts.

Photography and videography are two sides of the same coin, each reaching deep into the creative paths of artists to document and express the world around them. After over a decade exclusively in photography, Jake Stout ventured into the Amazon River to try his hand at videography. Though similar in many ways the methodology, mind set, and practices in photography and videography differ a lot. Hear from Jake as he discusses how he approached making a short film, follies, epiphanies and all. Learn how with a focused concept, cinematography and editing become second nature. 

Jake Stout is a wildlife photographer specializing in natural history photojournalism. A native of Cambridge, Massachusetts, Jake developed his love of nature spending summers in New Hampshire. Jake has been sharpening his photography skills since 2009 and has worked across many genres of the medium. Jake began his SCUBA journey in 2017 and never looked back. A year later, he was the recipient of the Boston Sea Rover’s internship in which he traveled around the world doing underwater photography with marine scientists, BBC and National Geographic photographers and filmmakers. In 2019 Jake had the honor of presenting his work at the Boston Sea Rovers Film Festival, the longest continually running dive show in the world, and was inducted as a full active roster member in 2020. He is currently developing underwater camera technology in the Red Sea at the Derya Akkaynak COLOR lab.

Stony corals are the ecosystem engineers at the base of coral reef ecosystems. Both ecologically and economically important, these marine animals are under direct threat from climate change. The Gignoux-Wolfsohn lab at UMass Lowell uses cutting-edge genetic methods to study how Caribbean corals are adapting to changing oceans. Specifically, we study how the twin stressors of stony coral tissue loss disease and coral bleaching affect the coral host, symbiotic algae, and microbiome. Here, I will introduce some of our projects throughout the Caribbean, with a focus on our work to identify and isolate beneficial bacteria for treatment of diseased corals.

Dr. Nikea Ulrich is a postdoctoral research associate in Dr. Gignoux-Wolfsohn’s lab at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. She studies the microbiome of corals affected by stony coral tissue loss disease, a highly lethal coral disease that is spreading throughout the Caribbean. She received her PhD in Ecology and Evolution from the University of Montana, working with Dr. Scott Miller on the evolution and diversification of a novel marine cyanobacterium.

We will be discussing the various techniques and how to get the best possible photos for yourself. Choosing the correct lenses (rectilinear or fisheye) for the many different types of subjects, covering marine life, shipwrecks and cave diving.

Peter Venoutsos has been a certified diver since 1976 and a commercial diver since 1983. His experience includes working with private underwater engineering firms, the Federal Government and the US Navy.His interests include underwater photography, shipwrecks & cave diving, with the goal of promoting diving in around the world.