Public Safety Workshop

Boston Sea Rovers

Dive Safety

Workshops

Friday

9:00AM-4:00PM

Newburyport Room 2nd Floor

This workshop is open to all Public Safety teams, team members, and anyone with an interest in Public Safety Diving. Speakers are dive industry representatives, public safety diver trainers, current, and former team members. The workshop offers a platform for the Public Safety community to share ideas and experiences.  The 2025 workshop will include an in-water demonstration / tryout of a Kirby Morgan dive hat
The program cost for the day is $95.00 which includes a 2025 Boston Sea Rovers tee-shirt.  Check out the Boston Sea Rovers Public Safety Group Facebook page for up to the minute information.

Lightroom Bootcamp for Underwater Photographers

Erin Quigley – GoAskErin

Photo/Video

Workshops

Friday

9:00AM-5:00PM

Georgetown Room

This is an intensive, hands-on workshop that’s perfect for complete Lightroom newbies, or for current users wanting to take their skills to the next level. To get the most out of the Bootcamp, you’ll need a laptop running the most recent version of Lightroom Classic that your operating system can handle, and at least one external hard drive. Bring all appropriate power sources, adapters, and cables. Please make sure your gear is in good working order and ready to go. We will not have time to address individual technical issues. The Bootcamp includes a 16GB flash drive pre-loaded with class work files, and a 50-page spiral bound workbook.
The Lightroom Bootcamp does not cover any web-based versions of Lightroom. We’ll be using Lightroom Classic only. 

70 years of Artifacts from the Andrea Doria

Mike Dudas and Rick Simon

Wrecks/Maritime History

Daytime

Saturday

9:00AM-9:45AM

Gimbel

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.

 

What lurks below? – The lore of the Lake Champlain Monster from a diver’s perspective

Krieg Pinkham and Jeannine Russell

Animals

Daytime

Saturday

9:00AM-9:45AM

Cousteau

The popularity of America’s greatest lake monster, Champ, predates even its more famous cousin in Scotland.  The tale of an underwater dweller haunting Lake Champlain is part of a storied tradition of sea monsters that shares lineage with the tales of Vikings, ancient mariners, New England Sea Captains, and modern influencers.   But Champ makes for more than just a good fireside tale.  A look at the social history of Champ presents the picture of a lake ripe for exploration and provides us with a reminder that adventure and conservation make for boon travel companions.

Kreig Pinkham is the NAUI Technical Instructor and Training Director at Waterfront Diving Center and holds a master’s degree in religion with a focus on comparative mythologies.  Jeannine Russell is the Archeology Office for the Vermont Agency of Transportation and a NAUI Assistant Instructor.  As a married duo they promote the development of diving in Lake Champlain as the principal organizers behind the Waterfront Diving Center’s community events calendar.

International Submarine Races (ISR)

Nick Calayanois

Dive Activities

Daytime

Saturday

9:00AM-9:45AM

Doc Edgerton

This gripping story followed the Frederick County Technology Center (Leviathan 1) team at the last International Submarine Races (ISR). A 17.5-minute video feature was produced for a WMPB (Maryland Public Television) special that covered everything from the design and construction of the sub to the entire race week. 

Nick Calayanois is recognized as one of the leading underwater cameraman and filmmakers in the world today, Nick's accomplishments are many. From a beginning as a cold-water diver and biology graduate student, Nick went on to apprentice for several years in Mexico with filmmaker Ramon Bravo, perfecting his craft with 16mm and 35mm formats.

Shortly after founding his own production company in 1977, Nick formed an alliance with the legendary Peter Gimble and was selected as a cameraman on the historic 1981 film expedition ANDREA DORIA: THE FINAL CHAPTER. Although the subject of shipwrecks would continue to compliment his list of credits with such films as BIKINI: FORBIDDEN PARADISE for ABC television, and the National Geographic classics: KRONAN, U-BOATS: TERROR ON OUR SHORES and CUBA'S LOST TREASURE, Nick equally pursued natural history subject matter ranging from humpback whales in Hawaii to orca whales off Norway to coral reefs in the Red Sea and the South Pacific. He has filmed one-of-a-kind footage of the Greenland shark under the ice in the Arctic and rare shark mating behavior in the Gulf of Mexico.

Nick has over 30 National Geographic documentaries to his credit, as well as numerous other satisfied broadcast and commercial clients. Nick's outstanding camera work has garnered numerous awards, including several Emmys, Cine Golden Eagles, an Oscar, and the Earthwatch Award.

 

Beyond Good Dive Practice, Photo Technique and Image Workflow

Tom Easop

Photo/Video

Workshops

Saturday

9:00AM-12:00PM

Newburyport Room

Beyond Good Dive Practice, Photo Technique and Image Workflow: A Lifetime’s Worth of Cardinal Rules and Core Concepts for Making the Best U/W Photographs Possible

Tom Easop has spent a lifetime photographing the underwater world. From this experience, he has developed Core Concepts and Cardinal Rules to optimize underwater image making. Using these concepts and rules led to unique, optimized practices, techniques and workflows. In this workshop I will teach you my concepts and rules as well as the resulting “hands-on” skills you can immediately put into practice. Organized chronologically before, during, and after a dive trip the topics include:    What to prioritize in your equipment budget    Preparing your equipment for travel and use    Best practices before and after the dive    Speed light vs. continuous light, tripods, backscatter tactics    White point(s)    Focus tactics – not wasting depth of field    Automatic vs. manual exposure tactics    Recognizing your luck, learning from ‘mistakes’    Making ‘mistakes’, making your own ‘luck’    Combining techniques    Safe capture storage    File types, Pixel Geography, color space & ‘The Color Dimension’    Lightroom vs. Photoshop, and other applications for post-processing    Combining digital tools    HDR, image masking    HRLA USM, sharpening    Non destructive workflow    Cataloguing images & session folders    Plus planning, testing, and practicingThis is by far the most valuable workshop I have ever developed, imparting the most important information I’ve learned through photography and retouching schools, shooting and print making workshops, research, underwater camera building, and most of all – 45 years of experience of underwater photography. It will be time well spent for any underwater photographer or videographer regardless of skill level.

Saturday 9AM-12PM – $80

70 years of Artifacts from the Andrea Doria

Mike Dudas and Rick Simon

Wrecks/Maritime History

Art Exhibit

Saturday

9:00AM-4:00PM

Sea Rovers Room 1st Floor

In honor of the 70th anniversary of the Andrea Doria sinking, artifact recoveries from the last 7 decades will be on display.

The Art Exhibits are Free and open to the public

Aquatic Theme-based Origami Exhibit

Michael LaFosse and Richard Alexander

Animals

Art Exhibit

Saturday

9:00AM-4:00PM

Oak Room 1st Floor

Aquatic Theme-based Origami Exhibit – an interactive exhibit with instructions on creating aquatic origami figures. –  

The Art Exhibits are Free and open to the public

Seashells Around the World

Boston Malacological Club

Animals

Art Exhibit

Saturday

9:00AM-5:00PM

Gloucester Room

FREE ALL WEEKEND SEASHELL EXHIBIT
-second floor Mezzanine-Gloucester Room-

Saturday 9:00 a.m to 5:00 p.m.
Sunday 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Drop by and see educational exhibits of seashells from the world over and learn about their habitats, biodiversity and ecology and their use in food, science, medicine, on stamps, and in art and crafts.

Bring your own seashells and learn how to identify it with the help of experts on mollusks who will be available to assist you and teach you how to use some of the best seashell identification books.

Choose your own seashells from one of the world’s beaches at our 'seashell adoption table' provided by our members.

When you visit the exhibit be sure to sign up for an opportunity to take home the special Door Prize — a collection of unique seashells and a book about mollusks

Sponsored by the Boston Malacological Club
Founded in 1910

Join one of the world's oldest active seashell groups for fun and educational monthly meetings in Cambridge, Mass.  For information contact:
George Buckley – gbuckley@fas.harvard.edu

Please note the contact information below is for informational purposes only – No registration is required!

Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Dive Computers, But Were Afraid To Ask

Monty Fitzpatrick

Dive Safety/Training

Workshops

Saturday

9:00AM-12:00PM

Newburyport Room 2nd Floor

Registration Fee: $35

Dive Computers – nearly all divers carry one, but does everyone really understand how they work and how to properly use them?  In this workshop, Dive Pro Monty Fitzpatrick will walk you through a brief history of the dive computer, and give an overview about how they "know" how much dive time you have left, and what your nitrogen loading is throughout your dive.  We won't dive too deep into the algorithms behind most dive computers, as that's more technical than this workshop intends to go.  But we will cover some of the basics:

• Why to use a computer vs. old-school dive tables
• How to decide which computer is best for the diving you plan to do
• Key features to look for in your computer
• Console-integrated units vs. wrist-mount options
• Air integration – its benefits and limitations
• Popular models that are available at most dive shops
• Understanding the important features and data shown on your computer
• Maintenance and care for your computer

Whether you're a brand new diver or have been salty for years, there's something to be learned about these little devices we've become so accustomed to wearing to dive.  Whether it's understanding how to simply use your computer, or interesting functions you didn't realize your unit included, you'll benefit from attending this workshop.  We will have an extensive Q&A session; feel free to bring your computer.  We may not be able to answer every question about every computer, but we'll do our best to make sure you're more confident and comfortable with yours before you leave.

Macro Magic: Tips And Tricks For Extraordinary Macro Photography

Joel & Jennifer Penner – Go Ask Erin

Photo/Video

Workshops

Saturday

9:00AM-10:30AM

Georgetown Room

Are your macro images lacking pizzazz! Are you stuck in a rut or lacking creativity whenever you shoot macro?! Join us as we show our tips and tricks to get extraordinary results with your macro photography. We'll cover our favorite lighting techniques, on camera and off camera snooting, making creative backgrounds, and more! 

Andrea Doria: The wreck legacy 1956-2026 (70th Sinking Anniversary)

Andrea Murdock Alpini, Steve Gatto, Tom Packer

Wrecks/Maritime History

Daytime

Saturday

10:00AM-10:45AM

Gimbel

The presentation focuses on the screening of a documentary dedicated to the Andrea Doria, marking the 70th anniversary of the sinking of the famous and luxurious Italian ocean liner (1956–2026).
The documentary features underwater footage of the wreck, filmed during the 2023 expedition organized by PHY Diving and D/V Tenacious with Joe Mazraani. It also includes original archival material from Italy, historical film footage, and three interviews conducted by Andrea Murdock Alpini with Steve Gatto, Tom Packer, and Joe Mazraani.
The purpose of the documentary is to narrate the legacy left by the ship and its wreck through decades of underwater exploration. What future awaits the Andrea Doria?

Andrea Murdock Alpini has been honored by the International Academy of Underwater Sciences and Techniques with the prestigious Golden Trident for his exploratory and research activities. He organizes courses and trips to unusual locations, creating adventures that combine exploration with diving. He documents his work through videos and articles published in both Italian and international outlets. He also delivers conferences and seminars related to his work.  He is fascinated by deep wrecks, historical research, decompression studies, caves, filming, and writing. He holds a Master’s degree in Architecture and an MBA in Economics for The Arts. Andrea is also the founder of PHY Diving Equipment. His life revolves around teaching open circuit scuba diving, conducting expeditions, developing gear, and writing essays about his philosophy of wreck and cave diving. He published his first book, DEEP BLUE (2018) and his next, IMMERSIONI SELVAGGE, was published in the fall of 2022. Recently he published a new wreck-historical book: ANDREA DORIA: UN LEMBO DI PATRIA (2023). His last book is NOMAD OF DEEP (2024), He is currently working on a new story based on HMHS BRITANNIC wreck, the sister ship of Titanic and Olympic.

Beyond the Familiar: Cultivating Exploration Close to Home

Heison Chak

Dive Activities

Daytime

Saturday

10:00AM-10:45AM

Doc Edgerton

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.

Prehistoric Sharks of the Eastern United States: Diving for Shark History

Keith Cowley

Animals

Daytime

Saturday

10:00AM-10:45AM

Cousteau

Take a deep dive along the coast to learn how geologic changes over time have exposed fossil deposits of ancient sharks and marine life. Join lifelong fossil hunter and Shark Historian Keith Cowley as he shares his experiences, best dive spots, and a detailed history of sharks illustrated through his extensive personal collection of fossil material from Living Sharks Museum.

Keith Cowley is deeply passionate about shark history and their future. For over 20 years he has recovered, prepared and preserved prehistoric sharks for exhibitions and private collectors. He has tracked down historical artifacts from around the world that detail the story of the shark culminating in his development of America's first shark history museum, Living Sharks Museum (Westerly, RI). To gain firsthand perspective over the years, Keith has taken part in shark research and conservation initiatives to educate the public from his own experiences. As a shark historian he has been featured most recently on PBS News Hour and in the white shark documentary, The Falling of the Monster (2025).

Try Scuba

Dive On It Scuba

Dive Activities

Workshops

Saturday

10:00AM-2:00PM

Waterpark Pool

Ever want to try scuba!  Discover what it's like to going beneath the waves

Dive On It Scuba will be hosting the annual Try Scuba event at Boston Sea Rovers again this year.   

Space for these events is limited and is first-come, first-served.

Registration at https://diveonit.square.site/tryscubasearovers 

Masking In Lightroom

Erin Quigley – Go Ask Erin

Photo/Video

Workshops

Saturday

10:30AM-12:00PM

Georgetown Room

The Masking and Selection tools in the Develop Module have taken a quantum leap that greatly expands their power. The ability to add, subtract, combine, and invert complex selections has made this little old sorceress very happy, and I think you’ll feel all tingly too when you join us for this deep dive into Masking in Lightroom Classic. You want this!

Secrets of the Sand

Jim and Pat Stayer

Animals

Daytime

Saturday

11:00AM-11:45AM

Cousteau

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.

Finding and identifying important deep water shipwrecks around the UK.

Steven Mortimer

Wrecks/Maritime History

Daytime

Saturday

11:00AM-11:45AM

Gimbel

The Gasperados Dive Team, works alongside researchers and historians to find and identify important deep water shipwrecks around the UK. This effort has led to the discovery of HMSs Jason; Hoste; Negro; Hawke; plus civilian ships and our ongoing search for USCGC Tampa.

Steve Mortimer is Team Leader of The Gasperados Dive Team, working alongside researchers and historians to find and identify important shipwrecks around the UK.

A Tribute to Boston Sea Rover Harold “Doc” Edgerton

Marty Klein

Dive Activities

Daytime

Saturday

11:00AM-11:45AM

Doc Edgerton

This year, 2026, will be the 65th anniversary of the historic day when Martin Klein, an MIT student looking for a thesis topic, walked into the the Strobe Laboratory of Harold Edgerton and asked him if he might have something interesting to work on. That day changed my life and, to some extent, wound up changing the world of ocean exploration. Doc Edgerton introduced me to the Boston Sea Rovers and their vessel the Kay-G. This is a presentation about Doc and his many contributions to diving, underwater photography and ocean exploration.

Dr. Martin Klein is considered the “Father of Side Scan Sonar". An MIT graduate, he is the founder and former president of Klein Marine Systems. In 1967 Klein introduced the first commercial dual-channel side scan system at a convention of the Marine Technology Society. This system became an extraordinary success and revolutionized ocean exploration and survey. A fellow of the Explorers Club and the Marine Technology Society and a member of the National Academy of Engineering, he received the 2018 Lifetime Achievement Award at the London Oceanology International Conference. He was the 2011 Boston Sea Rovers’ Diver of the Year.

Avelo Explained: Why Avelo changes everything – Free to all

Brian A. Verkaart

NAUI Sponsored

Workshops

Saturday

12:00PM-1:00PM

Essex Room 2nd Floor

Curious why the diving world is talking about Avelo? In this session, we break down the Avelo System from physics to practice. See how adding water, rather than air, creates stable neutral buoyancy that stays constant regardless of depth changes, reducing task load and improving safety. Explore the design of the Hydrotank and Jetpack to learn why the weight savings, an average of 30 pounds (13.6 kg), make entries, exits, and surface swims easier. We will also show how Avelo Mode on Shearwater and Scubapro computers uses gas tracking and buoyancy analytics to help divers refine their technique on every dive. Whether you teach new students, create images, or are an expert diver, see how Avelo can enhance safety, extend bottom time, and elevate the entire dive experience. 

NAUI Workshop Series open to all Boston Sea Rovers International Ocean Clinic participants available at no cost or registration unless otherwise stated.  

    Brian V

Brian A. Verkaart is an electromechanical engineering visionary and the Chief Technology Officer at Avelo Labs. Under his leadership, Avelo has pioneered transformative scuba innovations, including advanced buoyancy control systems that enhance accessibility, safety, and the overall diving experience for both recreational and professional divers.

With over 20 years of multidisciplinary expertise spanning aerospace engineering, biomedical R&D, and electromechanical systems, Brian brings a unique fusion of technical mastery and creative problem-solving to the scuba industry. His dedication to redefining dive technology positions him as a key thought leader shaping the future of underwater exploration.

 

 

Beneath the Surface: Exploring the Underground Worlds of Flooded Mines

Heather Knowles and David Caldwell

Caves and Mines

Daytime

Saturday

1:00PM-1:45PM

Cousteau

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.

Darwin Harbour’s ‘lost ships’.

Mark Tozer

Wrecks/Maritime History

Daytime

Saturday

1:00PM-1:45PM

Gimbel

On Christmas Eve 1974, Cyclone Tracy tore through Darwin, sinking ships and claiming lives that remain unaccounted for to this day. Among them was skipper Ray Curtain of the Darwin Princess, whose body was never recovered. My presentation explores the haunting search within this wreck—now lying upside down on the seafloor, accessible only through a narrow crawl space, leading toward the engine room where his remains may rest. With low visibility, tiger sharks, and crocodiles as constant companions, the dive is fraught with challenge. The talk also highlights the discovery of three additional wrecks, including the stern of USS Peary.

Mark Tozer – Ocean Explorer, Technical Diver, and Conservation AdvocateCome rain or shine, Mark Tozer embarks on his daily coastal stroll along the enchanting South Australian shorelines, immersing himself in the splendor of his aquatic sanctuary. His affinity for the ocean finds its roots in his childhood in Birkenhead, South Australia, where weekends were devoted to snorkeling with his father at Semaphore beaches, exploring seagrass beds, and marveling at the wonders of marine life.Beyond his love for diving and the ocean, Mark dons various hats. As the owner/operator of a substantial commercial furniture factory in Lonsdale and an iconic retail furniture store in Mile End and the Northern Territory employing over 80 Australians he seamlessly intertwines business acumen with a profound commitment to community welfare.In 2013, Mark established “Dive for Cancer”, a charitable initiative that transcends Australian borders, supporting the global fight against cancer through contributions to the Cancer Council. With a diving history dating back to 1987 and an impressive 9000+ logged dives, Mark is an accomplished technical diver with extensive experience in deep diving, mixed gas, and rebreather technology, emphasizing safe and efficient underwater exploration. His expertise spans everything from open circuit diving to advanced closed-circuit rebreathers, allowing him to reach depths and wrecks that remain inaccessible to many.Mark’s academic journey brought him to Charles Darwin University in 1991, where he delved into Building Design and Engineering before making the pivotal decision to relocate to the Northern Territory. His exploratory dives around Darwin Harbour fueled his passion for discovering WWII shipwrecks and relics from the aftermath of Cyclone Tracy in 1974. This passion for maritime history and underwater archaeology has led him to investigate some of the most mysterious shipwrecks across Australian waters.Venturing beyond Australia, Mark has explored some of the most significant wreck diving sites in the world, including Truk Lagoon, the SS President Coolidge, the Solomon Islands, Micronesia, Palau, and Santo, focusing on historical deep-water wrecks. His technical diving expertise enables him to document and study these sites in ways that preserve their history for future generations.Mark’s fascination with sharks, ignited by the USS Indianapolis story, evolved into a lifelong friendship with South Australian icon Rodney Fox. In collaboration with Rodney’s son Andrew, they co-own Rodney Fox Shark Expeditions, with a mission to foster shark appreciation through research and education. The expeditions bring divers face-to-face with great white sharks in a safe and ethical manner while advancing scientific understanding of these apex predators.Mark’s dedication to marine conservation and education materialized in the form of the “Rodney Fox and Mark Tozer’s Museum and Research Centre.” This passion project showcases an extensive collection of vintage and historical diving equipment, exhibits on sharks and sea creatures, and interactive displays designed to inspire ocean conservation. The centre not only educates visitors on the evolution of diving technology but also highlights the importance of marine conservation efforts through compelling exhibits and hands-on learning experiences.Adding another accolade in 2022, Mark assumed the role of Director at “Sharks and Rays Australia (SARA),” an organization committed to conservation through science and public outreach. His involvement underscores his dedication to protecting misunderstood marine species such as sawfish, rays, and various species of sharks.Mark Tozer’s journey is a testament to his profound love for the ocean, unwavering commitment to conservation, and passion for technical diving and education. Through his leadership in shark conservation, shipwreck exploration, and marine research, he continues to inspire future generations of divers, scientists, and conservationists, ensuring that the ocean’s mysteries remain preserved for years to come.

Failure and Success

Julie Ouimet and Michel Labrecque

Photo/Video

Daytime

Saturday

1:00PM-1:45PM

Doc Edgerton

We will share failures and success in exploration as well as some hair-raising adventures. Some stories will be inspiring, some comical, some heart-breaking. In the end…whatever it takes to get the shot or get published!

Michel Labrecque and Julie Ouimet are seasoned divers who have traveled the world. They are technical trimix divers, rebreather divers, accomplished dive training professionals, explorers, expedition leaders, dive charter operators and the owners of a dive operation and lodge located on the remote island of Anticosti, Qc. They are both Fellows of the Explorers Club, Fellows of the Royal Canadian Geographic Society and Associate Members of the Boston Sea Rovers. Michel is a licensed boat captain and in 2016 he was named a PADI Ambassador. Julie is a member of the Women Divers Hall of Fame.Michel and Julie have twice bestowed the honor of carrying the Explorers Club Flag, they received an Explorers Club Citation of Merit and have twice been chosen to represent the Explorers Club as guest speakers on Ponant cruise ships.

Blending of Breathing Gases

Mark Criasia

NAUI Sponsored

Workshops

Saturday

1:00PM-1:45PM

Essex Room 2nd Floor

NAUI Workshop Series Boston Sea Rovers International Ocean Clinic

 

1:00 – 1:45 – “Blending of Breathing Gases” 

Presenter – Mark Criasia 

Abstract: Mixed gas blending for scuba divers creates breathing gases like Nitrox (more oxygen) for longer dives or Trimix/Heliox (oxygen, nitrogen, and helium) for deep technical dives, reducing narcosis and allowing deeper exploration. Blending involves safely mixing pure gases (Oxygen, Helium, Air) using methods like partial pressure, requiring specialized equipment, training, and analysis (e.g., with a dual-sensor analyzer) to ensure correct composition for depth, managing risks like oxygen toxicity. 

Presenter Bio: 

Mark earned his first scuba diving certification from NAUI in 1972. Despite primarily diving in Cape Cod and Lake Winnipesaukee, he remained an active diver until 1985. After a hiatus, he re-certified with NAUI and progressed through the ranks, becoming a NAUI Lifetime Instructor in 2012 and a NAUI Course Director in 2019. In 2014, he co-founded The Massachusetts Association of 

Independent Scuba Instructors. By 2023, he opened M.A.I.S.I. Scuba, a full-service dive shop in Milford, Massachusetts, sponsoring trips along the New England coastline and the Caribbean. 

A retired police officer, he has dedicated much of his time to promoting scuba diving. He is a certified NAUI/DAN Safety Instructor with qualifications in Mixed Gas Blending, Full Face Mask diving, Drysuit, Coastal Navigation, and Boating & Seamanship. Additionally, he is a Master Scuba Equipment Repair Technician, having graduated from Hall’s Institute, and holds an Associate, Bachelor’s, and Master’s degrees. 

In 2023, he played a pivotal role in the successful NAUI Northeast Training Conference, the first of its kind incorporating a hybrid learning approach. 

 

Essential Photoshop For Underwater Shooters

Erin Quigley – Go Ask Erin

Photo/Video

Workshops

Saturday

1:00PM-4:00PM

Georgetown Room

Photoshop. It’s adored and feared. It’s canonized and maligned. It is, above all else, de rigueur for underwater photographers who’ve hit the wall with their editing in Lightroom. But words like Layers, Layer Masks, and Selections are enough to send many aspiring editors into a vertiginous spin. Never fear. Behind the complex interface, overwhelming array of tools, and terrifyingly complicated techniques are a few very simple concepts that will absolutely save your bacon and your photos! Shatter the limits of Lightroom and be free!

Finding Closure: Discovery of the WW1-Era Steam Trawler Seiner

Jennifer Sellitti

Wrecks/Maritime History

Daytime

Saturday

2:00PM-2:45PM

Gimbel

In 2025, a team from D/V Tenacious announced the discovery of the wreckage of the steam trawler Seiner, a WWI-era fishing vessel that disappeared in the fishing grounds of Georges Bank in January of 1929. Seiner was last heard from on January 18 before she disappeared without further trace. Her entire crew of 21 men went down with the ship.

A team from D/V Tenacious, led by Captains and BSR associates Joe Mazraani, Jennifer Sellitti, and Eric Takakjian, discovered the wreck site in 2022 and returned on July 27 and 28, 2025, to dive the wreckage and confirm the identification. Mazraani died two days later while diving another shipwreck on Georges Bank.

Public announcement of the discovery led to communication between the team and the descendants of Jonathan Hann, a fireman lost aboard Seiner. Hann’s loss had haunted the family for almost 100 years. Both the discovery team and Hann’s family found closure and healing through their meeting and this historic discovery.

Jennifer N. Sellitti is a lawyer and a shipwreck hunter. A criminal defense attorney by profession, she and her partner, Joe Mazraani, spend their spare time operating D/V Tenacious, a vessel that locates, dives, and salvages artifacts from shipwrecks in the North Atlantic. Jennifer is a US Coast Guard–licensed ship captain and a certified diver. She was part of the crew that discovered the wreckage of the 1855 passenger steamship Le Lyonnais, the WWI casualty West Point, the bow of M/S Stockholm, and other shipwrecks. She has served as surface support for expeditions to RMS Lusitania, SS Andrea Doria, and Titanic’s sister ship, HMHS Britannic. Jennifer is an associate member of Boston Sea Rovers and passionate about educating people of all ages about maritime history. 

 

 

Searching for the Light

Cristian Dimitrius

Photo/Video

Daytime

Saturday

2:00PM-2:45PM

Doc Edgerton

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.

Phreatic – When Hardcore Cave Diving Meets Science

Dorota Czerny

Caves and Mines

Daytime

Saturday

2:00PM-2:45PM

Cousteau

This presentation provides an overview of Phreatic Organisation, a non-profit based in Sardinia, Italy, committed to the study of drinking water resources and to cultivating the young next generation of explorers, project divers, and scientists through structured apprenticeship programs and exploration initiatives.

Dorota, GUE’s Executive Vice President and Board member, began diving in 1996 and instructing in 1999. After leaving academia in 2001, she managed dive operations in Egypt before joining GUE in 2005, drawn to its mastery-based philosophy. With thousands of dives, she is an experienced manager and diver, trained in CCR, cave, photogrammetry, and scientific programs. Through Phreatic ApS, she pursues collaborative speleological projects to protect freshwater resources. An educator and leader, she develops GUE’s training platform, mentors young divers via the NextGen Legacy Project, and advances organizational excellence to support high-level diving performance and scientific collaboration.

Recreational Dive Safety  – Free

Heison Chak

NAUI Sponsored

Workshops

Saturday

2:00PM -2:45 PM

Essex Room 2nd Floor

 

This session examines the leading triggers identified in DAN accident analyses and translates them into practical steps divers can take to reduce risk. We’ll explore common patterns behind incidents, highlight simple countermeasures that strengthen decision making and situational awareness, and outline how small habits can significantly improve safety on every dive. 

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.

Through The Lens of a True Explorer What I Learned from the Images of Captain Joe Mazraani

Becca Boring

Photo/Video

Daytime

Saturday

3:00PM-3:45PM

Doc Edgerton

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.

Canada’s 2nd Deepest Shipwreck dive- The City of Ainsworth, Kootenay Lake BC.

Brian Nadwidny

Wrecks/Maritime History

Daytime

Saturday

3:00PM-3:45PM

Gimbel

in 1898 the sternwheeler City of Ainsworth sank in a storm with the loss of 9 lives in 360ft (110M). It was found in 1990 and dove twice in 1997. This is the story of the tragedy and the latest exploration efforts on it from 2023 to 2025.

Brian is a technical diver from Cranbrook, British Columbia and has spent 36 years exploring shipwrecks across the world. Most of his diving these days is in Kootenay Lake, BC searching for evidence and debris from the sternwheeler days spanning ~1890 – 1956.

The Value of Performance Based Training

Renee Power and Terrence Tysall

Caves and Mines

Daytime

Saturday

3:00PM-3:45PM

Cousteau

Performance-based training assists in creating confident and capable multi-environmental divers at all levels. What is performance-based training and how do we change our culture?

Certified as a diver since 1988, Renee Power desires to have a positive influence in the diving industry through volunteering, mentoring, teaching and being active in diving communities.Renee volunteered for years with The Cambrian Foundation, a 501(c)(3) corporation dedicated to research, education, preservation and exploration of the aquatic realm. She served on the dive team as a Scientific Diver, as Project Director and Project Diving Safety Officer both domestically and internationally along with other rich and diverse duties.Renee co-authored Women Underwater with Jill Heinerth. Her instructional designations and ratings include a range within both the recreational and technical realms with NAUI, NSS-CDS, PADI and TDI-SDI and offers the NAUI/DAN Diving First Aid course.  Currently, she serves on the NSS-CDS Board of Directors and the NSS-CDS Training Committee.  In real life, Renee continues a 40 year career in healthcare as a Computerized Tomography Technologist and enjoys other aquatic adventures to include kayaking and paddleboarding.With 51 years of diving experience,

Terrence N. Tysall SR. is one of the underwater world’s most accomplished explorers. From deep WWII wrecks of the South Pacific, to the submerged caves of Yucatan, Belize, and Bermuda, to the historic wreck of the USS Monitor, to the lava tubes of the Canary Islands. Terrence has dived some of the planet’s most remote waters gathering data about what lies at the bottom and beyond. Terrence has led multiple scientific/research expeditions around the world including the first SCUBA exploratory dives on the SS Edmund Fitzgerald in Lake Superior, the USS Atlanta off of Guadalcanal in the Solman Islands, and the first cave exploration and geologic sampling conducted at the bottom of the Great Blue Hole of Belize. As a US Army Captain Terrence returned from Iraq and served stateside as the Commanding Officer of the U.S. Army’s 627th Heavy Dive Team. As a Major he was the Commander of the FLARING Officer’s Candidate School at Camp Blanding. He is currently a LTCOL serving with the 83rd Troop Command. He is the founder and past chairman of the board of the Cambrian Foundation and he also the founder and president of Benthic Technologies, Inc., a consulting firm that specializes in underwater applications and technology.On the civilian side; Terrence is currently the Director of Training and VP of Operations for NAUI Worldwide.  Terrence has earned instructor trainer ratings from ANDI, DAN, IANTD, NAUI, NSS-CDS, NACD, SSI and TDI/SDI.  In addition to these certifications, Terrence serves on a variety of technical advisory boards for NOAA and other scientific research agencies both in the United States and abroad.

The Power of Breathing Simply – A Diver’s Exploration of Breath – Free

Kreig Pinkham & Jeannine Russell

NAUI Sponsored

Workshops

Saturday

3:00PM-3:45PM

Essex Room 2nd Floor

NAUI Workshop Series Boston Sea Rovers International Ocean Clinic

“

3:00 – 3:45 – “The Power of Breathing Simply – A Diver's Exploration of Breath” 

Presenters – Kreig Pinkham & Jeannine Russell 

Abstract: 

In this interactive workshop we’re going to take a moment to catch our breath and dive into the respiratory system from a diver’s perspective. We’ll examine how one complex system unlocks the key to buoyancy, controlling our state of mind, and maintaining basic life functions. Additionally, we will explore some simple breathing exercises that can be used to enhance your breath including diaphragmatic breathing, square breathing, and other forms of yogic breath control. Finally, we’ll introduce the 5 Tibetan Rites – an ancient series of stretches that can easily be incorporated into your daily fitness routine to stretch your chest and improve lung capacity and resiliency. 

For full participation, loose fitting clothing and a yoga mat or hotel towel will be helpful. 

Kreig Pinkham is the NAUI Technical Instructor and Training Director at Waterfront Diving Center and holds a master’s degree in religion with a focus on comparative mythologies.  Jeannine Russell is the Archeology Officer for the Vermont Agency of Transportation and a NAUI Assistant Instructor.  Together they promote the development of diving in Lake Champlain as the principal organizers behind the Waterfront Diving Center’s community events calendar.

 

Getting Wrecked in Ireland

Ben Lair

Wrecks/Maritime History

Daytime

Saturday

4:00PM-4:45PM

Gimbel

Take a deeper look into the wrecks of Malin Head, Ireland with a focus on the classics and capturing underwater imagery in the 60-100 meter range with a focus on offboard lighting.

Ben is a full-time dive professional that specializes in technical diving and underwater photography and videography. Ben has experience teaching and diving all over the world. Ben currently teaches open circuit technical diving, overhead (cave & wreck), and CCR courses (CM O2ptima & Divesoft Liberty SM). Ben is an Instructor Trainer for TDI and offers instructor level courses for a variety of technical diving programs and the Dive Rite CM O2ptima. In addition to teaching, Ben has a passion for organizing diving expeditions in remote and harsh environments and capturing these images for others to enjoy.

Diving into the industrial underground: UK Mine Diving

Yana Stashkevich

Caves and Mines

Daytime

Saturday

4:00PM-4:45PM

Cousteau

Flooded mines are the industrial time capsules that once were at the core of the British economy, providing livelihoods for thousands of people and communities. Mines are not only an all-year-around diving location. Mine diving is about rediscovery, going back in time. It is re-touching human history. It's about a sense of privilege of being somewhere where not many have ventured before. In her presentation, Yana shares her passion for mine diving, offering both, an inspiring perspective and a practical comparison to cave diving.

Experienced technical CCR, cave, mine and wreck diver, Yana is rapidly making a name for herself when it comes to exploration dives". Over the past ten years, she has dived in over 35 destinations across three continents, all while balancing a career as a full-time global marketeer. She was a member of the Vaggfjellan XI expedition exploring the cave system beyond the Arctic Circle and a rebreather diver on the Underwater Filming & Research (UFR) project team documenting some of the world's best-preserved wrecks in Greece last year. More recently she played the key role in a Bikini Atoll wrecks filming project; cave exploration in Iceland, and exploring flooded mines in the UK. Yana has an infectious amount of energy and enthusiasm and is a regular speaker and coach – she is passionate about inspiring people to push their boundaries and pursue their passion, whatever it may be.

Underwater Photography in Black & White

Chuck Davis

Photo/Video

Daytime

Saturday

4:00PM-4:45PM

Doc Edgerton

This presentation is conceptual in nature and will explore the reasoning as to why so many underwater images are indeed most impactful when rendered in color,  BUT in contrast, why do certain lesser number of special images when stripped of their color elements possess a visual power which more effectively conveys the elements of light, shape and form? Why do these types of images have the power to intensify feelings and emotions much better without the use of color?  Why do some underwater images when rendered in black and white sometimes make us reevaluate what subject matter even is? To quote the great fine art photographer and teacher, Minor White (with regard to photographic subject matter), "it  isn't just what the subject is, it's what else it is."  I'm tailoring  this lecture to anyone — whether a beginner or experienced underwater photographer, or  even to someone who is   contemplating taking up underwater photography — who may be  interested in exploring the realm of black and white underwater imagery.  Whether employing digital or traditional analog methods — or "hybrid" methods  — or even rendering video grab frames as monochrome stills, this presentation will feature many examples of my own fine art  black and white imagery but also include inspiring underwater black and white works by some of my talented artist friends including my dear friend and mentor, the late Ernest H. Brooks II. I will elaborate on capturing black and white images underwater but also delve into modern alternatives to making fine black and white prints, using digital, analog or hybrid methods.

From the freezing climes of Antarctica and Greenland to the heat and humidity of the Amazon, Chuck Davis has worked as a specialist in marine and underwater photography and cinematography for over 40 years.  His motion picture credits include work on numerous IMAX films, including two Academy Award-nominated films, Alaska: Spirit of the Wild and The Living Sea.  For over twenty years, Davis worked as a freelance cinematographer and still photographer with the Cousteau filming teams working with the late Jacques Yves Cousteau and his son Jean-Michel aboard vessels Alcyone and Calypso, during production of the Rediscovery of the World TV series and later, as a director of photography on Jean-Michel Cousteau’s, Ocean Adventures PBS television series.Davis’s still photographs have been published nationally and internationally in magazines such as B+W, LensWork, Silvergrain Classics, ORION, LIFE, Blancpain’s Editions Fifty Fathoms, National Geographic, and French Terre Sauvage.  His work has been widely exhibited and included in numerous private, corporate, and museum collections. Davis is the author/photographer of California Reefs (Chronicle Books) and has earned degrees in fisheries biology from the University of Massachusetts/Amherst and in filmmaking from the Brooks Institute of Photography. In 2017, Davis was the recipient of the Academy of Underwater Arts and Sciences’ prestigious NOGI Award for Arts.

Beverly’s Ghost Gear Challenge: A Winter Recovery Mission – Free

Capt. Peter Dickman, Beverly Harbormaster 

NAUI Sponsored

Workshops

Saturday

4:00PM – 4:45PM

Essex Room 2nd Floor

4:00 – 4:45: “Beverly’s Ghost Gear Challenge: A Winter Recovery Mission” 

Presenter: Capt. Peter Dickman, Beverly Harbormaster 

Abstract: 

Lobstering has shaped the North Shore for centuries, transforming lobster from “poor man’s food” into a valuable commercial fishery and a core part of the region’s maritime heritage. As fishing gear 

evolved from wood to long-lasting wire, new challenges emerged. Lost or abandoned lobster traps can persist on the seafloor for decades, continuing to capture marine life in a process called ghost fishing. This derelict gear harms habitat, affects fisheries, and is a growing concern in harbors worldwide. 

Harbormaster Peter Dickman will explain how recent changes in maritime law have made it possible for coastal communities to address this issue and will present plans for the Beverly Harbor Derelict Trap Recovery Project. Funded through a Fishing Trap Removal Assessment and Prevention program grant from the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, the project will use scuba-based recovery operations over two winter periods to locate, remove, and document abandoned traps, improve marine habitat, and support sustainable reuse or recycling of recovered materials. Learn about this collaborative effort to protect marine life, support sustainable fishing, and honor the working waterfront tradition. 

Presenter Bio: 

Capt. Peter Dickman has served as Harbormaster for Beverly, Massachusetts, since July 2022 and is a lifelong mariner and Beverly native. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science and a Master 100-ton Merchant Mariner Credential. Capt. Dickman has hands-on experience in maritime safety, vessel operations, and local waters management, and will be spearheading a derelict fishing trap recovery project in Beverly Harbor. A dedicated environmental steward, he unites local divers, fishermen, students, and organizations to protect and restore the harbor, creating lasting benefits for the marine environment. 

Diver Propulsion Vehicle (DPV) Overview – free

Heison Chak and David Caldwell

NAUI Sponsored

Workshops

Saturday

5:00PM-6:00PM

Essex Room 2nd Floor

NAUI Workshop Series Boston Sea Rovers International Ocean Clinic

Saturday March 14th 5:00 – 6:00 – Diver Propulsion Vehicle Workshop / DPV Overview 

Workshop Description: Diver Propulsion Vehicle workshop provides an introduction and familiarization with DPV equipment, basic handling concepts, and core safety considerations in a shallow, controlled environment. The focus is on orientation, ergonomics, awareness, and procedural understanding rather than operational proficiency. This workshop is not a certification course, does not confer open-water DPV competency, and does not replace formal DPV training conducted in appropriate open-water conditions. 

 

Heison Chak is a Recreational, Technical, and CCR instructor with over a decade of experience in teaching and mentoring divers. His unwavering commitment to dive safety is exemplified by his extensive contributions to the Ontario Underwater Council (OUC) since 2015, where he served as Director of Sport Safety before being elected President.

As a NAUI Course Director and Technical Instructor Examiner, Heison works closely with NAUI HQ to shape the next generation of diving leaders. Through his involvement in Leadership Conferences and the NAUI Mobile Training Team, he focuses on cultivating the skills and leadership qualities of aspiring divers, fostering a culture of safety, excellence, and innovation within the diving community.

David Caldwell has had a lifelong career in the scuba industry, beginning by working at a dive store while in high school. In 1987 he became an open water scuba instructor where his passion led him to Grenada West Indies leading dives to the noted shipwreck, Bianca C. Returning from the Grenada he became the co-owner and president of the dive store where he first learned how to dive. Following his tenure being a dive store owner David co-founded Northern Atlantic Dive Expeditions, Inc. NADE focuses on shipwreck diving, exploration, technical diving training and leadership development. Along with being the co-owner he is a co-captain of the dive charter boat Gauntlet and is the northeastern U.S. and eastern Canada’s regional manager for NAUI Worldwide.

David continues to follow his passions of cave and mine diving throughout the U.S. and Europe, he has had the privilege to dive some of the worlds notable shipwrecks off the eastern seaboard of the U.S., Canada, South Pacific, Red Sea, South China Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea. In addition, he has co-led shipwreck discoveries in his local waters, including the USS Nezinscot, Allentown, among many others, and has collaborated on research projects with NOAA in support of exploration in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary.

Through his position with NAUI Worldwide, David is a Course Director Trainer and Technical Examiner, he is a fellow member of the Explorers Club, associate member of the Boston Sea Rovers. David is also employed as an Assistant Harbormaster for the City of Beverly Massachusetts and is a member of the board of directors for Salem Sound Coast Watch. Parallel to having a career in the dive industry, he’s had an industry career in global product management and application engineering.

Please email dcaldwell@naui.org for more information.

 

Marine Wildlife Natural History Film Producers

Howard and Michele Hall

Photo/Video

Film Festival

Saturday

8:00PM-10:00PM

Howard and Michele Hall are perhaps best known for their underwater IMAX films.  In 1994 Howard directed the first underwater IMAX 3D feature, Into the Deep.  In 1998 Michele produced and Howard directed the IMAX feature Island of the Sharks.  In 2005 they returned to the IMAX 3D format by directing and producing Deep Sea 3D which was awarded Best Picture at the Giant Screen Cinema Association Conference and Best Large Format Film at Wildscreen 2006.  In 2009 the Hall’s released Under the Sea 3D.  This film won best cinematography at the Giant Screen Cinema Association Conference in 2009 and Best Documentary at the International 3D Society in 2010.  Howard was director of underwater cinematography for Primesco Productions’ Lost Worlds, MacGillivray Freeman Films’ The Living Sea, the IMAX 3D feature Return to Hubble, and was underwater cinematographer for MacGillivray Freeman’s Journey Into Amazing Caves.  In 2002 Howard was underwater sequence director and Michele was location manager for MacGillivray Freeman’s IMAX feature Coral Reef Adventure, a film in which both are featured on camera.  The Hall’s latest IMAX film, Secrets of the Sea 3D, was released in 2022 and was a coproduction between Howard Hall Productions and Oceanic Research.

Of the five highest grossing 3D films produced by IMAX Corporation, two were directed by Howard Hall.  Into the Deep has earned box office receipts of over $70 million and Deep Sea 3D has earned over $96 million.

Between them, Howard and Michele have won seven Emmy Awards.  Howard has produced and/or directed many award winning natural history television films including a National Geographic Special which he co-produced with Michele, and four episodes of the PBS series Nature.  Howard also directed and Michele produced the award winning five-hour series Secrets of the Ocean Realm for PBS.   The Hall’s most recent film, Soul of the Ocean, is a 78-minute feature length film that was finished in 2022.

Howard holds a BS degree in zoology from San Diego State University.  He is a member of the Directors Guild of America and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Michele is a Registered Nurse and holds a B.S. degree in Health Sciences.  She is a member of the Television Academy of Arts and Sciences and the Women Divers Hall of Fame.

Freshwater Photography, Filmmaker

David Herasimtschuk

Photo/Video

Film Festival

Saturday

8:00PM-10:00PM

Growing up along the banks of Colorado's Cache la Poudre River I perfected the art of toad catching and river swimming at a very early age. Days on the river consisted of rafting, swimming, and finding the biggest toad, frog, or snake possible as a gift for my mother. Fortunately, life has changed very little since then. The only difference now is my camera.

Over the years my love for rivers and the slimy and scaly critters that inhabit them has turned into a passion to help conserve them. I feel truly fortunate to have grown up in such a wild place and hope that my work fosters a greater appreciation for these environments and supports the actions to help keep them free and wild. I strongly believe that promoting awareness through visual storytelling can have a large impact in conservation. If people can see what they are saving, they may see a real reason to act.

With a background in freshwater ecology much of my work focuses on creating imagery that offers a unique look into the secret worlds that reside below our rivers and streams. Working with Freshwaters Illustrated, a non-profit that uses film and photography to educate the public on a variety of freshwater topics, I hope to inspire curiosity and help to encourage everyone to get out and explore their local river. 

As the movement to conserve and restore rivers continues to gain momentum worldwide I hope my images will help motivate a new discourse in the way we all view rivers. With all of us having some connection to a river, the power to introduce communities to their aquatic neighbors may become fundamental in the movement to conserve these wild environments. 

Wreck hunter and author

Jennifer Sellitti

Photo/Video

Film Festival

Saturday

8:00PM-10:00PM

 

Jennifer Sellitti is the Managing Member of Atlantic Wreck Salvage and the captain of the company’s dive vessel, Tenacious. She leads dive expeditions, conducts historical research on both active and prospective projects, oversees side-scan sonar operations, and directs the team’s public education efforts on the importance of shipwreck discovery and responsible salvage.

Jennifer has participated in the discovery of several previously undocumented shipwrecks, including the 1855 French passenger steamship SS Le Lyonnais, the WWI-era fishing trawler ST Seiner, the U-53 casualty SS West Point, and the bow of MV Stockholm, the vessel that collided with and sank Andrea Doria, among others. She organizes and leads regular expeditions to dive sites along the Eastern Seaboard and has provided surface support on international expeditions to SS Andrea Doria, Titanic’s sister ship HMHS Britannic, RMS Lusitania, and other deep-water wrecks far offshore.

A diver and U.S. Coast Guard–licensed captain, Jennifer is an associate member of the Boston Sea Rovers and a trustee of the New Jersey Maritime Museum. When not at sea, she practices criminal
defense law.

Her first book, The Adriatic Affair: A Maritime Hit-and-Run Off the Coast of Nantucket (Schiffer Publishing, March 2025), chronicles the sinking of the nineteenth-century passenger steamship Le
Lyonnais. The epilogue documents D/V Tenacious’s 2024 discovery and exploration of the wreck’s final resting place.

Jennifer inherited Atlantic Wreck Salvage and Tenacious from her partner in life and wreck diving, Captain Joe Mazraani, following his death in July 2025 during an expedition to document some of
the Georges Bank shipwrecks they discovered together. Today, she and her crew honor Joe’s legacy by pursuing undiscovered shipwrecks and maritime history with the same passion, strength, and tenacity that defined his life and work.

Marine biologist and wildlife filmmaker

Erick Higuera

Photo/Video

Film Festival

Saturday

8:00PM-10:00PM

Erick Higuera, a Mexican marine biologist, wildlife cinematographer and National Geographic Explorer, is internationally recognized for documenting wildlife in the Mexican Pacific. For over 25 years, he has explored the waters surrounding the Baja California Peninsula, Guadalupe Island, and Revillagigedo National Park, specializing in capturing natural history sequences of marine megafauna, including orcas, giant manta rays, sharks, and whales. His visual work has appeared in top-tier productions from the BBC, Nat Geo, Netflix, Disney+, Apple TV, and more, including the world-renowned documentary series “Shark”, “Blue Planet II”, "Mammals”, "Planet Earth III”, "Our Oceans”, "The Americas”, and the multi-award-winning film "Ocean with David Attenborough”, released in 2025. 

Erick is also an associate member of Pelagic Life (https://www.pelagiclife.org/miembros), a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting marine wildlife in the Mexican open ocean through visual awareness and sustainable ecotourism. In September 2022, he was named a “Sea Hero” by Scuba Diving magazine for his work combining cinematography with marine conservation and citizen science.

As a marine scientist (researchgate.net/profile/Jesus-Higuera-Rivas) and co-executive director of Conexiones Terramar  in La Paz, Baja California Sur, since 2003, he has conducted scientific research on the oceanic manta ray and its life cycle through photo-identification monitoring and satellite tagging in key regions such as the Revillagigedo Archipelago and the Gulf of California. 
Currently, in collaboration with a team of marine scientists, conservationists, fishermen, and non-governmental organizations, he is producing film sequences that incorporate research on the natural history of orcas and their hunting strategies in the Sea of Cortez. He collaborates with initiatives such as Orcas México (https://www.orcasmexico.org/) and Manta Pacífico (https://www.facebook.com/mantapacifico/) to expand knowledge with crucial information to help local governments create effective management plans and codes of conduct to regulate excessive tourism, with the goal of preserving these species in this region.

Wildlife Cinematographer

Jeff Hester

Photo/Video

Film Festival

Saturday

8:00PM-10:00PM

Jeff Hester is an award-winning wildlife cameraman, IATSE Local 600 camera operator, SOC associate member, Explorer’s Club member, former Rolex Scholar, and licensed drone pilot. I currently freelance as a camera operator for a variety of companies including Netflix, BBC, Apple, Disney+, and National Geographic.

I'm fortunate to be based in Southern California where I have an incredible ocean backyard to explore. This has allowed me to rack up quite a bit of underwater time (over 1200 hours on rebreather and over 4000 open circuit dives) which I think is crucial for staying sharp and being comfortable in a hostile environment.

Photographers and Cinematographers

Steven Lopez and Carmen Obied

Photo/Video

Film Festival

Saturday

8:00PM-10:00PM

Steven Lopez,  is the Co-Founder and Photographer of Explorers Photography. He is an L.A. local of Mexican/Native American heritage. Steven is also an Underwater Archaeologist (MSc), AAUS Scientific Diver, TDI Trimix, and Data Scientist. Steven first specialized in photography through his archaeological photogrammetric work (3D modeling), which expanded to also directing photographic documentation for archaeological projects, media coverage and publications. Steven has also led photogrammetry projects and workshops for the Natural History Museum of L.A. County and Honor Frost Foundation. His photographic career has also taken him into the fashion realm through his work as Travel Editor & Photographer for Fashion Shift Magazine in London, featuring his quarterly column 'Oh Snap! Adventures'. Through archaeology, Steven met his wife, Carmen Obied, in Croatia. They're now living in L.A., where they founded Explorers Photography (EP). Through this joint venture, Steven and Carmen aim to bring awareness to cultural heritage and ocean conservation through fine art photography, cinematography, and documentaries.

Carmen Obied  is the Co-Founder and Cinematographer of Explorers Photography. Carmen's careers and passions are connected by her multicultural influences. A polyglot with Spanish/Egyptian/Scottish heritage, she was born in Seville and grew up in Lisbon and London. Carmen is an Underwater Archaeologist (PhD), AAUS Scientific Diver, TDI Trimix, and TPM/Full-Stack Engineer. Her scientific research focuses on the Levant, Red Sea and Indo-Roman region, using digital geospatial mapping and 3D modeling tools to decode the past. Carmen is also a professional agency-signed high fashion and underwater model, having worked 10+ years internationally and art-directed large scale photoshoots and magazine publications as Features Editor for Fashion Shift Magazine in London. Both Steven & Carmen are also photogrammetrists and have led photogrammetry projects and workshops for the Natural History Museum of LA County, Honor Frost Foundation, and other academic/outreach partnerships. Through Explorers Photography, Carmen merges her passion for science, art, and technology.

Diver Propulsion Vehicle Pool / In-water Workshop

Heison Chak and Dave Caldwell

NAUI Sponsored

Workshops

Sunday

8:00AM-12:00PM

Hotel Pool

Sunday March 15^th 8:00am – 12:00pm – Diver Propulsion Vehicle Pool / In-water Workshop

DPV pool demo fee $45.00 (Registration to follow)

Follow up Pool Session from Saturday DPV Overview

Diver Propulsion Vehicle workshop provides an introduction and familiarization with DPV equipment, basic handling concepts, and core safety considerations in a shallow, controlled environment. The focus is on orientation, ergonomics, awareness, and procedural understanding rather than operational proficiency. This workshop is not a certification course, does not confer open-water DPV competency, and does not replace formal DPV training conducted in appropriate open-water conditions.

Required Equipment –

Single Tank, Back Plate, with Crotch Strap & Single Tank Wing – (Standard BCD are not adequate unless fitted with a crotch strap), Regulator Setup, Wetsuit or Drysuit, appropriate weighting, Mask, Fins.

Heison Chak is a Recreational, Technical, and CCR instructor with over a decade of experience in teaching and mentoring divers. His unwavering commitment to dive safety is exemplified by his extensive contributions to the Ontario Underwater Council (OUC) since 2015, where he served as Director of Sport Safety before being elected President.

As a NAUI Course Director and Technical Instructor Examiner, Heison works closely with NAUI HQ to shape the next generation of diving leaders. Through his involvement in Leadership Conferences and the NAUI Mobile Training Team, he focuses on cultivating the skills and leadership qualities of aspiring divers, fostering a culture of safety, excellence, and innovation within the diving community.

David Caldwell has had a lifelong career in the scuba industry, beginning by working at a dive store while in high school. In 1987 he became an open water scuba instructor where his passion led him to Grenada West Indies leading dives to the noted shipwreck, Bianca C. Returning from the Grenada he became the co-owner and president of the dive store where he first learned how to dive. Following his tenure being a dive store owner David co-founded Northern Atlantic Dive Expeditions, Inc. NADE focuses on shipwreck diving, exploration, technical diving training and leadership development. Along with being the co-owner he is a co-captain of the dive charter boat Gauntlet and is the northeastern U.S. and eastern Canada’s regional manager for NAUI Worldwide.

 

David continues to follow his passions of cave and mine diving throughout the U.S. and Europe, he has had the privilege to dive some of the worlds notable shipwrecks off the eastern seaboard of the U.S., Canada, South Pacific, Red Sea, South China Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea. In addition, he has co-led shipwreck discoveries in his local waters, including the USS Nezinscot, Allentown, among many others, and has collaborated on research projects with NOAA in support of exploration in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary.

 

Through his position with NAUI Worldwide, David is a Course Director Trainer and Technical Examiner, he is a fellow member of the Explorers Club, associate member of the Boston Sea Rovers. David is also employed as an Assistant Harbormaster for the City of Beverly Massachusetts and is a member of the board of directors for Salem Sound Coast Watch. Parallel to having a career in the dive industry, he’s had an industry career in global product management and application engineering.

 

Please email dcaldwell@naui.org for more information.

Visual Storytelling

Cristian Dimitrius, Berkley White, Jake Stout

Photo/Video

Workshops

Sunday

9:00AM-12:00PM

Newburyport Room 2nd Floor

Registration Fee: $50

This one morning workshop is designed to change the way you think about images.

The Visual Storytelling Workshop brings together three experienced filmmakers and educators: Cristian Dimitrius, Jake Stout and Berkley White.

The focus is practical, clear and applicable.

We dive into video techniques, tips and tricks that actually work in the field, combined with a strong emphasis on storytelling. How to structure sequences. How to think in shots, not clips. How to apply narrative logic to your videos, whether you shoot wildlife, underwater, travel or personal projects.Through real case studies from professional work, the instructors break down how visual decisions were made, why certain shots matter, and how story, rhythm and intention shape the final result.

This workshop is not about gear. It is about vision.

Participants will improve the way they observe, plan and execute images. Photographers will gain a stronger sense of motion, sequence and narrative. Videographers will sharpen clarity, intention and editing awareness from the moment they press record.

Open to all ages and experience levels, this session is ideal for anyone who wants to elevate their visual language and create images that communicate, connect and last.

Better thinking leads to better images.

Seashells Around the World

Boston Malacological Club

Animals

Family Day

Sunday

9:00AM-3:00PM

Gloucester Room

FREE ALL WEEKEND SEASHELL EXHIBIT
-second floor Mezzanine-Gloucester Room-

Saturday 9:00 a.m to 5:00 p.m.
Sunday 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Drop by and see educational exhibits of seashells from the world over and learn about their habitats, biodiversity and ecology and their use in food, science, medicine, on stamps, and in art and crafts.

Bring your own seashells and learn how to identify it with the help of experts on mollusks who will be available to assist you and teach you how to use some of the best seashell identification books.

Choose your own seashells from one of the world’s beaches at our 'seashell adoption table' provided by our members.

When you visit the exhibit be sure to sign up for an opportunity to take home the special Door Prize — a collection of unique seashells and a book about mollusks

Sponsored by the Boston Malacological Club
Founded in 1910

Join one of the world's oldest active seashell groups for fun and educational monthly meetings in Cambridge, Mass.  For information contact:
George Buckley – gbuckley@fas.harvard.edu

Please note the contact information below is for informational purposes only – No registration is required!

Diving In New England – How to Plan and Prep to Dive Local

Steve Bigelow

Dive Activities

Workshops

Sunday

9:00AM-12:00PM

Essex Room

Registration Fee:- $35

Steve Bigelow ran the MetroWest Saturday Shore Dive Program for the past 10 years, and will offer some tips on  how he plans and decides where to dive and all that.

• Resources
• Safety – Overview
• Site Selection Options – where to dive
• Site Decision Criteria – which one to choose on a given day
• Tools 
• Day Of Evaluation – picking a site, but playing it by ear once you arrive there; making the "Cape Ann Loop" to find good conditions
• Gear – a brief overview of what's needed / required and "good to have" for diving New England
• Site Etiquette – Respect the Locals! Obey Parking Regulations. Keep Gear Organized and Out Of The Way; Share The Beach
• Calling The Dive – monitoring conditions to ensure safety; know YOUR limits. There's no shame in driving all the way to a dive site, only to bail out if it's a mess and go dive into breakfast somewhere…
• Other
  • Sharing Your Dive – take and post pictures
  • Blogging – doing write-ups for dive club newsletters or social media

Creating A Kick Ass Edit Of Your UW Trip Video With DaVinci Resolve

Joel Penner – Go Ask Erin

Photo/Video

Workshops

Sunday

9:00AM-10:30AM

Georgetown Room

Are you an underwater photographer who dabbles in video, but doesn't have an easy and efficient way to take your favorite clips and transform them into an amazing edited video you can share with your friends and family? Join this video editing power session to learn the ins and outs of DaVinci Resolve (Free Edition). The software is FREE and works on Mac OS or Windows. This is not a work-along session, but if you’d like to look at the software during class, please download DaVinci Resolve before attending. All video editing software can be daunting to use. In this class, Joel will help demystify its complexities and get you comfortable making a basic edit by the end of the session. Join us to learn how to use DaVinci Resolve to create your next UW Trip Video!

The Occidental Tourist

Paul Cater Deaton

Projects/Expeditions

Daytime

Sunday

9:30AM-10:15AM

Edgerton

Splitting time between his two favorite worlds, SCUBA diving and Star Wars, documentary producer Paul Cater Deaton makes the most of expeditions to Japan and Mexico. He dives the frigid muck of Osezaki before attending Star Wars Celebration in Tokyo, then explores the mysterious cenotes of the Yucatan and joining 300 costumed members of the famed 501st Legion for a galactic parade through the streets of Merida, Mexico. Between exotic sites and marine life here on Earth to denizens of a galaxy far, far away, one need not be a Star Wars nerd to enjoy this film.

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.

PCD 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 was certified in Global Shark Biology, Biodiversity and Conservation by Cornell University and the University of Queensland, and has been named a Philippines Specialist by the Philippines Department of Tourism

 

True Crime – Scuba Edition

Ronald Weller

Dive Safety/Training

Daytime

Sunday

9:30AM-10:15AM

Gimbel

This presentation examines real crimes that have been committed while scuba diving and the prosecution of those crimes.  The presentation is entertaining and puts the audience in the role of a jury deciding guilt or innocence.

Ron is an Assistant State’s Attorney at the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney in Connecticut.  He has been a prosecutor for over 30 years.  Ron is also a Criminal Law Professor at Quinnipiac Law School.
He is a PADI Scuba Instructor, a PADI Public Safety Diver Instructor, and has assisted Public Safety dive teams with training on evidence recovery and preparation for trial.  He is also a POST instructor for police officers at the Connecticut Police Academy. Ron often speaks on topics involving the intersection of law and scuba.

Shipwrecks: models for understanding a changing ocean

Kirstin Meyer-Kaiser

WHOI Research

Daytime

Sunday

9:30AM-10:15AM

Cousteau

There are 3 million shipwrecks worldwide, which serve as habitats for marine animals. Kirstin Meyer-Kaiser’s research spans from the US to the western Pacific and uses diving to access a range of historic habitats. In this presentation, Kirstin will show how her research on shipwreck communities helps us understand human impacts on the environment and plan for a more sustainable ocean.

Dr. Kirstin Meyer-Kaiser is a marine biologist at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. She studies communities of animals on the seafloor to understand how habitats are colonized, connected, and change over time. She is a technical SCUBA divers and has traveled to 6 continents and numerous island nations. She lives in Falmouth, MA with her husband and her 100-lb golden doodle, Kraken.

70 years of Artifacts from the Andrea Doria

Mike Dudas and Rick Simon

Wrecks/Maritime History

Art Exhibit

Sunday

9:30AM-3:00PM

Sea Rovers Room 1st Floor

In honor of the 70th anniversary of the Andrea Doria sinking, artifact recoveries from the last 7 decades, will be on display.

The Art Exhibits are Free and open to the public

Aquatic Theme-based Origami Exhibit

Michael LaFosse and Richard Alexander

Animals

Art Exhibit

Sunday

9:30AM-3:00PM

Oak Room 1st Floor

Aquatic Theme-based Origami Exhibit – an interactive exhibit with instructions on creating aquatic origami figures. 

The Art Exhibits are Free and open to the public

 

Scouts Oceanography Merit Badge

Mark Fregeau

Marine Science and Conservation

Family Day

Sunday

9:30AM-12:30PM

Manchester Room 2nd Floor

Scouts Oceanography Merit Badge – $25

Sunday March 16, 2025 9:30 – 12:30 PM

Merit Badge Councilors

Mark Fregeau PhD.

Woody Tinsley

Scouts should bring Blue Cards and printed out copy of Oceanography Merit Badge Workbook

Schedule:

9:30AM – 1PM:   Merit Badge Activities – Newburyport Room on 2^ndfloor of Hotel

Questions? Email Mark Fregeau

Register (where you purchase tickets under BSR Sponsored Workshops)

Kids Room Activities – Free (Children must be accompanied by an adult)

Joy Marzolf

Animals

Family Day

Sunday

10:00AM-2:00PM

Marblehead Room 2nd Floor

Sunday Kids Day, March 15, 2026!

Fun ocean related activities and programs during the day from 10am-2pm.

Admission to these special Sunday Kids Day programs for children and adults is FREE!* Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Activities and presentations take place upstairs in the Marblehead Room on the Second Floor (Access by ballroom staircase).

Ocean Related Fun for Kids in 2026 includes:

10:30am-2pm Traveling Tidepool from the Seacoast Science Center: Get up close and personal!

Other activities will be presented throughout the day (Schedule TBA) by 

The Atlantic White Shark Conservancy

Mass Audubon Joppa Flats

*Please note: While Sunday Kids Day events are FREE, Tickets are required for the regular Boston Sea Rovers Saturday and Sunday Adult Daytime programs and Saturday Evening Film Festival.

Healing Beneath the Surface: The Transformative Power of Adaptive Diving

Tinamarie Hernandez

Dive Safety/Training

Daytime

Sunday

10:30AM-11:15AM

Gimbel

Scuba diving offers more than exploration—it can be a form of medicine. Diveheart has pioneered adaptive scuba programs that bring healing and hope to individuals with disabilities, veterans, and others facing life’s toughest challenges. This presentation shares powerful real-life stories that illustrate the physiological and psychological benefits of diving, while highlighting the safety innovations and training practices that make these experiences possible. Attendees will gain new insights into how adaptive diving bridges the worlds of adventure, medicine, and human resilience.

Tinamarie Hernandez is a passionate advocate for people with disabilities, helping them recognize their unique value and embrace their potential. After a 26-year career in technology consulting at Accenture, she transitioned full-time into nonprofit leadership as Executive Director of Diveheart. In this role, she has devoted her passion and expertise to creating opportunities for individuals of all abilities to experience freedom, confidence, and healing through adaptive scuba diving.With a deep commitment to building inclusive communities, Tinamarie has helped expand the Diveheart reach across the globe. She has shared her message of hope and healing at over 50 leading institutions and conferences, including the Mayo Clinic, and was most recently honored as an Everyday Disability Hero at the 2024 Springboard Consulting Disability Matters North American Conference & Awards.Her work is rooted in a simple belief: everyone has the ability to redefine their story when given the right tools and encouragement. Tinamarie’s message uplifts, inspires, and reminds us that hope can often surface in the most unexpected places—sometimes, even underwater.

Preserving History: Transforming the SS United States into the World’s Largest Artificial Reef

Alex Fogg

Projects/Expeditions

Daytime

Sunday

10:30AM-11:15AM

Doc Edgerton

The presentation will delve into the extensive planning, engineering, and environmental considerations driving the SS United States Artificial Reef Project, an unprecedented effort to transform one of America’s most iconic ocean liners into the world’s largest artificial reef. Attendees will gain insight into the technical challenges, coordination efforts, and ecological design principles shaping this historic undertaking, as well as the expected economic and environmental benefits it will bring to the Destin-Fort Walton Beach area.Over the past five years, Destin-Fort Walton Beach has solidified its reputation as a premier wreck diving destination, with more than 20 large vessels and over 800 additional reef structures deployed across its offshore waters. Building on this proven record of success, the SS United States project represents the most ambitious phase in the destinations artificial reef program, combining maritime preservation, innovation, and habitat enhancement to foster new diving opportunities while creating essential habitat for recreationally and commercially important marine species.The deployment of the SS United States is anticipated within the next three months. This presentation will be among the first to showcase the evolution of this landmark project, featuring exclusive photos, video footage, and underwater imagery documenting its journey from concept to reef site. Should the project’s timeline shift, deployment is expected to align closely with the Sea Rovers Show, adding even greater anticipation and excitement to this special presentation.