MEETINGS
When We Meet
Marin Scuba Club meets on the second Wednesday of each month from January through November from 7:00 – 8:45pm.
We meet at the Sausalito Parks & Rec Center at 420 Litho Street AND via Zoom.
(WE WILL CONTINUE MEETING IN THE EXERCISE ROOM INDEFINITELY.) There is FREE PARKING in the lot, Bee, Bonita and Litho Streets. NOTE: The Rec Center has an entrance on Bee St., so do not enter upstairs through the parking lot.
Upcoming Events
Check out our Club Calendar. It includes:
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- Guest speakers discussing all aspects of diving
- Slide shows, multi-media presentations, and videos
- Valuable travel tips and dive resort reviews
- Diving weekends (campouts with abalone diving when available)
- Club dive trips (Northern/Southern California cold water & tropical warm water)
- Holiday parties and club picnics
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Wednesday, November 13, 2024 Meeting: “Six MSC Presenters” will take place live, in-person and via a Zoom hybrid event from 7:00 to 8:45 pm PT in the Exercise Room.
- Virginia Bria focused her talents on Santa Maria Island in the Azores (her devil rays image is shown above). Watch her Vimeo.
- Ric Miller combined two events in one video:
– 1) The August Dive ‘N Dine with some historical photos from events past, and
– 2) The MSC 2024 Philippines Dive Trip featuring extended stays at Buceo Anilao and El Galleon dive resorts (shown below). Watch his Vimeo.
- Lisa Perla shot and edited a five-minute video of Chuuk Lagoon/Truk Atoll. Watch her Vimeo.
- John Lewis and Barb Wambach showcased some amazing stuff that they saw in the Maldives. Watch their Vimeo.
- Ken Carter will present his marine life discoveries from a trip to Hawai’i and pictures of the Loch Ness Monster from Scotland.
- And Gil Zeimer summarized his latest scuba blogs and articles. Watch his Vimeo.
Please join us for the MSC group presentations on Wednesday, November 13th from 7:00 – 8:30 pm PT –– live on via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7983463827?pwd=UGEreEJ4VFoycmZRZ2lPWnM5NGp6dz09&omn=89653330618
ID: 798 346 3827 Passcode: 755205
Wednesday, October 9, 2024 Meeting: “Safe Diving For Seniors” will be presented by Dan Orr, in-person and via a Zoom hybrid event from 7:00 to 8:45 pm PT in the Exercise Room (instead of our regular meeting room).
As President of Dan Orr Consulting, he:
- Has been diving for over 60 years, since JFK was in the White House
- Created a college-level diver education program at Wright State University (Dayton, Ohio)
- Was an Associate Diving Safety Officer (DSO) at Florida State University, and
- Retired as President of Divers Alert Network (DAN), where he helped focus its worldwide diving safety mission
Dan has been an invited speaker at numerous national and international diver conferences and conducts regular webinars for global audiences on diving safety subjects. He has published, co-authored and contributed to more than a dozen books and manuals including:
- 101 Tips for Recreational Divers
- Scuba Diving Safety
- Diving Science-Revisited
- A Pocket Guide to First Aid for Scuba Diving Injuries
- A Pocket Guide for Hazardous Marine Life Injuries
- The NOAA Diving Manual and
- The DAN Oxygen First Aid for Scuba Diving Injuries Training Manual
He has also published over 200 articles including:
- The Normalization of Deviance (aka Shortcut Mentality)
- Time to Return to Diving but Cautiously
- COVID-19, Local Diving and The Older Diver
- The Ageless Diver
- A Crisis Lurking Below the Surface––Emergency Hyperbaric Chamber Availability
- Diving Safety Is Good Business and
- Open-Circuit Diver Fatalities
Finally, Dan has been honored by his peers by being the recipient of many prestigious awards and is a member of the Explorers Club and a member of the Hall of Fame for Disabled Divers, the Diving Industry Hall of Fame, and the International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame.
His October 9th presentation from his home in Idaho will focus on “Safe Diving For Seniors”. We look forward to having you join us. For more information, visit https://www.divenewswire.com/author/dan-orr-consulting/.
Watch Dan’s Presentation on Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/1018739878
Wednesday, September 11, 2024 Meeting: “A Decade of Blackwater Diving Images” will be presented by Walter Marti (LA UPS), in-person and via a Zoom hybrid event from 7:00 to 8:45 pm PT in the Exercise Room (instead of our regular meeting room).
Walter has been filming the underwater world since the 1980s. As an accomplished videographer, his shots have been shown on BBC, PBS and many others. His documentary-style films have been shown in numerous national and international film festivals. He recently retired to pursue his passion for videography full-time.
In 2011, he started diving in the offshore depths, before it was known as Blackwater Diving.
Walter runs regular videography clinics around the world, often teaming with Mike Bartick. Their next Underwater Photo & Video Expedition to share Walter’s unparalleled experience of videography will be in October in Burma:
https://www.thesmilingseahorse.com/burma-7d-photo-video-training.html
His films can be seen on Facebook or YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/waltermarti.
Walter’s September 11th presentation will focus on how he got started in Blackwater Diving, how you can do it, where you can do it, and what can be seen.
Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7983463827?pwd=UGEreEJ4VFoycmZRZ2lPWnM5NGp6dz09&omn=81803040410
ID: 798 346 3827 Passcode: 755205
Watch Walter’s presentation on Vimeo.
Wednesday, August 14, 2024 Meeting: “What Wuzz That Sound? Ocean Sounds and The Animals That Make Them” will be a live Michael Stocker presentation, in-person and via Zoom hybrid event from 7:00 to 8:45 pm PT in the Exercise Room (instead of our regular meeting room).
Michael Stocker is the Founder & Executive Director of Ocean Conservation Research. He had established a love of nature –– and particularly sea life –– at an early age.
When he was young, his Mom could take him to the beach and drop him in a tidepool, after which she could stretch out on the sand, crack a novel, and not be pestered for the rest of the day.
Due to the efforts of an exceedingly tedious biology teacher in high school, Michael diverted away from studying biology in university, and studied music, physics, acoustics, and electronics – rounding out his continued love for marine life with marketable skills.
These all came together when physical oceanographers were proposing the ensonifying of the entire ocean with communication signals for nefarious purposes.
Knowing that the sea creatures would not enjoy this, Michael girded his loins, and brought his skills to bear on advocating for the sea.
Now he is the “go-to man” for ocean colleagues worldwide for any and all issues related to protecting the ocean’s natural soundscapes, upon which all marine life depends.
He has advised and designed environments and technical online systems for a diverse array of clients, including the U.S. National Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C., George Lucas’ “Skywalker Ranch”, the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Mexico City’s “El Museo Papalote” children’s museum, and various Hollywood sound and film studios.
Join us for Michael’s “What Wuzz That Sound? Ocean Sounds and The Animals That Make Them” presentation on Wednesday, August 14th from 7:00 to 8:45pm PT. Visit his website at www.ocr.org.
Join this Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7983463827?pwd=UGEreEJ4VFoycmZRZ2lPWnM5NGp6dz09&omn=84103851066
Meeting ID: 798 346 3827 Passcode: 755205
Watch Michael’s presentation on Vimeo.
Wednesday, July 10, 2024 Meeting: “Underwater Images”, “The Two-Year Dive Trip”, and “Dealing With Insta-Buddies” with Carly Anderson of Albuquerque will be a live, in-person hybrid event from 7:00 to 8:45 pm PT in the Exercise Room (instead of our regular meeting room).
Carly is an extraordinary woman on the rise who will be Zooming with us on July 10th from her home in New Mexico for a scuba trifecta of presentations.
Though still in her 20s, she’s a scuba diver, photographer, videographer, adventurer, writer, and world traveler obsessed with adding new hobbies and destinations to her global bucket list. To date, she:
- Published a coffee table book of her stunning underwater images
- Attained two SSI scuba certifications
- Presented two seminars at Scuba Show 2024
- Showcased her photos in art galleries in New Mexico
- Worked on over 20 film and television production sets
- Traveled to 27 countries
- Has a strong passion for creating visual media
Carly adds, “Diving in our oceans often feels as if one is visiting another planet. As a photographer and video-grapher, I aim to capture scuba divers and the creatures around them in the often beautifully strange reality that one experiences when visiting a place where humans don’t naturally belong.”
About Her Presentations.
- First, she’ll share a variety of her underwater images taken in 11 countries.
- In 2021, Carly originally planned a three-month solo sabbatical to travel and dive. But she didn’t return home for two years. She’ll summarize her adventures –– on land and on sea.
- Every dive during her extended trip was with an “insta-buddy” — usually assigned on the boat moments before descent. Carly will focus on her solo diver experiences worldwide. She’ll quiz us on topics such as:
– How do you decide which dive centers to book?
– How is it different than diving consistently with your regular buddy, significant other, or family member?
– What mental checklist should you use?
– What questions should you ask?
– Erratic buddy behavior
– What she learned
– And how she responded in each situation.
Join us for Carly’s triple header presentation on Wednesday, July 10th from 7:00 to
8:45 pm PT. Visit her website at www.globalseahorse.com and follow her on Instagram.
Join this Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7983463827?pwd=UGEreEJ4VFoycmZRZ2lPWnM5NGp6dz09&omn=85977743762
Meeting ID: 798 346 3827 Passcode: 755205
Watch Carly’s Presentation on Vimeo.
Wednesday, June 12 2024 Meeting: “Freediving – All You Ever Wanted to Know About Breath Holding: Show and Tell of Equipment and Techniques” with Brian Stanley of Bamboo Reef will be a live, in-person event from 7:00 – 8:45 pm in the Exercise Room (instead of our regular meeting room).
Co-owner and co-founder of Bamboo Reef in SF and Monterey, Brian has been a scuba diver since 2002 and a freediver since 2008. In addition, he’s also a Scuba Assistant Instructor Trainer, as well as a Level 2 Freediver Instructor Evaluator.
Focusing on Freediving and Spearfishing.
These days, Brian spends more time training for freediving and spearfishing than diving. His personal best is a five-minute breath hold at a depth of 132 feet (40 meters).
He leads freediving classes, underwater hunting classes, training nights, and instructor courses at Bamboo Reef’s two locations in Northern California (San Francisco and Monterey). These courses will teach you to dive safely while on breath hold, both as a diver and as a buddy, increase your breath hold duration, and help you equalize to depth. Whether you train in San Francisco, or Monterey Bay, all certification dives take place in Monterey Bay.
If you haven’t attended one of his free dive training sessions, you’re missing out on some serious fun!
About Bamboo Reef.
Bamboo Reef has been serving Bay Area divers since 1961, and Monterey Bay divers since 1970.
They are proud to be one of a handful of SSI Platinum Training Facilities worldwide, which means they have the experience and knowledge to train dive instructors as well as students.
Join us on Wednesday, June 12 for this free-flowing deep dive into freediving featuring Brian Stanley from 7:00 – 8:45 pm in the Exercise Room.
Watch Brian’s Presentation on Vimeo.
Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7983463827?pwd=UGEreEJ4VFoycmZRZ2lPWnM5NGp6dz09&omn=89278632123
Meeting ID: 798 346 3827 Passcode: 755205
Wednesday, May 8, 2024 Meeting: “Svalbard: Wild Land, Wild Ice, Wild Life” with Jodi Frediani will be a live, in-person event in the Exercise Room (instead of our regular meeting room). Jodi is a Santa Cruz-based award-winning photographer and whale researcher, Jodi has been swimming with and photographing humpback whales on the Silver Bank off the coast of the Dominican Republic for over 20 years.
Monterey, Alaska, Argentina, Antarctica, et.al.
One of Jodi’s images was a People’s Choice Finalist in Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2022; another was First Place Black & White in Nature Photographer of the Year 2023. She has also has been photographing the marine life of Monterey Bay for the past 12 years, while taking time off for photographic adventures to Africa, Alaska, Argentina, Antarctica, the Arctic, Brazil, Franz Josef Land (Russia), Norway, Siberia, Svalbard, Thailand, and Tonga.
Her work has appeared in many national and international publications, including the BBC’s “Nature’s Weirdest Events”, and Carl Safina’s National Geographic blog, “Ocean Views”.
Besides working with polar bears, she’s engaged in whale research through several fluke ID projects both here and abroad.
Killer Whales vs. Gray Whales
With co-authors Nancy Black and Fred Sharpe, she published her first scientific paper in 2020, entitled Postmortem Attractions: Humpback Whales Investigate the Carcass of a Killer Whale-Depredated Gray Whale Calf.
Since 2021, she has been part of a team conducting field research in southeast Alaska on humpback whale playback studies and was co-author on a recent paper on Interactive Bioacoustic Playback as a Tool for Detecting and Exploring Nonhuman Intelligence: “Conversing” with an Alaskan Humpback Whale.
She’s Also Publishing Research Papers
Jodi is currently collaborating on an additional paper about humpback whale blow bubble rings. See her amazing photography at http://www.jodifrediani.com/.
Join us on Wednesday, May 8th at 7:00 pm in the Exercise Room (instead of the Edgewater Room) at the Sausalito Rec Center for a fascinating journey to Svalbard (formerly known as Spitsbergen or Spitzbergen), an Arctic Ocean Norwegian archipelago north of mainland Europe. Watch Jodi’s Presentation on Vimeo.
Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7983463827?pwd=UGEreEJ4VFoycmZRZ2lPWnM5NGp6dz09&omn=84517385743
Meeting ID: 798 346 3827 Passcode: 755205
Wednesday, April 10, 2024 Meeting: “The Coldest Dive: Antarctica” with Jeff Bozanic, Ph.D. features another presenter we met at Scuba Show in Long Beach last summer.
Does water freeze at 32o F.? Not at the bottom of the world. Join this technical diving instructor and research scientist as he takes us on a journey to the coldest place on Earth this month: Antarctica!
During his seminar, he’ll describe teaching students to dive into 28o F. water. He’ll show you fish with antifreeze in their blood to keep them from becoming icicles. And he’ll share images of descents through 23 feet of solid ice to study life on Mars. He’ll also talk about visiting remote islands where you can see over 250,000 penguins with a single glance. You’ll see his groups reach out to icebergs as they bob up and down in the waves. And view them wandering through shipwrecks frozen in ice and time.
About Jeff Bozanic
Dr. Bozanic started diving in 1972 and has been teaching diving since 1978. As a technical diving instructor and marine scientist, he has participated or led over 70 diving expeditions during the past 40 years to places like Palau, Canary Islands, Clipperton Island (Eastern Pacific), the Red Sea, and Mexico. From 1989-1992, he oversaw scientific diving operations in Antarctica as part of the U.S. Antarctic Program. As an aquanaut and instructor, he has been associated with the Marine Research Development Foundation since 1985.
Jeff has written extensively on dive safety and education, including the textbook Mastering Rebreathers and being the lead Technical Editor of The NOAA Diving Manual. In addition, Jeff is active in recreational, cave, ice, deep, and rebreather diving, logging his 5,000th dive in 2016, and especially likes getting wet with his three children.
Many Contributions to Underwater Sciences
Jeff has been recognized with the TDI Professional of the Year Award, the DAN/Rolex Diver of the Year Award, the NAUI Lifetime Achievement Award, and by the American Academy of Underwater Sciences’ Conrad Limbaugh Award for Scientific Diving Leadership in 2015. Finally, he’s very proud to receive the 2024 NOGI Award for Sports/Education.
Join us on April 10th for a truly chilling dive into the most remote continent on earth… Antarctica! For more information, visit: https://jeffbozanic.com/.
Join us on Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7983463827?pwd=UGEreEJ4VFoycmZRZ2lPWnM5NGp6dz09&omn=89407902735
Meeting ID: 798 346 3827
Passcode: 755205
Watch Jeff’s Presentation on Vimeo.
Wednesday, March 13, 2024 Meeting: “Diving Into Social Media” with Jami Leslie Feldman features a woman we met last year at Scuba Show in Long Beach. We were so enthralled with her presentation that we’ve asked her to present this month.
A Southern California-based photographer, avid scuba diver, and Divemaster, she’s an ambassador for the ScubaPro Global Dive Team, an active board member for the San Diego Underwater Film Exhibition, plus a past president and current board member for the San Diego Underwater Photographic Society.
Her photography passion began around age 11 in a black-and-white darkroom class. That inevitably evolved into underwater photography when she was scuba certified in 2008. Jami loves the beauty of the underwater world, the challenge of cold water diving, and the creative outlet it brings.
Her goal is to help inspire, educate, and promote ocean conservation efforts through photography and video. And make you smile with a few goofy posts in between.
She will dive as often as conditions (and a toddler) will allow so follow along on her social media channels to see what’s happening down in Southern California!
For detailed dive reports, in-depth photos and videos and more underwater Vitamin Sea, subscribe to www.UnderwaterPaparazzi.com or follow Jami on www.instagram.com/underwaterpaparazzi/.
Join us on Zoom on Wednesday, March 13th for this deep dive into social media:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7983463827?pwd=UGEreEJ4VFoycmZRZ2lPWnM5NGp6dz09&omn=81838804207Meeting ID: 798 346 3827 Passcode: 755205
Watch Jami’s presentation on Vimeo.
Wednesday, February 14, 2024 Meeting: “25 Years Focused on Cayman Reefs: Explore The Cayman Islands with Jim Hellemn” features an underwater imaging specialist, digital artist, and long-time friend of Marin Scuba Club who is renowned for his groundbreaking techniques in capturing the vibrant beauty of coral reefs.
In this insightful talk, Jim will share his experiences, from his most challenging projects across the three Cayman Islands, along with his favorite and best-selling Cayman images, and offer a sneak peek into his upcoming group trips, exploring the very places where he created them.
With over 4,000 dives under his belt, Jim says, “My personal hope is that my images and the exhibitions that we do will help people begin to appreciate the ocean as a vital part of our world so they can begin to take realistic steps to protect and preserve marine environments for our future generations.”
A Unique Approach
We all know that you can only see a coral reef well up-close, and you’ll need to bring some light with you. Back up enough to see a wider view, and it disappears in blue. But Jim has spent his career developing new ways to capture the essence of these special places, creating innovative equipment and techniques that enable him to photograph an entire reef.
Stitching Images Together
His first coral reef image, “Great Wall West”, published in National Geographic in 2001, was the first “stitched” and highest resolution coral reef image ever created. Jim spends days, even months on a reef, taking hundreds of precise photos up close with specially designed lighting.
Next, in post-production, he uses high-power computers to assemble all the individual images into a seamless super-wide landscape that captures all the true colors and detail.
The images are more than just a photograph –– they document an important ecosystem that is vital to our planet.
Jim’s images have also been a benefit to science. He returned to Bloody Bay Wall in 2010 to create a second identical resolution image that is being used by scientists to compare changes in the reef over a decade. Working closely with them, Jim also produced a matching image of Great Wall West, capturing coral fluorescence and turning scientists in a new direction.
Explore The High-Resolution Images of Great Wall West:
Explore Great Wall West 1999
Explore Great Wall West 2010
Great Wall West Fluorescence
Join us on Zoom on Wednesday, February 14th for Jim’s incredibly detailed images:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7983463827?pwd=UGEreEJ4VFoycmZRZ2lPWnM5NGp6dz09&omn=88335845602
Meeting ID: 798 346 3827
Passcode: 755205
Visit www.jimhellemn.com/. Watch Jim’s presentation on Vimeo.
Wednesday, January 10, 2024 Meeting: Our first presentation of the new year, “Filming In The Deep”, will be by Caitlin Bailey, a wildlife cinematographer, photographer, and ocean explorer.
Based in San Antonio, Texas, her accomplishments include:
- She’s worked as part of the Global Foundation for Ocean Exploration video team onboard NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer since 2016, surveying the deep sea with remotely operated vehicles.
- She’s created nearly 100 deep sea videos for NOAA.
- She was the inaugural participant in National Geographic Society’s (NGS) Second Assistant Program, working with National Geographic Photographer David Littschwager on a project on microplastics and plankton.
- She is a National Geographic Society Explorer, grant recipient, and is currently in the Field Ready Program.
- She is also a member of the Emerging League at the International League of Conservation Photographers.
Caitlin’s work has taken her to Antarctica, the Arctic, Ireland, Alaska, and more. She earned a B.S. in Animal Biology from Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi, and a M.F.A. in Science and Natural History Filmmaking from Montana State University.
Join us on Wednesday, January 10th for her extraordinary films and images. Visit https://www.caitlinbailey.com and engineeringfordiscovery.org to see more.
Watch her presentation on Vimeo.
Wednesday, November 8, 2023 Meeting: We’re absolutely thrilled to host Renee Capozzola via Zoom for our final meeting of the year. As a conservation-oriented underwater photographer, she specializes in wide angle and split-level images.
Her work is an intriguing combination of artistic talent honed through oil painting during her youth, a professional background in biology, and growing up by the ocean as a Southern Californian native.
Since Renee started scuba diving in 2004, she has developed a true appreciation for marine organisms through her diverse travels and believes that striking images help increase awareness of our fragile marine ecosystems, encouraging others to protect our oceans.
To that end, her images have been awarded over 50 prestigious international accolades, including “Underwater Photographer of the Year 2021” in the Underwater Photographer of the Year competition and the “Female Fifty Fathoms Award” from Blancpain through the 2021 “Ocean Photographer of the Year”.
Her work has also appeared globally in leading dive publications, including National Geographic in print, and she serves as an Ocean Geographic Photographer-In-Residence, a fellow of The Explorers Club, and an ambassador for SEACAM.
Renee has been featured by multiple news outlets such as CNN, USA Today, BBC, People, The Today Show, and France 2. She’s also showcased in Ocean Geographic October 2023 with Antarctica photos and a story on Tahiti. In recent years, she has been invited to judge several photo competitions and speak at many in-person and online events.
When she’s not in the water with her camera, Renee strives to educate others about the challenges facing our oceans and the importance of conserving marine ecosystems.
Please join Renee on November 8th for a very special presentation that will knock your fins off.
Read her complete bio and list of prestigious awards: http://www.beneaththesurfaceimaging.com/biography—awards.html
See her truly incredible images: www.beneaththesurfaceimaging.com
October 11, 2023 Meeting: Join us as five talented MSC members will present videos, photographs and stories of Antarctica, Indonesia, Mexico, and more. Here’s the roster:
Virginia Bria will focus on the “Antarctica Climate Expedition” with Ocean Geographic and Sylvia Earle aboard the “Sylvia Earle” ship. She documented the region’s plight with 100 Ocean global ambassadors fighting climate change.
Lisa Perla will showcase her stunning images of biodiversity within Raja Ampat from her 10-day, 4 dives per day February 2023 trip on the “Aurora”. She enjoyed great visibility and some new moon currents.- Jeffrey Zankel will present his images of two trips to Cozumel this year, one in January and the other in late August.
- Ken Carter will share his 2023 year in diving photographs, with a different point-of-view, including MSC’s January trip to Scuba Club Cozumel, August’s Dive and Dine… plus a photo of 3 mermaids on a whale shark.
- And Ric Miller will surprise and delight us all with his “Follow The Light” video using natural light from a weekend trip to San Carlos, Sonora, Mexico, six hours south of Tucson.
Please join us for this MSC group presentation on Wednesday, October 11th at 7:00pm PT. Watch their presentation on Vimeo.
September 13, 2023 Meeting: David Helvarg & Natasha Benjamin, Blue Frontier Campaign ¬¬– “California Kelp Crisis – Working to Save The Sequoias of The Sea”. Two multi-talented individuals and activists who have a genuine love for the ocean will present this month.
Meet David Helvarg, Executive Director
An award-winning journalist and author of “The Golden Shore – California’s Love Affair with the Sea”, David
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- has produced more than 40 broadcast documentaries for PBS, The Discovery Channel, and others. His print work continues to appear in The New York Times, National Geographic, Sierra, and more. Today, he and Blue Frontier continue to lead media training workshops for ocean scientists and advocates.
Meet Natasha Benjamin, Associate Director
A marine scientist and filmmaker based in Northern California, Natasha is a diver, surfer, and a producer of Peabody Award-winning Brick City TV. She works with Marine Applied Research & Exploration (MARE) and Blue Frontier, and is presently co-producing a new documentary, “Sequoias of The Sea”.- An Ocean Conservation and Policy Group
Founded in 2003 with support by Dr. Sylvia Earle, Philippe Cousteau and others, Blue Frontier is a national leader in providing resources and opportunities to bring the voice of caring citizens into decision-making processes to positively impact our seas. - Kelp forests cover 25% of global coastlines, provide food and shelter for thousands of species, and sequester carbon from the atmosphere. Over the past decade, a third of these kelp forests have been lost across our Blue Planet. But along the 350-mile coastline from San Francisco to the Oregon border, a striking 95% of kelp forests have been decimated. While many other important ocean ecosystems such as coral reefs are getting attention, kelp is the lost forest of the ocean, disappearing before our very eyes.
- With a perfect storm of climate change impacts causing oceans to warm, sea stars to disappear, and urchin populations to explode, we’re witnessing an ecological disaster in one of the world’s most highly managed and protected coasts. In fact, our coastline that once harbored productive kelp forests now has only bare rocks and hungry urchins.
- For more information, visit https:/bluefront.org. We look forward to having you join David and Natasha on Wednesday, 9/13 for their presentation at MSC.
Wednesday, August 9: Linda Ianniello, “Black Water Diving”. Linda has been scuba diving and taking underwater images for over 30 years. She favors macro photography, where half the challenge is finding the small, unusual subjects.She is fortunate to live in southeast Florida, where there is easy access to diving off the coast. When a local dive operator started doing “blackwater” dives, she became interested. She was quickly hooked and has done over 400 blackwater dives locally, in just over eight years. She has also traveled to Indonesia and the Philippines to do these dives.So What Exactly Is a Blackwater Dive?
It’s a night dive, done in the open ocean, where the water is hundreds of feet deep. There is no reef or bottom to provide a visible reference. There is a broad diversity of small subjects to be seen on these dives, such as fish and mollusk larvae; a variety of shrimps and crabs, both larvae and adults; gelatinous zooplankton traveling with the current (jellyfish, salps and siphonophores); and sea snails (pteropods, heteropods and gymnosomes) that spend their entire life cycle in the water column.
Linda will be talking about the mechanics of a black water dive and the variety of creatures found on these dives; also a few photography tips and a bit about the “citizen science” value of these dives.All the images she will show will be from her dives off the coast of Southeast Florida near her home.For a full compilation of the creatures she has found and photographed, check out her website’s galleries of black water trips and other excursions, from Florida the Philippines, Grand Cayman, and Indonesia: https://lindaiphotography.com/galleries/We look forward to having you join Linda on Wednesday, August 9th for her presentation at MSC. Watch her presentation on Vimeo.
- Wednesday, July 12: “Why I Don’t Think Sea Lions Like Rebreathers”. If you want to dive without scaring away sea life who bolt when they see bubbles, don’t miss Sean’s upcoming presentation.A Divemaster Since 1989.
He’s worked in the industry since he became a divemaster in Florida in 1989. Today, Sean’s a commercial diver out of the Port of Oakland and has been teaching classes in the Bay Area for over 20 years! He still has tons of fun teaching diving of all levels and he especially loves introducing new divers to the sport and connecting with those who are just beginning their pro and technical diving journeys.That Was Just The Beginning.
Many divers see becoming an instructor as the pinnacle of their dive career, but for Sean, it was only the beginning. He sees continued education as essential for staying passionate about the sport. He found that there was always more to learn about the ocean and the gear we use to explore it, as well as an endless array of paths to stay engaged and build on training—from citizen science courses to technical diving.Rebreathers Were Instantly Compelling.
Rebreathers were compelling to Sean right away. He found that he was interested in the equipment and the technology behind it and enjoyed expanding depth limits with the virtually unlimited gas supply that rebreathers offered.He started rebreather diving in 1998 on the Draeger Dolphin, one of the first that was commercially marketed; soon after that, he became an instructor. Now, he’s been teaching rebreather diving for nearly 25 years and is qualified on four different rebreather models. Recently, he earned an instructor rating on the Mares Horizon SCR.When not diving for work, you can catch him diving for fun at a local dive site or in the caves of the Yucatan Peninsula. Join Sean on July 12 for his MSC presentation. Watch his presentation on Vimeo.Grab your dry suits, hoodies, thickest gloves, and long johns. On Wednesday, June 14th, three intrepid female explorers will take us on a deep dive of their Arctic Expedition to Norway as they interacted with orcas and humpbacks.
Sea Woman #1: Dr. Virginia Bria, a diver for 40 years, has studied art therapy and photography at Pratt Institute, NY. She taught art and is currently a trusted Marin County investment advisor for 28 years.When she arrived in California, Virginia quickly fell in love with the Sonoma County coastline and took her cameras underwater. She’s been a NAUI instructor, NAUI Rescue Workshop Leader, and a divemaster. For several years, she also explored, camped, and dived along the Baja peninsula from Loreto to La Paz. She has logged over 5,000 dives worldwide.She recently participated in the Antarctica Climate Change Expedition with Michael Aw, Ocean Geographic, and Sylvia Earle, Mission Blue. In 2022, she joined the Sea Women Expedition in Norway’s high Arctic as a photographer and videographer with 34 women from 14 countries, spending 3 back-to-back trips in the fjords of Norway aboard the MV Explorer. Read more: https://www.bellasirenaimages.com/
Sea Woman #2: Carol Cotton Blickenstorfer is a photographer, videographer, scuba diver/instructor, reviewer, artist, and adventurer from Knoxville, Tennessee. She and her husband run a computer and underwater news/product review business. After 3,000+ dives, she’s enchanted with the sea and creatures, earning multiple NAUI, PADI, NACD, NSS-CDS, and TDI certifications, then documenting sea life on underwater trips worldwide.
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In her spare time, Carol is very active in the Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA), an inclusive community pursuing research and re-creation of historic skills, arts and culture, where she specializes in research and re-creation of historic Baltic costumes and jewelry. Read more: https://www.instagram.com/carolblickenstorfer/
Sea Woman #3: Whitley Mike is an avid graphic designer and art director who lives near Minneapolis, Minnesota. She holds a B.A. in Communications and Media Arts, a Post-B.A. Graphic Design Certificate, and a Master of Arts in Sustainable Design, where she focused on how human behavior impacts endangered species.
Her thesis is on the survival of the Southern Resident Orca of the Pacific Northwest, and how sustainable solutions can help protect orca and their future.
Whitley’s unique education combines her passion for graphic design and the well-being of the cetaceans.
As a Sea Women Expeditions team member since 2019, she has assisted with visual storytelling through branded design, social media communications, and co-hosting virtual expeditions.
Her aspirations for the 2022 Sea Women Expedition to Norway’s frigid fjords were to better understand Type 1 Eastern North Atlantic orca behavior and their habitat.
Read more: https://www.linkedin.com/in/whitleymike/
Watch their presentation on Vimeo.
Our Wednesday, May 10, 2023 in-person/Zoom hybrid meeting will feature Eva Paulus (via Zoom from Austria) presenting “Deep Sea Fish & Research”.
During her graduate studies, she participated in expeditions to the Azores and Iceland to study deep-sea hydrothermal vents along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.
Plunging deeper into her studies and the ocean, she spent 74 days on the German research vessel Sonne in 2021, learning about the amazing animals living in the mesopelagic zone between 200 and 1000m depth.
Join us on May 10th for her live presentation as Eva shares some of the images captured by nature photographer and biologist, Solvin Zankl, who was able to join two of her most recent expeditions.
Our Wednesday, April 12, 2023 in-person/Zoom hybrid meeting will feature Dirk Rosen presenting “Working With Robot Submarines All Over The World”.
Earth’s oceans are still vastly underexplored. The deepest place, Mariana Trench in the western Pacific, is more than 36,000 feet deep, while nearby Monterey Canyon is 13,000 feet below the surface. So join us for Dirk’s presentation about how he’s been using deepsea robots to explore these depths.
Dirk founded Marine Applied Research and Exploration (MARE), a non-profit organization dedicated to filling the knowledge gap of the deepsea, below SCUBA depths, tracking deep sea communities and protecting hotspots of biodiversity and abundance.
Based in Tiburon, CA, MARE:
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- Enables intelligent ocean management by bringing science to action to restore the ocean’s invaluable, yet threatened resources to support sustainable fisheries for future generations.
- Deploys a fleet of robotic vehicles to explore and document changes to ocean health over time, well beyond the reach of SCUBA divers.
- Has performed an ongoing census of the West Coast from Mexico to the Canadian border, as well as dedicated surveys of the Gulf of Mexico, Hawai’i and Costa Rica.
About Dirk Rosen.
Dirk has 35+ years of deepsea equipment design, build and operations experience with ROVs, manned submersibles and tow sleds. He’s led or co-led 42 ocean expeditions assessing Marine Protected Areas, characterizing National Marine Sanctuaries, performing fish stock assessments, evaluating impacts of wave power, recovering lost equipment at sea, and removing derelict fishing gear.
Previously, he was president of Deep Ocean Engineering, test pilot for all three Deep Rover 1,000 meter-rated manned submersibles, and a co-designer of hundreds of ROVs. Later, at Hawkes Ocean Technologies, he managed the build of Challenger, an 11,000-meter-rated manned submersible designed to explore the Marianas Trench. Prior to that, he worked with NASA for 5 years, helping implement robotic standards now used on the International Space Station.
Please join us on Wednesday, April 12 from 7:00 – 8:45pm for Dirk’s live presentation and via Zoom. Watch Dirk’s presentation on Vimeo.
Our Wednesday, March 8, 2023 in-person/Zoom hybrid meeting will feature Todd Steiner presenting “Diving Cocos Island Costa Rica for Conservation Science”, with updates on ‘Why Have All The Turtles Left?’ and the “Cocos-Galapagos Swimway Campaign”.
About TIRN
For 30 years, Turtle Island Restoration Network has been a leading advocate and research NGO for the world’s oceans and marine wildlife. They have offices in California, Texas, and Hawaii.
TIRN’s work is based on science, fueled by people who care, and effective at catalyzing long-lasting positive change that protects the likes of green sea turtles, whale sharks, and coho salmon. By working with people and communities, they preserve and restore critical habitats from the redwood-forested creekbanks of California to the biodiverse waters of Cocos Island. Read more at Seaturtles.org.
About Todd Steiner
The genesis of TIRN began in 1987, when Todd, a young biologist and wildlife activist, first traveled to Nicaragua to learn more about a cutting-edge sea turtle conservation program that sought to engage local coastal communities in long-term preservation efforts to save sea turtles.
Today, as a wildlife ecologist, and as founder and executive director of TIRN, Todd has led sea turtle and shark tagging research expeditions for over 10 years.
His programs now span the globe from the coastal waters of the Galapagos Islands to the sandy beaches of Galveston, Texas. They include projects to protect sharks, marine mammals, and seabirds from a myriad of threats from industrial overfishing, destruction of coastal and riverine habitat, and the threat of climate change from fossil fuel projects.
Please join us on Wednesday, March 8 from 7:00 – 8:45pm for Todd’s live presentation and via Zoom. Watch Todd’s presentation on Vimeo.
Our Wednesday, February 8, 2023 in-person/Zoom hybrid meeting will feature Dr. Chris Lowe, a Professor of Marine Biology and Director of The Shark Lab, California State University Long Beach: “Recovery of White Sharks Off California and What That Means to Coastal Communities.”
He says, “The white shark population of the eastern Pacific has likely been reduced for over a 100 years, due to overfishing and loss of key adult prey. Fisheries protections for white sharks, recovery of endangered marine mammals, and better management has resulted in population recovery off California, with increased white shark sightings off beaches and around offshore islands. While population recovery has resulted in increased public safety concerns, there has been little evidence of an increase in shark bites relatively to human activity.”
About Dr. Chris Lowe
Dr. Lowe has been studying sharks, rays and bony fishes for over 30 years, focusing on their behavior, physiology and ecology. For the last 15 years, he and his students have been studying juvenile white sharks off the coast of southern California. Using a wide array of technology, they have found that white sharks use southern California beaches seasonally as nursery habitat for their young. This brings juvenile white sharks in close proximity to beach goers. Dr. Lowe and his students use technologies and educators to help lifeguards and the public understand the mysterious lives of sharks and just how much of a threat they may actually pose.
Please join us on Wednesday, February 8 from 7:00 – 8:45pm for Dr. Lowe’s informative presentation. Watch Dr. Lowe’s presentation on Vimeo.
Our Wednesday, January 11, 2023 in-person/Zoom hybrid meeting will feature Jon Edens, who has owned and operated the Marin Diving Center for nine years. This full-service scuba and snorkel shop is located in San Rafael off Highway 101 and North San Pedro Road. He’s worked in the diving industry for over 35 years.
Jon’s January presentation will focus on:
• Being a safe diver
• Mental, physical and equipment preparation
• Practicing your diving skills
• Fun diving
• The latest trends and newest equipment
• Plus local and tropical destinations
Marin Diving Center is a PADI Five-Star Dive Center with exceptional service and staff. Open 7 days a week, they specialize in:
• Dive Education: Beginner through professional levels in a heated pool, classroom, and open water
• Sales: High-quality scuba diving, free diving, and snorkeling products from major manufacturers at competitive prices
• Equipment Repairs: Almost all done in-store
• Local & International Travel: Mendocino & Sonoma coasts, Big Sur & Monterey, Channel Islands, Lake Tahoe, and worldwide
Please join us on Wednesday, January 11 from 7:00 – 8:45pm for Jon’s informative presentation.
Our Wednesday, November 9, 2022 in-person/Zoom hybrid meeting will feature Anne Louise De Souza presenting “Building My Scuba Dream: The Story Behind The Lens”.
She is a Brazilian oceanographer, scuba instructor, and passionate underwater photographer who is now the marketing manager at a local underwater lighting manufacturer, Light & Motion, where she got to deepen her knowledge about photography and lighting.
She says, “Being immersed in the diving community made a lifelong dream of capturing the wonders of an exquisite, submerged world a reality. Diving in all of its forms is not only my greatest passion, but an important tool to spark a connection between ocean and society.”
Please join us on Wednesday, November 9 from 7:00 – 8:45pm for Anne’s incredible images. Watch her presentation on Vimeo.
Our Wednesday, October 12, 2022 in-person/Zoom hybrid meeting will feature Kathi George, Project Manager for Global Response on Rescuing Whales, The Marine Mammal Center. She oversees all work in California as well as field research and conservation impact. Since joining in 2019, Kathi has expanded advocacy efforts to address two of the greatest threats to whales worldwide, entanglement and vessel strikes.
She collaborates closely with many different stakeholders in her work. These include:
• Serving in the Conservation seat for the Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council
• Previously as a member of the 2021 Greater Farallones and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuaries Advisory Council Joint Ship Strike Working Group.
• Additionally, Kathi ’s a member of the San Francisco Harbor Safety Committee and a member of the California Dungeness Crab Fishing Gear Working Group.
As a Level 3 Co-Investigator with NOAA’s Marine Mammal Health & Stranding Response Program, Kathi is permitted to respond. She has participated in six whale disentanglements, numerous entangled whale responses, and over 50 sea lion disentanglements.
Previously, she co-founded California Whale Rescue—a nonprofit dedicated to entangled whale response and prevention. Kathi spends as much time as she can underwater and on boats, plus enjoying California’s coasts and mountains with her husband and son.
Please join us for her “Human Impact on Whales” presentation on Wednesday, October 12, 7:15-8:45pm. Watch Kathi’s presentation on Vimeo.
Our Wednesday, September 14, 2022 in-person/Zoom hybrid meeting will feature the best images, videos, and stories by a talented group of members, most of whom are MSC Board Members:
• Virginia Bria will recount her March trip to the Maldives where she made us all very jealous by staying at the Six Senses Laamu Resort. We’ve heard her gush about the pristine coral and friendly whale sharks.
• Lisa Perla will showcase images and share dive stories about exotic Anilao, Philippines.
• Barb Wambach will portray her underwater photography expertise with a trip to Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
• Julie Finley will relive her adventures during her 30th trip to Palau, Micronesia, her dive home away from home.
• Gil Zeimer will discuss his writing success in the scuba industry with “How to Get Published”.
Please join us for this MSC group presentation on Wednesday, September 14th at 7:00pm PT for these informative club member presentations.
Wednesday, August 10, 2022: Cindy Hansen, Orca Network, “Orcas of The West Coast”: In-Person and Zoom Meeting. Our August presentation will feature Cindy Hansen, Education and Advocacy Coordinator for Orca Network since 2016.
From Namu to Free Willy to Blackfish, orcas have fascinated us for generations. The West Coast is home to a few different ecotypes of orcas, or killer whales, with unique diets, behaviors, acoustic calls, and cultures. While some are thriving, others are in danger of extinction. Learn about the fascinating biology, social structure and culture of orcas and how you can become involved in ongoing conservation efforts.
Cindy received a degree in Zoology from the University of Washington and has worked as a naturalist and educator for over 20 years. She has also migrated with the gray whales to San Ignacio Lagoon in Baja Mexico for many years, where she works as a naturalist/guide for Baja Discovery.
Please join us for her presentation on Wednesday, August 10th, “Orcas of The West Coast” at 7:00pm PT. Read more: www.orcanetwork.org. Watch Cindy’s The Orca Network presentation on Vimeo.
Wednesday, July 13, 2022: Denise Jaffke and Sheli Smith, “Taking Heritage Stewardship Underwater”: In-Person and Zoom Meeting. Our July presentation will feature two members of the Sonoma Coast Historical and Undersea Nautical Research Society.
SCHUNRS.org is an all-volunteer organization using public education, historical research, and maritime archaeology to document physical traces of our maritime heritage before they are lost forever. Its mission is to discover, protect, and promote greater knowledge and public stewardship of local maritime cultural heritage along the Sonoma-Mendocino Coast, on land, and under the waves.
Denise Jaffke currently works as Principal Investigator and Archaeologist for Far Western Anthropological Research Group, Inc. and a volunteer scientific diver with the California State Parks Dive Team. Along with serving as SCHUNRS Secretary, she also leads the Documentation Team to ensure that all identified resources are recorded to professional standards. Denise assists with public outreach efforts — online, locally, and statewide.
Sheli Smith has been working with California’s maritime heritage for decades, excavating shipwrecks, teaching and promoting stewardship. In addition to serving as SCHUNRS VP, Sheli also serves on the California State Parks Dive Safety Advisory Board. Sheli assists SCHUNRS research and outreach efforts.
Join us for their presentation of “Taking Heritage Stewardship Underwater” on Wednesday, July 13th at 7:00pm PT.
Watch their presentation on Vimeo.
Wednesday, June 8, 2022:
Jett Britnell, Vancouver, B.C., “A Life in The Depths – Sharks, Shipwrecks & Other Assorted Undersea Adventures”: In-Person and Zoom Meeting. Our June in-person/Zoom meeting will feature Jett Britnell, a professional underwater, wildlife and expedition photographer, internationally published writer, explorer, scuba diver, and speaker.
Much of his work is focused upon undersea exploration, globally protecting endangered species, preserving natural habitats, supporting marine & wildlife conservation efforts and environmental education. Jett is a member of the Ocean Artists Society, a unique alliance of the world’s top marine life artists, painters, sculptors, photographers, filmmakers, and writers. He is also ranked among the world’s top underwater photographers who donate images to support The Ocean Agency’s conservation initiatives.
In addition, Jett is a consultant to Elephanatics, an elephant advocacy organization residing in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. In May 2020 he was invited by EXPLOCEAN to be an ambassador for the “League of Underwater Explorers.” The League’s primary mandate is to create opportunities for all people to discover our world by promoting underwater exploration.
On January 1, 2022, Jett began serving as Chapter Chair in The Explorers Club’s Canadian Chapter. Find out more: https://www.jettbritnell.com
Watch Jett’s Vimeo Presentation from June 8, 2022: “A Life In The Depths – Sharks, Shipwrecks & Other Assorted Adventures.”.
Wednesday, May 11, 2022: Dr. Milton Love, “Better Than a Swift Kick Where The Sun Doesn’t Shine – Interesting Fishes of The Pacific Coast” : In-Person and Zoom Meeting. Our May presenter is a research biologist at the Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara.
Dr. Milton Love has conducted research on the marine fishes of California for over 50 years and has written over 120 publications on the fishes of the Pacific Coast. He is the author of Certainly More Than You Want to Know About the Fishes of the Pacific Coast, The Rockfishes of the Northeast Pacific, and more.
For the past 25 years, and using a manned research submersible, Dr. Love has carried out surveys of the fish populations living around natural reefs and oil / gas platforms throughout the southern California Bight. Proving you can fool some of the people all of the time, in 2007, the American Fisheries Society awarded Dr. Love the Carl R. Sullivan Award for Conservation Resources.
“Better Than a Swift Kick Where The Sun Doesn’t Shine – Interesting Fishes of The Pacific Coast” is the longer title of his May presentation. He says, “Most of us lead drab and colorless lives as drones and cogs in faceless organizations. With his tales of Pacific Coast fishes, Milton (only his wife calls him Dr. Love) will enter your world like a bright and fanciful rainbow, or a swatch of William Morris wallpaper, or perhaps one of those Baratza espresso makers that look like something out of a caffeine-induced fantasy.”
Find out more: http://lovelab.msi.ucsb.edu/. Please join us for his presentation on Wednesday, May 11th at 7:00pm PT. Watch Dr. Love’s Presentation on Vimeo.
Wednesday, April 13, 2022: Mark J. Palmer, “Whither Whales – History & Current Status of Whaling”: In-Person and Zoom Meeting. Our April presenter is Associate Director of Earth Island Institute’s International Marine Mammal Project, Mark Palmer.
Mark was a consultant for the Academy Award-winning documentary “The Cove” and appears in the Animal Planet series “Blood Dolphin$”. He focuses on protecting whales and dolphins, with emphasis on strategic planning, legislative advocacy, legal research, grassroots organizing, and media relations.
Mark is also Director of Earth Island Institute’s Wildlife Alive Subproject, dedicated to protecting wildlife and wild places throughout California and the West. Palmer graduated with a BA in Zoology from the University of California at Berkeley, where he founded and led the Endangered Species Committee of California. He then spent two years of graduate work at SFSU in the Department of Biology.
Prior to coming to Earth Institute, Mark served as Regional Vice President for the Sierra Club for Northern California and Nevada; Chairman of the Sierra Club’s National Wildlife Committee; and Chairman of the Sierra Club’s Arctic Campaign Steering Committee, which successfully blocked oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge during both the Reagan and George H.W. Bush Administrations. He has also been Executive Director of the Whale Center (1986-1990) and the Mountain Lion Foundation (1990-1995).
Palmer joined the staff of Earth Island in 1995, spearheading efforts in Congress and federal court to protect and maintain the integrity of the Dolphin Safe label on tuna. He has worked since 2004 with Ric O’Barry on the Save Japan Dolphins Campaign, which has seen worldwide attention to the problem of dolphin slaughters in Japan.
His articles have appeared in several national publications, including Sierra Magazine, Pacific Discovery (aka Wild California), USA Today, and Earth Island Journal. He has edited and contributed to several books, including Friends of the Earth Whale Manual, Cougar: The American Lion, and Behind the Dolphin Smile.
Palmer has more than 40 years of experience lobbying in the California State Capitol in Sacramento and in the U.S. Congress in Washington DC on wildlife and wilderness issues, as well as international experience with the Japanese-American Environmental Conference, the International Whaling Commission, and the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission. Finally, he is editor of the daily newsletter ECO distributed at International Whaling Commission meetings.
Find out more: https://savedolphins.eii.org/ Please join us for his presentation on Wednesday, April 13th at 7:00pm PT. Watch Mark’s Presentation on Vimeo.
Wednesday, March 9, 2022: Hannes Klostermann – “The Best of Baja; Exploring The Wild West”: In-Person and Zoom Meeting.
Hannes Klostermann, an award-winning photographer and scuba instructor says, “Baja is a special place. Separating the Sea of Cortez and the Pacific Ocean, the Baja California Peninsula is home to amazing landscapes and incredible wildlife. Due to its unique location, it hosts some of the most impressive animal migrations on the planet, as well as plenty of photogenic residents.
“In this presentation, I will introduce you to some of the area’s most exciting animals and explain how to maximize your chances of seeing and interacting with them. From cute baby sea lions to the ocean’s largest predators, there’s always something interesting to discover. You never quite know what you’ll come across when you head out in the morning!”
His Bio: Hannes has a particular passion for capturing images of sharks and other big animals, as well as actively supporting their conservation. He is currently the resident photographer at The Cortez Club in La Paz, Mexico where he offers all services related to underwater photography: workshops and private guiding, as well as photo shoots. Hannes also runs pelagic expeditions for the annual marlin migration.
He began his underwater adventures in 2003 in a dark and very cold lake in Germany and since then, his travels have taken him to many of the world’s most exiting diving destinations.
To see more, visit his underwater photography website. Please join us for his presentation on Wednesday, March 9th at 7:00pm PT. Watch Hannes’s presentation on Vimeo.
Wednesday, February 9, 2022: Nirupam Nigam, “Northwest Oddities: Wolf Eels & GPOs & Lumpsuckers, Oh My!”. In-Person and Zoom Meeting.
As a dedicated underwater photographer and fisheries scientist, Nirupam is the Editor-in-Chief of the Underwater Photography Guide and the Marketing Director at Bluewater Photo.
While growing up in Los Angeles, he fell in love with the ocean and pursued underwater photography in the local Channel Islands.
Nirupam received degrees in Aquatic and Fisheries Science and General Biology, at the University of Washington, and has collected fisheries data on vessels in the Bering Sea and North Pacific for NOAA.
Check out his work at photosfromthesea.com, his reviews at uwphotographyguide.com, as well as the world’s leading source of photo and video gear, advice, education, and dive travel at bluewaterphotostore.com. Watch Nirupam’s presentation on Vimeo.
Please join us for his presentation on Wednesday, February 9th at 7:00pm PT.
Wednesday, January 12, 2022: Mary Jane Schramm, “Love Among The Leviathans”.
In-Person and Zoom Meeting.
MJ is an unabashed blubber-lover. She has worked in marine conservation since 1982, until recently with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary.
MJ specializes in media/outreach, and hands-on resource protection; this has included NOAA’s Stranding Network and Large Whale Entanglement Response Team, and the sanctuaries’ shipstrike prevention team.
Past Public Relations Director for The Marine Mammal Center and Oceanic Society Expeditions, she’s led extended whale tours in Baja and locally.
A naturalist, author and columnist, she’s served on the boards of the American Cetacean Society-SF Bay Chapter, Tamalpais Conservation Club, and now on the Marin Audubon Society’s Conservation Committee.
In 1989 at a White House ceremony, MJ accepted the President’s Volunteer Action Award. In 2016, she received a NOAA Administrator’s Award for assisting in the discovery of the lost shipwreck, USS Conestoga. Now an International Ocean Film Festival judge, she’s also working to eradicate invasive mice from the Farallone Islands.
“Love Among the Leviathans” explores how air-breathing mammals like us who live in the sea –– whales and dolphins –– play the DNA Game: courting, mating, giving live birth, nursing, and teaching their young to survive, all in challenging ocean environments.
Many species, even some in our national marine sanctuaries, have still not recovered from past centuries’ whaling. They now face modern and emerging threats including shipstrike, entanglement, ocean noise, pollution and climate disruption. Insights we gain from studying their reproductive patterns, behaviors and habitat needs can help wildlife managers, policymakers, and scientists to act effectively to ensure their survival.
Join us for this hybrid live / Zoom meeting on Wednesday, January 12.
Watch MJ’s presentation on Vimeo.
Wednesday, November 10, 2021: Mike Book, “Egypt Above and Below”. In-Person Meeting Only.
Mike has turned his camera loose in locations worldwide, from the South Pacific to California to Alaska, around the Caribbean islands, throughout the Indian Ocean and Red Sea.
He has worked as the underwater video pro on the live-aboard dive boat Nai’a in Fiji, sells video footage that’s been used in commercials and educational videos, and has written video articles for dive magazines and web sites.
His YouTube channel – LaughingEelVideos –– has a goal to help viewers experience being underwater without the bulky scuba gear, heavy tanks, or spitting in your mask. Watch some of Mike’s high-definition video shorts.
Join us on Wednesday, November 10 @ 7pm for our last presentation of the year. We will meet at the Sausalito Parks & Rec Center, Edgewater Room, 420 Litho Street,
Sausalito. NOTE: BECAUSE THIS WILL BE A HIGH-DEFINITION VIDEO PRESENTATION, IT WILL LOOK MUCH, MUCH BETTER IN PERSON, SO THIS MONTH’S MEETING WILL BE IN PERSON ONLY AND NOT VIA ZOOM.
Wednesday, October 13, 2021: David McGuire, “Sharktober: Celebrating Sharks from California to China & Connecting Cultures for Conservation”, Hybrid In-Person / Zoom Meeting.
We’re proud to host the Founder and Director of Shark Stewards, a project of the Earth Island Institute. In 2003, his non-profit introduced the California shark fin trade ban and has led several states and international movements limiting overfishing of sharks and shark fin trade.
David is an Adjunct Professor at the University of San Francisco, teaching marine policy, and a research associate at the California Academy of Sciences, conducting shark research studies in San Francisco Bay and in Malaysia. He also works in education and monitoring with the Ocean Protection Council and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife in our state marine- protected areas, and with NOAA in West Coast National Marine Sanctuaries.
David said, “An estimated 73 to 100 million sharks are killed for their fins each year. There is much to be done and each of us can play a role.”
David has written many articles and three books:
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- “Sharks for Kids: A Junior Scientist’s Guide to Great Whites, Hammer- heads, and Other Sharks in The Sea” –– is now available on Amazon.
- He co-wrote “Surviving The Shark”.
- A third book on sharks and sanctuaries will be published later this year.
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He’s also produced several award-winning documentaries on sharks, diving, and adventure, and has been involved with the International Ocean Film Festival San Francisco since 2007.
Recent work includes pattern recognition on tiger sharks and manta rays using photography, algorithms, and applying the data to local conservation.
Join him on Wednesday, October 13 from 7:00 to 8:30pm to learn and discover a new or deeper fascination with sharks. Read more: https://sharkstewards.org/
Watch Dave’s presentation on Vimeo.
Wednesday, September 8, 2021: Dr. Pia Winberg, “The Science and Importance of Seaweed”, Hybrid In-Person / Zoom Meeting. We look forward to hosting the CEO, Director and Chief Scientist at both Venus Shell Systems and PhycoHealth Seaweed Science.
Situated in the pristine Shoalhaven region, 200km south of Sydney, Venus Shell Systems is at the global forefront of producing unique, traceable, premium quality marine biomass from the unspoiled waters of the Tasman Sea. Their products:
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- Have been pioneered with a proprietary controlled cultivation and production process.
- Are used in their food-grade seaweed extract, PhycoGreen™, a functional food ingredient with high nutritional (up to 40% protein) and bio-functional properties.
- Are formulated to the specifications of their specialist partners, using their proprietary PhycoLAB™ process.
- Have created Ultra Green, clean carbon dioxide to rapidly grow unique seaweed biomass and extracts for use in biomaterials, cosmetics, dermatological care, food, nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals.
- Join us on Wednesday, September 8, from 7:00–8:30pm for a topic that can positively impact the world’s food crisis. Read more about Dr. Pia Winberg:
https://www.venusshellsystems.com.au/ and https://www.phycohealth.com/
- Watch Pia’s presentation on Vimeo.
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Wednesday, August 11, 2021: Mike Bartik, “Blackwater: The Ultimate Photo Op”, Hybrid In-Person / Zoom Meeting. For this meeting –– in person and via Zoom –– MSC proudly presents an underwater photographer residing in Anilao, Philippines and photo pro at Crystal Blue Resort.Originally from Southern California, he has an insatiable love for finding unique marine life and telling its story through photos and video. Mike is a widely published, award-winning photographer, writer, and international public speaker whose work appears monthly in various publications, aquariums, and museums.
He hosts photo clinics, workshops, and seminars at Crystal Blue Resort, concentrating on the different aspects of underwater photography and the natural history of Southeast Asia and the Indo-Pacific.
Mike is also a global ambassador for Sea & Sea underwater imaging, Kraken Sports, Ultralight Control Systems, Retra UWT, and works with many companies to bring quality products to market.
“I fell in love with the ocean at a very young age while growing up in Southern California,” he says. “It had a strong pull on me then as it does now. I learned to snorkel while on family vacations in Hawaii, where I also used a camera underwater for the first time.
“I soon became an instant master of shooting fish-butts and the king of backscatter. After learning to dive years later and never without a camera, I decided to find a mentor to help me improve upon my skills, and so it all began.
“Underwater photography has defined my love connection with the ocean and has bridged a gap between myself and others in a way that I never expected it to. Today, most of my time underwater is spent shooting, teaching, mentoring, and learning as much as possible.
“With nearly 6,000 dives under my belt, I feel that I have barely touched the tip of the iceberg and am grateful every day to have embarked on this lifelong journey.”
Join us on Wednesday, August 11, from 7:00–8:30pm for a very interesting topic and some truly amazing images.Read more and see many gorgeous images by Mike Bartick at SaltwaterPhoto.com and DiveCBR.com. Watch Mike’s presentation Vimeo.
Wednesday, July 14, 2021: Jim Elliott, Director / Founder of Diveheart.org –– “Scuba Therapy: Imagine The Possibilities” Zoominar. Jim left a successful career in the media business to launch Diveheart.org, a 501c(3) not-for-profit organization that helps build confidence and independence in people of all ages––children, veterans, and others––with disabilities through zero gravity and SCUBA therapy.
Since 2001, Elliott, a volunteer with no salary, has initiated SCUBA Therapy research with university medical centers around the U.S., including the first study on Autism and SCUBA Therapy and the world’s most innovative Adaptive SCUBA Training program for instructors, dive buddies, and Adaptive Divers. He also lectures and trains dive pros in the “Business of Adaptive SCUBA”.
He’ll be joined by Executive Director Tinamarie, a Chicagoan, who was the first in her family to attend and graduate college. She’s always found way to give back––through candy striping, coaching softball, teaching Sunday school, or swimming to people with disabilities.
When asked what drew her to Diveheart, she said: “I grew up with a cousin who lived his life with both physical and cognitive challenges. Joey didn’t let much hold him back and I just know he would have loved SCUBA had he known about Diveheart.”
Join us on Wed., July 14 from 7:00–8:45pm for this important discussion about those less fortunate than ourselves. Read more at www.Diveheart.org and watch this video: tinyurl.com/fudy2xm5. Make a donation. Watch Diveheart’s Presentation on Vimeo.
Wednesday, June 9, 2021: Mark Stanley, Co-Owner, “What’s New at The Old Bamboo Reef”, Zoominar Club Meeting. MSC is pleased to present the co-owner of one of San Francisco’s oldest dive shops –– where many of our current and past members were certified.
Mark said, “Diving for over 20 years and teaching for 16 years, diving is my passion and I use any excuse to get underwater. It is one of the reasons I started teaching. “Diving has taken me all around the world and to places I never dreamed of visiting. I have been to the tropical waters of the South Pacific and to the chilly waters of Iceland. I enjoy diving with big animals and so my favorite spots are the Galapagos and Socorro.
“We are fortunate to have an amazing place to dive in our backyard, so I am down in Monterey diving two to three times a month.”
After retiring from one profession, Mark Stanley and his son Brian purchased Bamboo Reef San Francisco and Monterey in 2016. The SF shop was founded in 1961 by Al Giddings, then owned and operated by Sal Zammitti from 1972 to 2016. One of the Stanley’s goals has been to upgrade and expand services at both shops.
Join us on Wednesday, June 9, from 7:00–8:45pm for an informative discussion on what’s new at Bamboo Reef with the latest innovations in dive gear, advanced and technical classes, freediving, monthly fun and upcoming dive trips, its online store, how COVID changed their class structure, and great stories about a lifetime underwater. Watch Mark’s presentation on Vimeo.
Wednesday, May 12, 2021: Alex Rose, “From Pole to Pole: Exploration With A Purpose”, Zoominar Club Meeting. As the Science Editor for Ocean Geographic Magazine, and the Managing Editor for Ocean Geographic Explorers over the past six years, Alex has written more than 50 articles both in print and online. Additionally, she’s been published in Alert Diver, Sea Technology Magazine, Womanscape, and has contributed text to three books.
Ms. Rose has served as the Project Manager on several expeditions including two – one to the High Arctic and the other to Clipperton Atoll – that were granted Explorers Club flags.
As a vocal ocean advocate, she has given more than 30 public presentations in the last year on a variety of topics ranging from purposeful exploration and plastic pollution, to climate change and the ethics of underwater photography.
Ms. Rose is also a professional photographer, accomplished violinist, Explorers Club Fellow, and PADI Divemaster. In the last year, she placed in five international underwater photography competitions, including taking second in the UN World Ocean Day Photo Competition, first in the Beneath the Sea Imaging Awards, and Grand Prize in the National Wildlife Photo Contest.
She founded a membership-based ocean conservation company, Blue Ring, at the beginning of 2017 in an effort to create a new method of ocean conservation accessible to and inclusive of everyone. Since then, she has raised $20,000 to support the work of marine conservation nonprofits.
Alex is also a co-founder of Wave Film Fest, a Chicago-based video celebration of our world’s waters that saw its inaugural event last year, and is the Secretary of Deep Hope, a nonprofit founded by Dr. Sylvia Earle to build citizen submarines. Her driving goal is to find ways to protect our planet’s precious marine habitats through diving, writing, photography, education, and research.
Her presentation: “From Pole to Pole: Exploration With A Purpose” will take you on an extensive journey of her vast diving experiences around the world, sharing photos, and the fascinating stories behind them. Find out more: www.BlueRing.blue. Watch Alex’s presentation on Vimeo.
Wednesday, April 14, 2021: Shane Gross, “Bahamas Underwater: A Decade of Exploring the Marine Creatures and Habitats”, Zoominar Club Meeting.
Shane Gross, a Canadian marine photojournalist and Emerging League Member
of the International League of Conservation Photographers (iLCP), spent the last decade exploring and photographing the Bahamian archipelago and using those images for conservation gains.
In March 2021, Shane released his book on diving in these special islands. With over 200 pages and 11 chapters on topics ranging from Sharks and Rays to Marine Mammals, to Conch, to Science and Conservation, he explores the animals and habitats that make The Bahamas so special. See much more at www.ShaneGross.com. Watch his presentation on Vimeo.
Wednesday, March 10, 2021: Marty Snyderman, “Finding and Photographing Fishes & Their Behaviors”, Zoominar Club Meeting. Marin Scuba Club is pleased to present Marty Snyderman: a prolific writer, u/w photographer, and videographer who has created magic for decades.
Marty says, “No doubt about it, the amazing diversity in the world of fishes brings many people to diving. But there is a lot more to enjoying the world of fishes than just seeing them and moving on.
“Learning where and when to look for different species, watching fishes go about their daily lives, gaining some understanding of their behaviors, and photographing them can add a lot of fun to diving.
“Certainly, photographing fishes well is an endeavor filled with challenges. But it is also very educational in terms of getting to know Mother Ocean, and it is lot of fun and extremely rewarding when you capture the images you have in mind.”
In Marty’s “Zoominar”, he’ll share insights into how to find various fish species in the reef communities and muck at Atlantis Dive Resorts, in Dumaguete, and in Puerto Galera in the Philippines; reveal perceptions into their behaviors; and disclose his thoughts and techniques about what he does to try to capture his fish photographs.
Marty’s Bio in Brief.
Honored with the 2018 NOGI Award in the Arts by the Underwater Academy of Arts and Sciences, an EMMY Award winning cinematographer, author of 10 books, a recipient of DEMA’s Reaching Out Award, and a widely published still photographer, Marty has worked to conserve and share the magic of the undersea world for almost 50 years.
He serves as the Marine Life Editor of Dive Training magazine, producing at least three columns in every issue including a photography column entitled Behind the Lens, and is the Senior Editor of California Diving News.
Marty’s still photography has also been used by the National Geographic Society, Nature Conservancy, National Wildlife Federation, Sport Diver, Diver, Ranger Rick, Smithsonian, Ocean Realm, Discovery books, Discover Diving magazine, Scuba Times magazine, and Skin Diver magazine, where he served as the photography columnist for all three magazines, and many major publications, natural history museums, and aquaria including the Monterrey Bay, Shedd, National, Seattle, and Miami.
He has worked with Nikon Inc. teaching courses at destinations around the world and authored an underwater camera course for Sea&Sea USA.
Marty has been trying to get those perfect shots for almost a half-century. See much more at: www.MartySnyderman.com.
Wednesday, February 10, 2021: Howard and Michele Hall, “8K Underwater”, Zoominar Club Meeting. Globally noted as the foremost underwater natural history film producers for TV and the giant screen, we are truly blessed to welcome Howard Hall Productions for this month’s meeting.
IMAX films produced and / or directed by Howard and Michele include Into The Deep, Island of the Sharks, Deep Sea 3D, and Under The Sea 3D.
The Halls have also contributed to many other giant format productions including The Living Sea, Journey Into Amazing Caves, Coral Reef Adventure, Journey to the South Pacific, Humpback Whales and Lost Worlds.
| The Halls have produced numerous television films for PBS Nature, National Geographic, the BBC and other broadcasters. They are the recipients of seven Emmy Awards. Watch The Hall’s Presentation on Vimeo.
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Wednesday, January, 13, 2021: Professor Ezri Tarazi, Design-Tech Lab, The Technion, Israel: “3D Printed Terra Cotta Tiles Create Artificial Red Sea Reefs”. Zoominar Club Meeting. To help combat the death of coral reefs because of global warming, ocean acidification, coral bleaching, pollution, and overfishing, Professor Ezri Tarazi, created artificial reefs, which can attract fish, repopulate reefs, and –– ultimately –– change the world. But he did this by using a 13-foot high 3D printer to make ceramic tiles from terra cotta in the form of lattice structures instead of other materials on the shores of the Gulf of Eilat.
Most of the artificial coral reefs are about 3 meters (10 feet) high by 1 meter (3 feet) across, which are constructed to attract different types of fish species with different colors of coral made from 100% terra cotta material.Approximately 50 species of fish are now hiding, laying eggs, and sleeping in the world’s first 3D-printed bioplastics and ceramic reef in the Red Sea. These manmade reefs could be the key to rebuilding our ocean’s dying coral reefs. 
Barely 5’ tall and weighing about 100 lbs. dripping wet, she was usually wet during her remarkable and adventurous life. A Long Beach native:
Wednesday, October 14, 2020: Biologist Bill Keener of 
For the past four summers, an unexpected influx of humpback whales has been swimming through the Golden Gate to feed in the Bay. Meanwhile, bottlenose dolphins have expanded their range north from Southern California to become residents along the shores of San Francisco, and harbor porpoises returned to the Bay after an absence of 65 years.Here’s your chance to learn from a local scientist about the lives of great whales, the difference between porpoises and dolphins, and what you can do to help in the study of our local marine mammals.
Wednesday, September 9, 2020 
Wednesday, June 17, 2020
This 501(c)(3) nonprofit creates advocates for the ocean. They educate people –– through scuba diving training and citizen science curriculum –– on how to minimize our impact on the oceans and take action to create positive change. Vince is a lifelong diver with a marine science and education background. He and a team of volunteers founded Blue Endeavors in 2012 to promote ocean conservation, offer an array of training courses, mentors programs and scholarships; foster the next generation of leaders and innovators, and create cohorts of lifelong ocean advocates. 
Wed., November 20, 2019
Wed., October 16, 2019
Wed., September 18, 2019