Country of residence: Maui, Hawaii, United StatesDiving since: 1996Level/agency of certification: PADI Master Instructor Andrew Raak is a Maui-based underwater photographer, videographer, and professional boat captain whose life revolves around the ocean. Spending hundreds of days on the water each year has given him a unique perspective on marine wildlife and the ability to capture authentic moments with humpback whales, sharks, dolphins, sea turtles, and other ocean life. Andrew has led international underwater photography workshops and expeditions, including Frame and...

Country of residence: EcuadorDiving since: 2014Level/agency of certification: PADI Divemaster Roberto Ochoa is a marine wildlife videographer and PADI Divemaster based in Guayaquil, Ecuador, whose work documenting the underwater world has taken him across the Pacific and to Antarctica, the Maldives, French Polynesia, and beyond. He has collaborated with National Geographic, PADI, Galapagos Sky, and the Cousteau Divers, and served as a correspondent for the Ecuadorian Government on a National Geographic Pristine Seas expedition to the Galapagos National Park. His photography...

Country of residence: Cancun, MexicoDiving since: 2021Level/agency of certification: PADI AOWFor over 10 years, Paola Gargari has turned her lifelong passion for the ocean into a driving force for change in the Mexican Caribbean. Born and raised in Cancún, Paola’s deep connection to the sea led her to environmental and social activism at just 15 years old. In 2022, she took her commitment to the next level by founding Corazón de Mar, a non-profit organization dedicated to ocean conservation, local...

Country of residence: CanadaDiving since: 1991Level/agency of certification: PADI Master Diver Dr. Neil Hammerschlag is a marine ecologist, shark researcher, and one of the leading public voices in shark science and conservation. Based in Canada, he is the founder and executive director of the Shark Research Foundation, which advances shark conservation through research, education, and public outreach, and the president of Atlantic Shark Expeditions, a Nova Scotia-based operation that brings the public into direct contact with sharks through cage diving and...

Country of residence: USADiving since: June 2014Level/agency of certification: PADI-MSDT Scuba Instructor United States Marine Corps veteran, Master Scuba Diver Trainer, travel photographer, and Guinness World Record holder Barrington Scott grew up in the Bronx and discovered diving on a trip to the Cayman Islands in 2014. In December 2024, he set the record for the fastest time to scuba dive on all seven continents, completing the feat in 19 days, 19 hours, and 40 minutes.  Beyond setting the record,...

Country of residence: USADiving since: 1998Level/agency of certification: PADI AOW/nitroxDr. Craig O'Connell is a shark biologist, marine conservationist, an award-winning inventor, and television host whose research has taken him all over the world to study sharks and other wildlife. He is the founder of O'Seas Conservation Foundation, a nonprofit that combines cutting-edge shark research with hands-on youth education through the Montauk Shark Lab.  His work focuses on identifying critical shark nursery areas, developing novel shark protection methods, and connecting the next...