Beneath the Blue Planet

Dr. Alex Brylske is a self-described “story-teller for the ocean.” Over his 40-year career he has written hundreds of articles, curricula and books that have influenced education in both the scuba industry and the marine conservation community. During the 1980s, Alex was the educational program development manager for PADI, where he designed and wrote many of the programs and materials used around the world today to train divers of all levels. During his tenure as Professor of Marine Science and Technology at the College of the Florida Keys he conceived and taught numerous field-based courses on coral reef ecology, conservation, management, restoration, and assessment while serving as the institution’s Diving Safety Officer. Alex’s numerous honors include NOAA’s Walter B. Jones Memorial Excellence Award for Ocean and Coastal Resource Management and the 2012 DAN Rolex Diver of the Year, one of the most prestigious awards in diving. Peter McDougall was born and raised in Canada where he received his undergraduate and Master’s degrees from McGill University. His focus on behavioral ecology and coral reef ecology led him to two field seasons at Bellairs Research Institute in Barbados. In 2003, Peter moved to the United States and began a career in science communication and writing, publishing in both peer-reviewed academic journals and the popular press. He has written on a variety of coastal ecosystem issues, including extensive work surrounding the science of ocean acidification. He is a PADI Rescue Diver with over 300 dives in 19 years of experience. Peter resides in Osprey, Florida.  Ian Popple was born and raised in the United Kingdom where he earned his undergraduate degree in oceanography from the University of Plymouth. He worked for five years at Bellairs Research Institute in Barbados, supporting research projects across the region, before completing his Master’s in marine biology at McGill University in 2004. He co-founded a marine biology education company, Beautiful Oceans, before founding Reef Smart in 2015 to raise awareness and encourage people to explore the underwater world. Ian has published in both the scientific and mainstream media, including National Geographic, Scuba Diver Magazine and the Globe and Mail. He is a PADI Dive Master with over 3,000 dives in 25 years of diving experience. Ian resides in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Otto Wagner was born and raised in Romania where he graduated from the University of Art and Design in Cluj, Romania. He moved to Canada in 1999 where he studied Film Animation at Concordia University in Montreal. In 2006, Otto turned to underwater cartography and pioneered new techniques in 3D visual mapping. He co-founded Art to Media and began mapping underwater habitats around the world. Throughout his 25-year career, Otto has received numerous awards and international recognition for his work, including the Prize of Excellence in Design from the Salon International du Design de Montréal. He has also illustrated seven books. Otto is a PADI Advanced Diver with over 500 dives in 15 years of diving experience. Otto resides in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.