2009 Ultimate Diver Challenge Participants...

Jaime Mezo & Kim Rogers
"ScubaDoRag" Team
Carey Deep Scuba, Cozumel

Jaime “Pelos” Mezo is a native Mayan and long-time resident of the island of Cozumel. His family history dates back several generations to the Mayan town of Xpu-Ha, located between Playa del Carmen and Tulum. Raised by a family of fishermen, Jaime has been on or in the ocean since he was born. He started fishing with his father when he was quite young, and learned to drive a boat long before he could drive a car. It wasn’t long before his curiosity got the best of him – he knew he had to learn what was happening under the surface, and the only way to do that was to learn how to dive. Over the years he had several mentors and worked with several dive operators on the island – driving boats, repairing scuba gear… he wanted to learn everything there was to know about scuba. He taught himself English by practicing speaking with divers during their surface intervals, and studying English books while they were at the bottom. Jaime is a PADI Dive Master and enjoys sharing his knowledge and skills, and is proud to call his clients “friends”. Jaime is currently training for the IronMan competition that is scheduled to be held in Cozumel in November, and is excited to be returning to the Ultimate Diver Challenge this year to defend his “Ultimate Diver” title.

Kim Rogers was born in Salt Lake City and currently lives in Golden, Colorado. She did not learn how to swim until she was ten-years-old because she was afraid of water – a trait passed on by her mother. She enlisted in the Air Force after graduating from high school in Meridian, Idaho and – although she was stationed in Monterey, California – twice – it was not until a vacation to Bodrum, Turkey in 1995 that she strapped on her first scuba tank. Even then it would be another 10 years before she ventured into a dive shop in Denver seeking scuba lessons as a Christmas gift for someone else. After completing her class and pool training – twice – she finally earned her SSI C-Card in July 2004. She currently works as an attorney to support her dive habit, while also working part-time as an SSI Dive Control Specialist in Denver. She plans to start working on her Instructor certification after competing in the UDC this year, and her long-term plan is to move to Cozumel, continue diving with Jaime as an on-site rather than long-distance partner, buddy, and friend, and to specialize in dive vacations and training for disabled veterans and their families.

Jaime and Kim became instant friends and dive buddies from their first meeting on the beach at Fiesta Americana in May 2005. Less that 6 months later – and just days before the Wrath of Wilma hit the island – they were involved in an accident near Caletta that changed their lives and solidified their fast-growing friendship. On New Years Eve 2007, Carey Deep Scuba was created and they’ve been working as partners, buddies, and – most importantly – the best of friends ever since. Their love for the ocean, the island, and the people who live on and visit Cozumel are a constant inspiration, and in their minds and hearts, there is nothing more rewarding that sharing Cozumel with their clients - new and old – as they are all part of their scuba family. Hurricane Wilma inspired them to pursue their dreams, much as it inspired Pam to pursue hers, and we are honored to be competing in the Ultimate Diver Challenge 2009.

Mark Osgood
Vacaville, CA

Born 08/30/62 in Seattle, Washington, Mark moved to Vacaville, CA in 2002 and when his brother, Todd, decided to move down from Washington in 2007, they wanted to find an activity that would allow them to spend time together. Todd had tried discover scuba in Hawaii and suggested getting scuba certified since their Dad dove for years so in August 2007 Mark became a certified diver and has been scuba diving the California waters at least once a month ever since. Since becoming certified, Mark has become an advance diver, attends all classes being conducted at Pacific Reef Dive Center and is on his way to becoming an instructor. Mark did compete in the Ultimate Diver Challenge in 2008 and was doing well until his dive buddy had a non-diving related accident and had to withdraw from the competition. This year he is back with a great dive buddy and determined to be named the “Ultimate Diver”.

Erik Phariss
Special Response Diver Instructor

Born in Santa Cruz, California, Erik grew up in and around the water. When he was nine he first began competitive swimming and body boarding. At
11 Erik was a member of the California Junior Lifeguard program and
spent his summers in the water and on the beach. In 2003, he joined
the International ALERT Academy and is a graduate of the Aquatic
program. Certifications earned while with Aquatics are as follows:
Open Water, Advanced Open Water, Nitrox, Drysuit, Underwater
Photography, Rescue Diver, Divemaster, Open Water, and Specialty
Instructor through the National Association of SCUBA Educators,
(NASE). He also received his Special Response, Tactical Diver, and
SRD Instructor certifications through the (NAPD). During his time at
ALERT he was a vital member of their search and recovery dive team.

He graduated in 2007 from language school in Chapala, Mexico. He
holds the equivalent of a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish. Erik is an
active recreational dive instructor and is the first NAPD instructor
in Mexico.

Scott Martinage
Nashua, NH

Native of Nashua, New Hampshire, though Absent for 4 years serving the USA with the 27th Engineers Air Borne from 1977 to 1981. Now a Firefighter for 27 years with the Nashua Fire Rescue and Dive team. Scuba Certified '92 for fun and now for public safety diving. Specialties include; ice diving, dry suit, wide area search. CPR, rescue and currently working on Master Diver.

Some years ago, I sent in a video tape to the survivor show and though I would like to get kicked off first and then spend the rest of the show time diving that location. Then one day, a good friend sent me a link to the Ultimate Diver Challenge and I thought “OH MY, THERE IS A GOD.” So I get to dive and participate in a show! What a wonderful world we live in!

I enjoy hiking outdoors especially the 4000 footers in the White Mountains, skiing, shoeing, biking, swimming and just about everything except murdering animals in the woods.

I also love to see and experience the different cultures of the world. The Mayan story fascinates me and the Yucatan is rich with this tale. I can't wait to get started.