Stephen Mendell
Underwater Commentator
(Los Angeles, California)

Stephen Mendel was born in Montreal, Canada and is a dual American/Canadian citizen. After receiving a BA in Drama from Bishop’s University he began working in theatre, film and television. He earned an MFA from Cal State Long Beach.

Perhaps best known for the role of Detective Fred Carson on the CBS TV series “Night Heat,” Stephen has guest starred on such shows as: “Criminal Minds”, “CSI: Miami”, “24”, “Las Vegas”, “JAG”, “The Practice”, “Judging Amy”, and “The X-Files”; appeared in mini-series, TV movies and feature films. He has worked with Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks in “The Terminal” and played a lead role in Wu Tian Ming’s “CEO” (seen by over 200 million people in China).

Theatre has included “After Crystal Night” (for which he received a Best Supporting Actor award) at the Odyssey Theater and “The Foreigner”, at the Pasadena Playhouse. Stephen has a busy voice-over career with many commercials, narration and the voice of “Splinter” on “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.”

Stephen is a scuba instructor trainer with NAUI and Los Angeles County. He is a PADI MSDT, CMAS and Handicapped Scuba Association Instructor as well as being a First Aid, CPR, and AED instructor with HIS and NAUI.

Off-stage he plays the guitar and sings with a group of folk musicians at charitable events and just for fun. He skies, swims, hikes, weight trains and practices the obscure martial art of aki-jutsu. You can find out more at:

www.premierscubadiving.com
www.stephenmendel.com

Mark Santa Maria
Underwater Cameraman
(Detroit, Michigan)

Mark comes to the UDC team as an experienced underwater cinematographer. His award wining natural history films have been shown throughout the world and featured at the prestigious International Wildlife Film Festival. He is also the Director of Photography and Director for "Into The Drink", a dive travel show appearing on several networks in the US and abroad. His unique style of combining amazing tracking shots with engaging angles will pull you into the drama and exitement of the UDC underwater competition.

He is also an experienced travel guide who has led expeditions from Africa to Chuuk Lagoon and from the cold waters of Vancouver to the tropical magnificence of Palau. If you don't find him the open blue waters filming pelagics, he is probably squeezing through a cave restriction in the Yucatan with camera in tow. It is difficult to keep Mark out of the water.

Nancy Boucha
Underwater Camerawoman
(Detroit, Michigan)

Nancy Boucha, Certified Padi Instructor has over 35 years experience teaching more than 25 different diving specialties and is also an emergency first response instructor trainer. She shares her tremendous knowledge and experience through Scuba Systems, owned and operated by Nancy & her husband Larry specializing in equipment sales, repair, travel and instruction. She can best be described as the scuba instructor, underwater photographer, writer, and underwater naturalist, lover of nature, and a passionate diver, but I like to call her "a friend to everyone"!

Her dive travels have taken her to more than 30 countries and capturing the beauty underwater through photography is her passion. Her award winning photographs have appeared in books, magazines, newspapers, ads and film festivals. She and her husband Larry are regular presenters at Our World-Underwater. She and her husband Larry lead photo dive trips to some of the world's best diving locations. Nancy's passion is sharing with others the beauty and joy of the aquatic realm and the need to protect it. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of her underwater photos is donated to help save the underwater world. She is a frequent lecturer and guest speaker on areas of underwater exploration and marine life. She loves teaching scuba diving to children and families. Presenting her thrilling underwater slide and video programs to school groups, service clubs, and others gives her the opportunity to showcase share her knowledge of the underwater world. She has been awarded the prestigious Platinum Pro 5000 Award and many international awards for her photography--National Geographic Adventure Magazine Wild Angle Photo Contest, EPIC Underwater Photographic Competition, Beneath the Sea Underwater Photo Contest, Environmental Photo Invitational Under the Blue and more. She is a photographer for the Ultimate Diver Challenge and the Photo Judge for the Ramon Bravo Photo Challenge. Although Nancy is a frequent visitor to the Caribbean and Pacific, she also indulges her passion for diving with lots of local shipwreck diving in the challenging waters of the Great Lakes. She currently writes for the Dive News Network.

Recovering from a recent stroke, this set back has not stopped her passion and will for diving! Back in the waters, teaching & capturing the beauty of the underwater world.

Check back periodically to read about new crew members as the 2011 UDC season approaches!

Click Here to meet the 2010 Ultimate Diver Challenge Film Crew.