Jim Pearson
Underwater Cameraman
(Los Angeles, California)

Diving since his teens and logging over 10,000 dives, the Los Angeles Times called Jim a diver even the “experts call an expert”. He completed the first Southwest Council Instructor Program (SCIP) in 1963 in Dallas, Texas (instructor #54). He has instructor certifications from NAUI, PADI, L.A. County, CMAS and TDI. He has served as guest speaker at numerous diving educational conferences and seminars. His articles and photographs have appeared in several periodicals. Jim’s honors include; Underwater Instructor of the Year (SCIP, 1971), Theodore Vail Medal of Heroism (AT&T, 1973), U.S. Presidential Lifesaving Commendation (President Gerald Ford) and honored as SSI “Pro-5000 Diver” for professional contributions to diving. Jim is a former U.S. Navy Diver and TrainingDirector for the Los Angeles Police Underwater Unit. He is currently the Sector Los Angeles Commander of the U.S.Coast Guard Dive Investigations Team. Jim is a member of the Screen Actors Guild and works in the motion picture industry as the owner of Cinema Rentals Inc. He has worked on both sides of the camera in hundreds of commercials, music videos, television shows and feature films such as Apollo 13, The Italian Job, G.I. Jane, Next Action Star, Bourne Identity, U-571, U.S. Marshals,Men of Honor, Face Off, Star Trek Generations, Charlie’s Angels and others.

Robert Trussell
Underwater Cameraman
(Los Angeles, TX)

Assistant Instructor, Divemaster, multiple specialties PADI & NAUI. Marine & Underwater Specialist in motion picture industry. Underwater Videographer.

Guy Swenson
Underwater Cameraman
(Barnesville, MN)

Guy has over 30 years of diving experience extending from the southern California coastline and offshore island to Texas reservoirs, flooded mines in Missouri and various Minnesota Lakes. He holds multiple Specialty certifications from both NASDS and PADI and is a Master Diver, Rescue Diver, Divemaster and Open Water Instructor. He is a Minnesota volunteer Search and Rescue specialist. Guy is a licensed pilot and built, registered and maintains his own two-place light airplane. Guy was with the U.S. Marine Corps from 1976 to 1980 (Aviation Electronics Technician). During his tour, he attained his scuba diving and skydiving certifications.

Mark Santa Maria
Underwater Cameraman

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.

Michael McCallion
Topside Cameraman
(Boston, Massachussetts)

Since the day I picked up a camera the world has become a moving canvas in my eyes and, as an aspiring artist, my aim is to capture it as its best as best I can. I’ve been doing photography since I was 14, and am learning more every day, especially since I’m attending college at the New England Institute of Art as a Photography Major. I love every minute of what I do and my hope is to become a photojournalist and change the way people look at the world through my work, and hopefully one day lead to change in the world itself.

David Herrera
Production Assistant
(Los Angeles, CA)

David’s education (BA in Communications) and background as an advertising executive designing major campaigns blended well with his creativity. He has been directing and producing Mexico de mis Amores (Mexico My Beloved) since 1997. Being born and raised in Mexico City but residing in Los Angeles for the past 30 years has instilled his comfort and versatility in both cultures.

Click Here to meet the 2009 Ultimate Diver Challenge Film Crew.