Capt. Michael R. Ange

Seaduction.com’s chief visionary, Michael Ange is a published author, photojournalist and internationally recognized lecturer, with a dive training background that encompasses military, law enforcement, recreational and technical training in the US, Europe and Asia. Certified with several agencies, he holds master instructor and instructor trainer ratings including Advanced TRIMIX, Closed Circuit Rebreathers and Cave Diving. Additionally, he is an Advanced Diver Medic and a USCG Licensed Master with Power, Sail and Commercial Towing Endorsements. Mike has published training standards, five textbooks and more than 200 journal and magazine articles on recreational diver safety and training. His latest book, “Diver Down: Real World SCUBA Accidents and How to Avoid Them,” by McGraw Hill Publishing, has received outstanding reviews.

During his diving career, Mike has safely trained well over 3,000 divers, certified hundreds of instructors and dozens of instructor trainers, logged well in excess of 6,000 safe dives, including several hundred to depths in excess of 200 fsw. He has also participated as a diver in several unique shipwreck expeditions including two to the historic Civil War Ironclad, the USS Monitor. Many divers know Mike best as the training editor for Scuba Diving magazine and ScubaDiving.com from 2000 to 2009. Mike was the author of the ground-breaking “Lessons for Life” column analyzing real-world dive accidents and fatalities for keys to safer diving.

Among his other accomplishments, Mike originated the Sub Aquatic Survivor® series of training expeditions for both recreational and technical divers; served as adjunct faculty at six colleges and universities; was named visiting faculty to the Scientists in the Sea Program VI sponsored by Florida State University and the US Navy; and has lectured physicians on the topic of Medical Assessment of Fitness for Diving as part of conferences sponsored by the Undersea & Hyperbaric Medical Society. He has served on training or safety advisory boards for SSI, TDI, PSAI, NASE, SDI and ERDI. In the business of diving, Mike has run the U.S. divisions of the German company Dräger and the Swedish company Waterproof Gear AB. He also owns a successful retail operation, SEAduction® Dive Center that he founded in 1991. In 2006 SSI recognized Mike’s contributions to diving by awarding him both the prestigious Platinum Pro 5000 Diver and Platinum Pro 5000 Instructor awards.

Outside of diving, Mike has been recognized for graduating with honors from Appalachian State University was listed in the Who’s Who of Law Students twice and is an active supporter and advocate for veterans of the United States Armed Forces. His hobbies include reading at least a book a week, long-distance motorcycle tours, off road excursions on both remote mountainous and beach terrains and, of course, he dives – preferably on deep wrecks of historical significance. Mike can be reached by email at mike@seaduction.com or by phone at 727-271-8400.

CLICK HERE to meet the judges from the 2009 Ultimate Diver Challenge.