Virginie Abrial is an Advanced Trimix Closed Circuit Rebreather Diver, as well as an Open Circuit and Closed Circuit Trimix Instructor. Diving since more than 18 years, she worked several years on diving liveaboards in Egypt, before becoming interested by technical diving. She manages the Professional Underwater Rebreather Explorers (PURE) facility at the Red Sea Diving College in Sharm el Sheikh (Egypt), together with Christian HEYLEN, her companion and owner/GM of PURE. She specializes in deep trimix underwater videography, and she produces movies about their findings and activities in Egypt and worldwide.

When I was a girl, my mother bought me a 20-volume set of books called “The Ocean World of Jacques Cousteau”.  An avid, reader, I read the entire set, several times.  We lived in Arizona, and on 110-degree summer days I often looked through the books and imagined myself swimming in the ocean.  In 1986, I married and moved to southern California.  We immediately began to enjoy the Pacific Ocean. On the recommendation of a friend, scuba diving seemed a natural next step.   My husband (dive buddy) and I love to dive and take a couple of dive trips each year. As a fitness professional in our moderate climate, outdoor recreation blends well with a healthy scuba lifestyle.  My passion is teaching and motivating others to fitness.  The healthier we are the longer we will be able to participate in outdoor activities like scuba diving.  I want to dive forever!  www.scubafit.com

KATRINA ADAMS

I’m a partner in Kosrae Village Ecolodge & Dive Resort (did you see that we were selected by Nat Geo Adventure as one of the world’s top 50 lodges in the current issue?).  I am also the general manager.  I love photography (most of my work is underwater, naturally).  I teach scuba, including digital photography and am very active in environmental issues as well as private sector development on Kosrae Island.  Kosrae is part of the Federated States of Micronesia and is just now developing an economy.  It’s pretty tough, I get to teach, dive and take photos on one of the most pristine coral reefs in the Pacific.  Did I mention that the island itself is also gorgeous? My website is http://www.kosraevillage.com

I am an architect in a Boston exurb, whose main passion is nature.  Into this category I fit birding, gardening, botanizing, and FISH-WATCHING.  (Another hobby is belly-dancing which explains my photo.)  I began diving in 1986 and have dived all over the Caribbean and a few times in the Pacific, which is my favorite, because there one can find more fish and more varieties of the same species. I like the fact that in the Pacific, the reef is teeming with fish, like an anthill.  Unfortunately, I only have the time, energy and resources to go to the Pacific infrequently -it's quite a pilgrimage from Boston!  Especially for a certified senior citizen!

DARCY BENWARD

When I started diving 9 years ago, it changed my life. It is my passion, what I spend my free time doing and now my career. I have grown up on the beach, and been in the ocean my whole life so diving came naturally.  I’ve been honored for the last 4 ½ years to be working at such a reputable and first class operation like Atomic Aquatics.  I wear many hats there as inside sales, customer service rep, support to the sales guys and have a ton of fun traveling to many trade shows and events each year. My love for diving hasn’t stopped and I’ve been to many islands in the Caribbean.  I keep active in the California kelp but my true love is Cozumel. I always say I’ve got to live a long time because there are a lot more places left I want to go.www.atomicaquatics.com

I was born in Australia and came to London in 1988.  During a year's backpacking, I decided to give diving a try and trained on the Great Barrier Reef in 1995.  I didn't discover diving holidays until 1998 when I made three trips to the Red Sea, and have tried to make it annual event ever since.  I have dived all over the world, including the Caribbean, Maldives, Fiji and Cocos.  My passion is for sharks and I have seen most varieties, with the exception of great whites and whale sharks.  It's always a thrill and a huge privilege to be in such close proximity to these beautiful wild creatures.  My favourites are hammerheads, although tigers are pretty cool too.  And so huge.  I love the underwater world, and have done so since I was a child.  I really enjoy taking photographs, but am a point-and-shoot girl and don't get too hung up on getting that perfect shot - thank heavens for digital is all I can say.

Michele Benson obtained her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Studio Art from Potsdam State College in New York in 1976. She is the owner of an art studio and gallery where she teaches jewelry making and beadmaking. SandhillGlassStudio.com

KARMA JEWELL CRAMPTON

My name is Karma Jewell Crampton of San Diego California. I spend my time in the community here and on the global networks gathering amazing articles from women who love diving and publish their adventures in my free digital dive magazine called Lady Diver Magazine.
I love underwater photography and anything to do with scuba diving. Sharing this love with others is my way of inspiring the world to dive and care about our oceans.
Check out our latest issue of Lady Diver Magazine at http://societyofladydivers.com

DARCIE CARR

I am a travel specialists promoting diving vacations as well as customized adventure travel itineraries to worldwide destinations for the past 18 years. Our years of experience allow us to customize vacations to be entirely unique and incredibly special, incorporating all that the destination has to offer and suited to your style of travel. I have traveled extensively throughout the South Pacific, Africa, the Caribbean, and South and Central America.
http://www.greatexpeditionstravel.com

ANNE CAMPBELL

I am a PADI instructor and own my own Dive Charter Businesson Lake Ontario here  in Kingston. I started diving in 2000, my first OW dive being in Costa Rica with a magnificent Manta ...amazing. I have not looked back since then, I can not seem to stay Out of the water. I became an instructor in 2005 and began working on the charter boats in 2007. I love to be on the water and under it! Bonaire is my favourite winter escape.
http://www.kingstondivecharters.com

After leaving the corporate world behind, I took my first steps into the- world-at-large over six years ago and I have been difficult to pin down ever since!  Happiest when looking for wrecks, I’m both a PADI and SSI Instructor. I spend my time diving, teaching and traveling – dabbling with creative pursuits like writing and photography along the way.
http://www.thailandtechnicaldiving.com

Traveling provides me with an opportunity to see different parts of the world, and to experience different cultures.  I have traveled to Western Europe, Canada, and after becoming scuba certified, St. Lucia, Mexico and Indonesia.  Traveling allows me to relax and escape the stresses of daily life.  Scuba diving provides a relaxing escape and can be calming and peaceful. 

NANCY EASTERBROOK

I am the owner and founder of Divetech in Grand Cayman, operating since 1994 at Cobalt Coast Dive Resort and Lighthouse Point. I introduced nitrox, technical diving, rebreathers and free diving to Grand Cayman and have authored many papers and several training books on scuba and free-diving. I am an avid supporter of the environment with contributions to a myriad of efforts to support a clean and healthy environment for both today and future generations. http://www.divetech.com

MONICA EUSEBIO

Exploring the underwater Koh Tao, Thailand at the same time you discover yourself. Going down and down with a single breath is an addictive passion, you feel one with the sea and the most beautiful peace. Everyone that love the sea should try it! My best memories are freedives at night time, with no flashlight. Other good ones where with bull sharks, white tip oceanics, mantas and of course the gentle whale shark.

http://www.apnea-total.com

ELAINE FERRITTO

I was a competitive swimmer for 16 years. Swimming gave me many opportunities, including qualifying for the US Olympic Trials, NCAA Championships, and competing for The University of Texas. After my swimming career, I took an advertising job in an office and I really missed the
water! I moved to California, and soon thereafter, was introduced into scuba diving and rebreather diving. I currently work for Titan Dive Gear and am the in-house Titan CCR Instructor. I fell in love with rebreather diving and look forward to getting more women involved in rebreather diving. http://www.titandivegear.com

I was born and bred in NY City (borough of Queens). I dive because I am. I dive because of each wonderful and curious creature that swims, crawls, shimmies, wriggles, flutters in the current, zips through the water column desperately and powerfully. I dive because 20 years ago I was lead from a beach at Bonaire foot by foot under the sea, and I thought I had entered heaven when we reached 20 feet and I was breathing under the waves and looking fish eye to eye. Since then,  I've  had the very great privilege to visit the creatures of the Caribbean, the eastern and western Pacific, the Atlantic Ocean,  the Sulu Sea,  Lembeh Strait, Kembeh Strait and the people who live above their home.

ALESSANDRA FIGARI

I am a recreational and technical diving instructor and trainer, DSAT Trimix Trainer and PADI Course Director, IANTD Tec Instructor and IANTD Tec Full Cave Instructor. I have been living during the last 7 years mainly in the Riviera Maya, Mexico. I developed a special love for caverns and caves while there both by guiding and teaching. I enjoy the view of the canyon reefs of Mexico as well as the incredible wrecks of the nearby Florida. I logged a total of more than 3000 dives all around the world.