MEMBERS
Andy Viduka
Dr Andy Viduka's research interest includes linking community outcomes with the discovery and protection of underwater cultural heritage. Andy is a keen environmentalist and loves spending time with his family, gardening, travelling, swimming, diving and taking photos. He has great aspirations to learn Croatian, Greek and guitar but never seems to have time.
Craig Forrest
Craig has been diving since 1984 and worked as a diving instructor in South Africa, Greece and Israel, with a keen but amateur interest in wrecks. Professionally, Craig is the Director of the Marine and Shipping Law Unit and Professor in the TC Beirne School of Law, University of Queensland. Before a career in Law, Craig served as a naval officer in the South African Navy.
Steve Reynolds
President for Marine Life Society of SA, Past Secretary & Past Historian for Scuba Divers Federation of SA, Committee Member for Redmap Steering Committee, regular contributor for Dive Log magazine
Ignacio (Iggy) Mattos Santos
International Student at Flinders University - Master Environmental Management Dive Master PADI Wreck Diver IANTD Scientific Diver NAUI Scuba Diver since 1988
Peter Mayer
Diving since 1992. PADI DM 2004. PADI Wreck,Rescue, Enriched Air 40%. CDAA Cavern, Sinkhole, Nitrox (2003 not current). Enjoy recreational diving in tropics and in SA. Member of Reef and Wreck Dive Club.
James Parkinson
Maritime Archaeologist (Flinders) 20-year member of Maritime Archaeological Association of Victoria Member of WreckCheck Member of AIMA ADAS Training and Assessment Manager ADAS Part 1 & Part 3 Supervisor 5000+ Occupational dives Coxswain
Nicholas (Nick) Williams
Keen to preserve South Australia's maritime history. boat support to brother Guy. Interests include photography and research. Former diver now retired.
Luke Hentschke
I am a 22 year old Advanced Open water Diver with a passion in marine conservation and dive photography. As I am a data communications technician by trade, I have a strong technical background. I also have a reasonable knowledge on marine species. Through participating in GIRT scientific divers, I hope to broaden my knowledge in the marine environments and become more involved in the marine industry in the future.
Caitlin Wenke
I'm currently studying a Bachelor of Science in Ecology and Spatial Science. I'm passionate about marine ecology, GIS and conservation, and have my advanced OW license. Through GIRT I'm excited to apply my skills to add to the scientific database and communicate findings to the public.
Rick Bullers
Rick is a maritime archaeologist working for Heritage South Australia, administering the maritime heritage program for South Australia. His main research interest is in Australian colonial ships and shipbuilding, and has published widely in this field.
Jeff Bowey
Whilst a relatively late starter to Diving, once the bug bit there was no turning back, I transferred a lot of skills from my past outdoor activities to SCUBA, Quickly becoming a wreck diver and U/W photographer with numerous other qualifications and yet more to come soon. My Passion for maritime history and archaeology in general along with a desire to preserve the environment saw a natural transition to GIRT.
Guy Williams
Hydrograhic Surveyor monitoring the sand movements around the coast. This involves single line bathymetry with video transects along pre-determined lines. It also consists of diving on brass rods in the sea floor for measuring sea grass loss with underwater photography.
Susanne Rawson
Over the past 15 years I have enjoyed serving in many roles related to cultural heritage preservation, material culture, and archaeology including non-profit, education, and private practice environments. My specialty is working with sites and objects in coastal and maritime environments, although I have been fortunate to be involved with a variety of materials and in locations from the Arctic to the Antarctic, South America and across the Near East and Africa.
Brett Sutton
After a stint in the military, I became dedicated to working in the marine environment as a dive master and freelance commercial diver. Involvement in scientific projects as a commercial diver inspired me to complete a BSc, majoring in Biological Sciences. I'm currently honing my photography and free diving skills, and venturing into the world of marine archaeology.
Dean Danford
Re-discovering how wonderful it was to dive on my 60th birthday, I've spent many hours training in Technical and Wreck diving; and, many more hours visiting wrecks around the world. Fourteen years later, it is high time I gave something back to the diving community. The GIRT philosophy appears a superb method of achieving part of that goal.
Elisabeth Tondl
Elisabeth enjoys engaging with the challenges and excitement of the beautiful underwater world and is keen to expand her scuba skillset and contribute as a citizen scientist. Above the waterline, she works as a research chemist developing drugs for cancer at the University of Sydney.
Matthew Gainsford
Maritime archaeologist. Studied at Flinders SA before moving on to work for the WA Maritime Museum in Fremantle and for both Kalmar Läns museum and Bohusläns museum, Uddevalla, Sweden. Have recently returned to NZ and am working for an archaeology company in Hamilton.
Kim Triegaardt
keen diver since 1982, but bit of a slacker so searching for warm water spots with lots of apres-beach activities that involve umbrellas big and small, you know, the ones that fit in a glass.
Graeme Lehman
Ex Navy with a passion for Wrecks
Virginia Watson
Virginia Watson is the Diector of Dive Otago a PADI 5 Star Career Development Centre in Dunedin. She is passionate about maritime history and in particular the wrecks in the South Island of New Zealand. Virginia's other passion is printmaking. Wrecks and the stories they carry bridge the gap between her work as a dive instructor and an artist. She looks forward to using girt projects to inspire her students and other local enthusiasts to engage in heritage in a meaningful way.
Thomas Habel
Maritime history and archaeology enthusiast. Especially interested in East and South East Asian maritime cultures.
Connor Grzesiak
I am an underwater videographer with a huge passion for maritime archaeology and telling the incredible stories buried in our oceans! After volunteering for several years with the Anglo~Danish Maritime Archaeological team in preserving shipwrecks across the Caribbean, I am keen to start collaborating with GIRT divers to document Australia's amazing underwater cultural heritage and educate the public on their rich history.
Jane Haikney
Recreational diver currently based in Brisbane and looking forward to helping survey some sites!
Hayden Riethmuller
Hayden Riethmuller Hoping to learn about Australian Heritage and help monitor the wrecks on the Qld Coast
Della Scott-Ireton
Dr Della Scott-Ireton graduated from the University of West Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Anthropology and a Master's degree in Historical Archaeology. She also has a PhD in Anthropology from Florida State University. Della is certified as a Scuba Instructor with the National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI). She currently serves as Associate Director for the Florida Public Archaeology Network (FPAN.us).
Sara Hasan
Keen recreational, technical wreck diver with commercial diving qualification. Member of the Nautical Archaeology Society (NAS) UK since 2009, now a NAS Tutor and volunteer. When not diving, earn a living as a Hyperbaric Critical Care Nurse.
Neil Burgess
Neil is passionate about engaging recreational divers in documenting and monitoring shipwrecks in Newfoundland & Labrador, Canada. He is a co-founder of the charity Shipwreck Preservation Society of Newfoundland & Labrador. Neil is a NAS tutor and a certified technical, full cave, and scientific diver. In his spare time, he is pursuing a part-time B.A. in Archaeology at Memorial University of Newfoundland.
Michel Cloutier
I love scuba diving, archaeology, history and traveling. I am a Master Scuba Diver with many shipwreck associated certificates from PADI. I have NAS 1 and I plan on doing more with NAS in the next few years. I am working my way to volunteer my time in UW or land archaeology when I retire in about two years’ time.
David Liew
Since starting to dive my passions for exploration and archaeology have become intertwined. Along with my inquisitive nature and this passion I am drawn back to the underwater world to see and understand the effects of time and the environment.
Emma Harris
Love for the ocean and adventure lead to the first scuba diving qualification being undertaken in 2001. Since then my passion for marine life, wrecks and archaeology has only grown. Being U.K. based, it takes a lot more than low vis and cold temperatures to stop me entering the water.
Colin Wilson
Special Effects Makeup artist who become interested in a shipwreck near me (SS Maitland - May 6th 1898) have done a short tribute film regarding the wreck.
Riccardo Mandolini
Originally from Italy where I have been diving since 2003 and grew my interests on Maritime Archaeology. Currently studying at JCU in Townsville, QLD.
Dan Halloran
Dan is a PADI IDC Staff, TDI Technical, & DAN DES Instructor Trainer. Diving since 1996, Cave and Trimix certified, his experiences range from graduate underwater archaeology study of of viking age artifacts in Dublin Bay, Tec diving the Caves of Florida, to rebreather diving the deep Atlantic "Wreck Valley". A lawyer & former NYC elected official, Dan is honored to be working with GIRT to collect data and promote citizen based scientific research diving & Maritime Archaeology.
Amer Khan
Co-Founder/Director of the Maritime Archaeology and Heritage Institute in Karachi, Pakistan.
Rob Konings
Started as a recreational diver, I became fascinated by the professional diving world. After being trained as a professional diver, I have worked for a number of years as a professional diver, mainly in the field of civil underwater construction and search and recovery. After a career switch, away from professional diving, I took up diving again for recreational purposes and as a volunteer diver, combined with technical diving and underwater archaeology. In this last area I have become increasingly skilled by participating in courses, fieldschools and contributing to and management of archaeological and conservation projects in the Netherlands and the U.K.
Karin Murray-Bergquist
Karin Murray-Bergquist is a PhD student in folklore, as well as an actor, writer, and artist, based in Newfoundland.
Mike Pitul
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Alexandra Tyas
I am a PhD student in archaeology, and my research is surrounding community engagement in underwater archaeology. I am a commercial diver, and have been diving since 2012. I am passionate about our underwater world, and am excited to share my passion with others!
Francis Josef Gasgonia
Mr. Francis Josef C. Gasgonia is an Environmental Planner, and Cartographer specialising in participatory land use planning, and geographic information systems (GIS) analysis for environmental conservation, disaster preparedness, and sustainable development. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology, and a graduate diploma in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Santo Tomas, and the University of the Philippines respectively. He has worked on projects in sustainable integrated area development, and facilitated training courses on free and open source software for GIS in the Philippines & Cambodia. He has also conducted cultural heritage mapping activities including archaeological excavations, 3D Photogrammetry of heritage buildings, and documenting underwater shipwrecks. He participated in the Young Professionals Fellowship Program of the Young South East Asian Leaders Initiative by the U.S. Department of State. Francis is an ASEFEdu alumnus.
Eugene Battaglia
Gene Battaglia: PADI Course Director, Technical Instructor Trainer, DAN Examiner, Public Safety Diving Instructor Trainer Hometown: From San Francisco, CA, now living in the Panhandle of Florida! Favorite Food: Fresh Seafood, BBQ, or Italian Favorite Local Hangout: With living in Florida, any dive boat heading for a dive site! Favorite Dive Site: The Philippine Islands! Favorite Type of Diving: Have been working on taking more underwater video Best Dive You’ve Ever Been On: I would have to say, San Francisco Maru in Truk Lagoon! If You Could Dive Anywhere in the World Where Would It Be? Since Wrecks tickle my fancy, I would say, anywhere there is a wreck! Anything Else You Would Like to Add? As divers, we are the Oceans Ambassadors. As such, it is our duty to inform those who do not dive, as to what is happening to our oceans. To quote someone famous: “People will only love what they understand!” We need to ensure people understand what is happening to our oceans and what they can do to make them healthier. As far as getting to know me, here are just a few highlights of my diving career so far: • Bachelors of Arts Degree in Recreation Administration from Cal State Sacramento • Certificate in Training and Human Development from UC Berkeley • Involved in Law Enforcement since 1980 -Retired Police Officer – East Bay Regional Park District -Former Deputy Sheriff, Tuolumne County -Former Deputy Sheriff, Kern County -Former Park Ranger, Kern County -Diver for East Bay Regional Parks -Past Chief of the Alameda County Sheriff’s Department Dive Team for over 10 years • Involved in Public Safety Diving since 1985 • Public Safety Diving Instructor Trainer for several municipalities including: • San Francisco Police and Fire Departments • Alameda County Sheriff’s Department Dive, EOD and Marine Unit Teams • Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Marine & Dive Units • San Mateo County Sheriff’s Department Dive Team • Los Gatos DART • Napa County Sheriff’s Dive Team • Solano County Sheriff’s Dive Team • Sacramento County DART • Washoe County Sheriff’s Hasty Team • Deschutes County Sheriff’s Dive Team • TDI Technical Diving Instructor and Instructor Trainer • PSAI Technical Diving Instructor and Instructor Trainer • Scuba Instructor since 1988 • PADI Course Director (Instructor Trainer) since 1994 • Certified over 3,500+ students • Designed, developed, and implemented dive instruction program at Cal State University, Monterey Bay • Senior Instructor for the US Army Defense Language Institute at the Presidio of Monterey (Retired) • Owned/Operated Institute of Diving Technology since 1994 • Started/Operated Dive N Trips, a PADI 5 Star Instructor Development Center from 2008-2019 • Owned/Operated Undersea Adventures, a PADI 5 Star Instructor Development Center from 1989-1993 • Developed strategic partnerships with other PADI Instructor Development Centers throughout the State of California • Developed and implemented Instructor training programs for various IDC Centers in California
Christopher Nipper
Amateur underwater Historical enthusiast. The love of old stuff and the love of diving goes together. Trained as a Medical Laboratory Technologist, has worked for 30 years in Scientific Technical Sales.
Darren Smith
Just your average scuba diver that enjoys exploring history below the surface!
Sam Monsen
Archaeologist in Iceland interested in community maritime archaeology
Maria Michael
Maria Michael has an undergraduate degree in archaeology and history from the University of Cyprus in Cyprus, and a MA in Maritime Archaeology from the University of Southampton in the UK. Her MA thesis was entitled “Ship Graffiti: Context as Indicators of Social, Ritual, Practical and Economic Activities in the past”. In January 2018, having secured an Honor Frost (HFF) doctoral scholarship, she started the PhD program at the University of Southampton, under the supervision of Dr. Julian Whitewright, Dr. Anna Collar, and Dr. Jaco Weinstock. The PhD thesis entitled “To fish or not to fish? The case study of fishing activity in Cyprus” attempts for the first time to gather all the available evidence for fishing (e.g. harpoons or spears, fish hooks, stone, clay, bronze or lead weights for net or line and traps) in Cyprus in a single body of evidence in order to interpret correctly the archaeologically neglected aspect of the fishery. In 2021, she has defenced her PhD, and she completed her PhD. Since 2006, Maria has participated in many terrestrial and underwater projects in Cyprus, Greece, Egypt and the UK, and she has presented her work at various conferences (e.g. POCA, IKUWA, HFF conference, MAGS). She has also participated in many outreach projects and training courses about remote sensing techniques, GIS and conservation. Since 2012, Maria has been working as a field archaeologist at the Committee on Missing Persons in Cyprus (Bi-communal program), where she has directed and conducted excavations and exhumations on both sides of the island.
Linda Fielder
Open Water -NAUI - 1988 Bougainville Island NSP Advanced Open Water -PADI -1991 Port Hedland, WA Rescue Diver -PADI -1998 - Groote Eylandt, NT Dive master - PADI - 1999- Groote Eylandt, NT Nitrox -PADI - 2018 - Cairns, QLD
Kurt Bennett
Dr Kurt Bennett, Archaeologist, Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga
Riki Everest
53 yrs old. Male. 33 yrs spent commercially free diving for Abalone. Live on Stewart Island, NZ Qual PADI Rescue Diver. Father of 3.
Harley Lawson
From Motueka New Zealand with a huge love of the outdoors and conservation. Training Padi dive instructor. Currently working for Dive Otago as a skipper. Married to Clare Gunton (bad as outdoor bush lady with a massive love for the outdoors and conservation).