2011 Speakers


Dr. Phil Nuytten - Travelin

Nuytco President and founder


Dr. Phil Nuytten has spent his life in subsea exploration. He has logged many thousands of hours underwater world-wide as a working commercial diver and as a developer of underwater equipment and techniques. He is widely regarded as one of the pioneers of the modern commercial diving industry and a significant force in the creation of new technology read more...

John Broadwater - The SS Monitor

Chief Scientist of the Monitor Expedition 2001


In 1978, Dr. Broadwater became Virginia's first State Underwater Archaeologist. For nearly a decade he directed a major shipwreck project in the York River that resulted in a permanent exhibit at the Yorktown Victory Center and his June 1988 article in National Geographic magazine. read more...

Steve Philbrook - Intro to Digital Underwater Photography

Photographer, Owner of Aquaventures


Mr. Steve Philbrook, from Aquaventure Dive & Photo Center, brings us a presentation entitled "Intro to Digital Underwater Photography". Steve is an underwater photo enthusiast who has worked the past several years in the U/W Photography Industry as the former General Manager and repair technician for INON America. He has also distributed products for Fisheye, Inc. and recently has been a design consultant and field tester for Watershot, Inc. read more...

Michael Tougas -

Professional Photographer, Captain of Ocean Hunter II, Palau; Captain of Sundancer II, Belize


Mr. Michael Tougas has been a photographer for over 25 years. He became a certified diver in 1997 and started Trimix diving in 2001. In 2004 Michael acquired a captain’s license, sold his possessions and sailed his boat “Sabbatical” solo from Lake Superior read more...

David Trotter - Discovery of the Marion Eagan

Shipwreck Hunter Adventurer; Well-known Shipwreck Speaker


David has been discovering and exploring Great Lakes shipwrecks since the 70’s. Recently published, the book “Shipwreck Hunter” by Gerry Volgenau chronicles David’s unique forty years of involvement with Great Lakes discovery and exploration. David has been featured on the Discovery Channel, ABC News, CBS News, in the New York Times, the Detroit Free Press, read more...

Keith Cormican - Public Safety Diving

Owner, Wazee Sports Center; Public Safety Diver


Keith, who became certified in 1990 with a main interest in Public Safety Diving, has had the opportunity to dive in many locations throughout the world. Keith opened up the Wazee Sports Center in 1996 to serve the many divers who would be coming to the old iron mine, which is now known as Wazee Lake. read more...