It’s hard to believe Christmas is already here, and the new year starts in just over a week. It really seems like Summer just ended, and here we are in the middle of Winter (although you can’t really tell from the weather we’ve been having)!
Mike Bear
Our January/February 2012 issue was printed yesterday (Dec. 23) and will be mailing to our subscribers in the two next weeks. I’m so proud the way this issue has come together, and so glad to be working with such a talented team of writers and photographers who have have helped put this issue together. Mike Bear, our science editor, has put together an exclusive interview with John Chatterton – one of the world’s best known wreck divers, subject of the NY Times Bestseller “The Shadow Divers”, and host of television’s Deep Sea Detectives. Mike did an exceptional job with this story and interview, and we’re very thankful to John Chatterton for supporting us and being a part of our magazine. Mike Bear has more outstanding features coming in 2012, and I hope you’ll join us as a subscriber to continue to read his great stories.
There have been so many others who have contributed their time, energy passion to California Diver Magazine in 2011, and we are so thankful for everyone who has helped share their passion of diving with us and our readers. I don’t want to leave anyone out (there are literally dozens), yet I do want to recognize a few whose work I appreciate. These kudos go out to everyone who has helped California Diver Magazine become a success over the last year.
Mike Bartick
Mike Bartick has been with California Diver since day #1, and has been a great friend, supporter, and contributor to California Diver Magazine. Mike is an exceptional underwater photographer, has written stories in every issue, and is strong supporter not only of our magazine, but of California dive shops, charter boats, and of the diving industry as a whole. It’s people like Mike who help the dive industry grow and we’re thankful to Mike for all his positive energy, enthusiasm, and support. Mike has recently decided to take his diving experience to a new level, and will soon be training divers as a divemaster and instructor. If you have a moment, please check out some of the great photos that Mike has recently taken at his website here. Thanks Mike for all your hard work and continued support of California Diver Magazine.
Gretchen Ashton
Gretchen Ashton has also been with us since issue #1. In every issue, she helps diver get and stay fit, so we can all dive safer. Gretchen is the founder of ScubaFit, a program in San Diego which teaches divers specific exercises to help them in and out of the water. Gretchen has been a rockstar for us – always on-time with great stories and photos. We’re looking to working with you in 2012, Gretchen!
Jeff Bozanic
Jeff Bozanic, is an accomplished diver, renowned dive educator, researcher and trainer, and the 2007 DAN/Rolex Diver of the Year. Jeff has received the NAUI Outstanding and Continuing Service Awards; the Silver Wakulla and Abe Davis Awards for safe cave diving, and the SSI Platinum Pro 5000 Award. In 2002, he joined the NAUI Hall of Honor. We’re so proud to have Jeff as the editor for California Diver Magazine’s Technical Diving column. Jeff is not only highly accomplished in the field, but he is also a great role model and advocate for the sport. Thanks Jeff for all your great stories in 2011 and I look forward to working with you and learning more from you in 2012.
Andy Sallmon
Andy Sallmon is one of California’s most talented underwater photographers, and teamed up with Allison Vitsky, they provide some of our best-written stories and best photography featured in our magazine. Andy is a native Californian, his work has appeared in hundreds of books, calendar, displays, and advertisements, and his images are on display at the Monterey Bay Aquarium and the Smithsonian Institute. When not diving, Andy and Allison are probably out diving. Please take a moment and visit Andy’s website here, and look for more of his great work in our upcoming issues. Thanks Andy and Allison!
Jim Patterson
Jim Patterson has contributed some world-class stories on diving in the Monterey area, and his photography was featured on our first cover of California Diver Magazine in September 2010. In our November/December 2011 issue he presented an outstanding article on diving Monterey’s Mono Lobo, and we’re looking forward to featuring more from Jim in 2012. If you’re a photographer of any level – underwater or topside – check out the photography workshops he teaches regularly in the Santa Cruz/Monterey area. You can see Jim’s website here. Thanks Jim for your great work! I’m still planning on joining you for a workshop!
Mark Lozano
Mark Lozano came on board with us in 2011, penning our freediving articles and giving his perspective on diving the underwater world without tanks. He’s a full-time freediving instructor, and his passion for freediving and the underwater world shows in everything he does. We’re very glad to have Mark onboard, and will continue to feature freediving stories for you in 2012. For a more in-depth story on what Mark does, click here to read a recent article from the San Diego Newspaper Group. His next article will appear in our January/February 2012 issue. It’s OK to hold your breath while you wait…
Nick Ambrose
Nick Ambrose is an avid wreck and cave diver and has brought our readers down to some of California’s greatest wreck dives. Nick wrote a great article on diving the USS Burns for our January 2011 issue which we’re posted online here (as well as several other wreck dives, such as the ACE I), and gave his experience of diving with Westbound Diving in our last issue (Nov/Dec 2011). Nick has also contributed to our “Lessons Learned” section. He’s an accomplished technical diver and underwater photographer.
Joe Dovala‘s photos have appeared on our cover before, and he’s starting us off in 2012 with a fantastic photo from his story “Invasion from Below – Battle of the Brittle Stars”. While Joe is another world-class photographer that we have the honor of working with, his writing is equally top-notch. Joe recently published his first book titled “Under the Kelp“, and we look forward to working with him in the new year. Thanks for letting us share your photos and stories Joe!
Kevin Lee
David Behrens and Kevin Lee brought us the 2011 stories on “Creepy Skeletons in the Sea”, “Sea Slug – names”, and will be leading us into 2012 with a very interesting story on how Sea Slugs survive without shells. Dave is a very well-known writer who has personally discovered more than 20 nudibranchs, and Kevin Lee is a director with the Orange County Underwater Photographic Society (OCUPS) in Southern California. His images of the underwater world have been published in calendars, newspapers, textbooks, brochures and scuba diving related websites… and in California Diver Magazine! It’s great to be working with you Dave and Kevin, and we look forward to another great year with you!
Finally, I would like to give credit to a few people behind the scenes who make every issue of California Diver Magazine come together. Our creative director and chief designer Angela McCorison does a fantastic job designing every issue, and I think you’ll also agree that she’s making California Diver Magazine one of the best looking magazines on diving anywhere. We give her plenty of last-minute changes, keep her up late on deadlines, and she always delivers a great looking magazine. Thanks Angie for all your late nights and dedication to making California Diver a success!
Brianna Politzer Stevens has been working with us since our first issue and has an extensive background as a writer, journalist, and of course, as a diver! Brianna is helping us take our magazine to the next level by working as our Executive Editor, managing the editorial process, working with all our contributors, and keeping us on schedule. Brianna holds a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies from University of California at Santa Cruz, a Master’s in Journalism from New York University, and a Master’s of Business Administration/Marketing from Walden University. Brianna – thanks for all your help and I look forward to working with you in 2012.
Nate Green and Mike Bartick
Nate Green has also helped us tremendously this year as a copywriter and copyeditor. Nate is an avid diver and accomplished writer, and made a noticeable difference in our magazine this year by helping manage editorial content. Nate also wrote the story on the “3R’s: Rocks, Rips, and Reefs”, featured in our July/August issue. Nate’s passion for diving, talent for writing, and dedication to California Diver Magazine is greatly appreciated. It’s great to work with you, Nate!
Most importantly, thank you for subscribing to California Diver Magazine and helping us promote the sport of diving in California. We sincerely hope to inspire you, share California’s beautiful underwater world with you, and help you share your passion of diving with others. We’re looking forward to another exciting year.
Have a safe and happy holiday and a Happy New Year!
- Chris
Click here and subscribe today to receive all of our 2012 issues!
