In a ceremony last Saturday, the Adventurers Club of Los Angeles conferred their “Adventurer of the Year 2013 Award” to Kevin Lee for completing scuba diving in all Seven Continents and other high adventures.
Kevin lives in Fullerton and is a frequent divers in Southern California waters. His adventures in over 40 countries include multiple treks to Mt. Everest Base Camp and to Mt. Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest summit.
Among Kevin’s highlights of this past year included exploring the high Andes plains which Kevin describes as “spectacular”. “Walking among the amazing ruins of Machu Pichhu was impressive and awe inspiring”, said Kevin. Previous adventures considered for the award were backpacking throughout India for 14 months, trekking in Nepal for 90 days (including two solo hikes to Mt. Everest Base Camp) and reaching the two highest summits in Africa, Mt. Kenya and Mt. Kilimanjaro.
Kevin at Machu Pichhu. Photo Credit: Kevin Lee.
So what’s coming in 2014 for Kevin?
“Life is an open book and often the best adventures are unplanned. I have 2 states remaining to complete visits to all 50 (North and South Dakota). It would be interesting to eventually dive them all. Papua New Guinea, the Mediterranean and Australia are all high on my list for dive destinations.”
Kevin has dived all Seven Continents, including Antarctica where water temperatures were 29F (-2C). His images are on permanent display at Chapman University, Orange California, and have been exhibited at various venues such as the Branford House, University of Connecticut, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, and others. In addition, Kevin’s photography has been featured in magazines, newspapers, academic literature and numerous dive related publications (including California Diver).
The Adventurers Club meets once a week in Los Angeles, and describes itself as “a Gathering Place for Those Who Have Left the Beaten Path in Search of Adventure.” Founded in 1921, club members include former astronauts, deep sea explorers, scientists and several members who have climbed the World’s highest peaks. One member even holds the record for climbing Mt. Everest twenty-one times.
You can see more of Kevin’s photos and read more of his past and upcoming adventures on his website at diverkevin.com.
Congratulations, Kevin!