2019 Film Festival Presenters

Adam Ravetch

Adam Ravetch our 2019 OWU Outstanding Achievement Award Winner is an Emmy Award Winning underwater wildlife cinematographer, and Lowell Thomas Award winner for exploration. His Paramount Pictures movie, Arctic Tale was a cutting edge “first,” warning us all of a warming world, through a strong narrative about the underwater life of a walrus calf and polar bear cub growing up in the changing Arctic. That, and other “firsts” make Ravetch a standout of his generation, achieving major contributions through his cinematic discoveries, and storytelling ability.

Paul Cater Deaton

Paul Cater Deaton our emcee is an award winning Writer, Producer and Cinematographer . Originally from Texas Paul has been everywhere and he has worked with Ocean in Google Earth, HBO, ABC, NBC, ESPN, Warner Bros., Tri-Star, Discovery Channel, and Showtime

Nancy McGee

Explorer and filmmaker Nancy McGee has lived a life of adventure and diversity. Known as Ms. Exosuit, she is the first female Exosuit pilot as well as a magazine centerfold (next to a 3000 lb. swimming elephant). An Explorers Club Fellow for contributions to scientific knowledge in the field of geographical exploration. Women Diver’s Hall Of Fame member.

Annie Crawley

Award winning filmmaker, photographer and author, Annie Crawley inspires audiences into action for our oceans. She’s a member of the Women Diver’s Hall Of Fame, an Oris Sea Hero, SSI Platinum Pro Diver, and an avid instructor for all ages. Her recent campaign, Our Ocean and You.

Jim & Pat Stayer

Jim and Pat Stayer are explorers and well-known underwater filmmakers. They co-authored 3 books and produced 30 DVDs. The couple has been referred to as the one of the best animal behavior videographers, according to Ernie Brooks. Pat is a Women Diver’s Hall Of Fame member

Joan Forsberg

Joan Forsberg, a well known Great Lakes maritime historian, author, speaker, diver, and underwater videographer, is Copy Editor for Wreck Diving Magazine and the Journal of Diving History. A member of the Women Diver’s Hall Of Fame and 3-term President of the Underwater Archaeological Society of Chicago.

Michael Salvarezza & Christopher Weaver

Michael Salvarezza and Christopher Weaver have been diving the waters off Long Island and the world since 1978 and have spent hundreds of hours underwater accumulating a large and varied library of photographic images. As partners in eco photo explorers they have presented hundreds of multi-media slide presentations

Michel Labrecque & Julie Ouimet

Canadians Michel Labrecque and Julie Ouimet are co-owners of N2Pix. Julie and Michel decided to go off the beaten path in 2007, leaving the corporate world behind and choosing the ocean. Explorer Club Fellows

The Aquarius Project

The Aquarius Project is a teen-driven undrewater ROV meteorite hunt led by scientists from Adler Planetarium’s Far Horizons program, and experts from the Shedd Aquarium, The Field Museum, and NASA.