Aron Arngrimsson - EXPEDITION LEADER and FOUNDER

Aron started diving in 2005 in an attempt to break away from the rat race. Since then, his passion for technical diving exploration has led him to some of the best diving locations in the world.

Aron has owned and operated several high profile technical diving operations, written for dive publications and training organizations, developed products with industry leading manufacturers and has regularly helped organizations develop training outlines. Aron has filmed documentaries and commercials along with hosting numerous TV and film productions including National Geographic, Dive Odyssey and Monty Halls and is now the co-founder of our sister company, Dirty Dozen Productions.

One of Aron’s personal highlights was a wreck discovery of the USCGC Alexander Hamilton at 95m/311ft, 20 miles off the coast of Reykjavik in 2011. The team conducted a deep exploration dive and then, after communicating with the US Coast Guard and the families of the fallen men, attached a memorial plaque on the ship in 2013.

Aron is a active member of The Explorers Club, where he serves as Membership Officer for the Middle East Chapter and on the Global Chapter Relations Committee.

Richie Kohler - Special Guest

Richie Kohler’s passion for technical scuba diving and maritime history means he has explored some of the most challenging shipwrecks in the world, including the Andrea Doria and HMHS Britannic.

Searching for lost ships has led him to locate and help identify numerous lost vessels, including the U-215, a German mine laying submarine on the Georges Banks off Nova Scotia, USS Murphy, a WWII destroyer that was crushed and forgotten in the New York approaches, and many others. But it would be the identification of a German U-Boat, the U-869, that would catapult his diving career into the world of television and documentary filmmaking.

Richard Lundgren - Special Guest

Alex Dawson - Special Guest

Alex Dawson is a professional photographer from Stockholm, Sweden. When Alex took his first breaths underwater at the age of 19, little did he know that diving would come to shape a major part of his life. In 1993, he became a certified scuba diver and later served as a military diver in the Swedish marines. In the years which followed, he worked with diving in Egypt, the Canary Islands, and Sweden.

For over half of his life, Alex has been a full-time photographer specializing in wide underwater shots. He is always seeking to capture an “I wish I was there” feeling. Over the past 22 years, his work has been used in numerous commercials and he’s won multiple international awards and contests

Nataliia Zharkova - Special Guest

After a ten-year career in competitive swimming that began at the tender age of seven, it’s no surprise that Ukrainian freediver Nataliia Zharkova is a specialist in the Constant Weight No Fins (CNF)category.

But after breaking four CMAS world depth records, being the third deepest female in Free Immersion (FIM), and the sixth deepest in Constant Weight (CWT) in AIDA's 2018 rankings, it’s fair to describe Zharkova as a very strong all-round athlete. In a period where the level of competition amongst world-class female freedivers is at its peak, this is no small achievement.

Nick Hollis - Special Guest

The driving force behind the Hollis brand since its launch in 2007, Nick’s passion for scuba diving began earlier than most: as an 8-year-old diving with his father, Bob Hollis.

Today, Nick leads the design of gear for both the recreational and technical markets, focuses on the customer experience, and works to continuously expand the rebreather community.

DIVESOFT

Divesoft is committed to continuous research and development to ensure our products are of the highest standards to meet the specific requirements of our customers.

The products are developed and tested with constant focus on implementation of the most advanced technologies available while maintaining simplicity and reliability. All of the products are manufactured, assembled and tested at our state-of-the-art factory in the Czech Republic.

Gillian Flaherty - Expedition Manager

Gill learned to dive in her home country of Scotland in 2007, and quickly knew that her career lay in diving. Since then she has worked as a TDI, IANTD, and PADI Instructor in dive centres around the UK and Europe.

Now based in Cyprus, Gill has worked in the diving travel industry for several years and loves helping other divers discover new and unusual destinations to explore. When she’s not answering your questions, she will most likely be deep inside her local wreck or planning her next overseas adventure.

Geoff Creighton - Underwater Cinematographer & Media

Geoff started diving in 1998 in the UK and has gone on to become a PADI Course Director, Technical IT & TDI CCR Instructor.

He has spent many years producing media in Formula 1 and worked on dive safety and CCR training in movies like Mission Impossible. Part of DD since the first trip, he is now an accomplished RED operator in deep and challenging filming situations.

He is a co-founder with Aron in our sister media business, Dirty Dozen Productions.

Jill Heinerth - Expedition Leader

A pioneering underwater explorer and film maker, Jill Heinerth has dived deeper into caves than any woman in history. With a collection of magnificent images, from inside Antarctic icebergs to crystal underwater cathedrals, Jill shares a glimpse of a breathtaking world few will experience in person.

Jill’s photography and writing have been featured in prominent publications and major media. She regularly contributes to the development of training materials for international dive organizations, and is the author of three books on cave diving and underwater photography.

Mark Powell - Expedition Leader

Mark had his first diving experience at the age of 10, when he did a try-dive in a local pool. He was hooked from that point onwards. He learnt to dive in 1987 and has been diving ever since. Mark is a TDI Instructor Trainer and a member of TDI’s Global Training Advisor Panel. He is a regular contributor to a number of diving magazines and a regular speaker at diving conferences around the world.

In 2008 Mark published Deco for Divers, a widely acclaimed overview of the theory and physiology of decompression. This has quickly become the standard text on the subject and is recommended reading by a number of leading technical diving agencies.

Antti Apunen - Expedition Leader

Antti Apunen is a acclaimed industry figure who has dedicated his life to technical diving exploration worldwide.

Antti has been with DD since our very first trip in 2017, and since then his excellent Finnish sense of humor and unwavering commitment to safety onboard has contributed immensley to the standardization of our operation.

Dirty Dozen Expeditions is very fortunate to have Antti and we look forward to letting him take you on a trip of a lifetime.

JOSEPH SFERRAZZA - LEGAL & ACCOUNTING

An attorney since 1985, and diver since 1988, Joe established his own law practice during 1996 in Melville, New York State, USA. He concentrates in the areas of business, commercial, and real estate law, including business entities, contracts, transactions, management, and litigation.

He can often be found wreck diving in the northeast Atlantic Ocean off the shores of Long Island and New Jersey. An avid diver and explorer with a knack for management and accounting - Joe has been an invaluable asset to Dirty Dozen Expeditions since its inception.

Martin Cridge - Captain (2017-2021)

Without Martin The Dirty Dozen Expeditions wouldn't exist. A few years back, Aron and Martin spent a full year diving together in Truk Lagoon. One evening, after a day of demanding dives, they sat, had a beer, and came up with their ideal CCR wreck dive itinerary.

The first ever Dirty Dozen trip was the result of that beer and the rest is history. Martin lived in Truk for eight years with his family.