Viktor Brandtneris learned to dive at the age of 12 in a lake in St. Paul, Minnesota. He fell in love with the activity and decided to become a marine ecologist. After completing his bachelor's degree at the University of Miami, which included work in Panama, the Galapagos, and throughout the Caribbean, he moved to St. Thomas, VI, to pursue his master's degree. Viktor has been managing research, technical SCUBA diving, and data analysis on various projects for more than fourteen years and has completed over 2500 dives.

Sarah Heidmann has always had a passion for spending as much time as possible in or near the ocean. Ever since her first dive certification in 2011, she has been chasing opportunities to dive for research. Her pursuit took her to Bonaire, then Oregon, and ultimately to the US Virgin Islands, where she completed her master's degree. Now, as a USCG-certified captain, Sarah conducts 200-300 working dives each year and manages fieldwork, data, publications, and outreach in tropical coral reef ecology.

Marine Biology Exploring, Research & Exploration, Caribbean Islands, U.S. Virgin Islands, Academic, Research Scientist, Ecologists, Ecology, Conservation, Conservationist,