At Ocean Defenders Alliance (ODA), we take great pride in celebrating the dedicated individuals who invest their time, skills, and passion into protecting our marine ecosystems. This month, we’re thrilled to feature Craig Laporte a remarkable volunteer and steadfast champion of ocean conservation in Southern California.
ODA Founder and President was happy to share comments about Craig:
Craig has been coming out with us for about three years now. He heard about us through ODA volunteer Mike Wynd who has been our most steadfast and skilled divers for over a decade. So, when Mike brought Craig, I knew that this guy was going to have some special talents but little did I know what a spectacular addition to our crew he was going to be.
Craig is also an airline pilot—I'm talking a commercial airline pilot (!)—and so he fits in seamlessly with our team because his demeanor is very calm as divers need to be. To have Craig come aboard and be such a confident and skilled diver is really instrumental in our efforts because what we do can be stressful and tense at times with various elements such as the movements of water and debris, and visibility which can be limited at times.
Craig has a great personality for teamwork because he goes with the flow and is an amazing and helpful crew person to have around. He has also picked up on underwater video filming so that's been a huge bonus for us as well. When Mike and Craig are paired together as dive partners on an underwater debris removal expedition, one will be doing a lot of the removal work while the other is hovering nearby making sure things do not get chaotic. It’s during these times that Craig has grabbed his camera and filmed some spectacular underwater video for us. Check out the excellent video at the end of this story.
I'm thrilled that he's with us and I hope he stays as an Ocean Defender with us for a long time!
Dear Friend, after you read our Q&A interview with Craig, be sure to look at the photo gallery below and watch his video interview!
Enjoy our Q&A with Craig
Q: What drew your attention to the ocean and when?
A: Having grown up in the Midwest, I’ve always been intrigued by the vastness of the ocean and its mysterious creatures. My interest in diving in the ocean first began as a child when I would snorkel in our backyard pool. Years later, my wife and I took every opportunity to snorkel at various warm-water vacation spots. Seeing the underwater world up close made me realize how much more there was to explore beneath the surface.
My first scuba dive, a few years later, was a life-changing experience—descending onto a coral reef and feeling completely in awe of the marine life surrounding me. That moment solidified my passion for diving, and since then, I’ve been dedicated to exploring reefs and shipwrecks while working to protect the underwater world.
Q: What are your favorite type of ODA expeditions?
A: My favorite type of ODA expedition is typically the most physically, mentally and technically challenging. The missions where we recover abandoned lobster traps often fall into this category since they take place in areas with low visibility, strong currents, and cold water. The combination of challenges and rewards keeps me coming back—especially with such a great group of people.
Q: What is one of your favorite ODA dives you’ve been on?
A: One of the most unforgettable dives I’ve done with ODA was on the Matador shipwreck alongside fellow volunteer Mike Wynd about three years ago. The wreck’s owners had asked us to assess and potentially recover a ghost net that posed a deadly threat to marine life in the area. As a technical diver, descending to around 200 feet deep was already an exciting opportunity, but what made this dive truly special was that we were among the first to explore the new wreck. Mike and I documented the site with video and photos, capturing the state of the wreck and the entangled net. We hope to return soon to further contain the net and assess how marine life is transforming the wreck into an artificial reef.
Check out this cool picture of Craig diving on the Matador shipwreck. Photo credit goes to another awesome ODA scuba diver Mike Wynd! (And there's another one in the photo gallery below)...
Q: Any funny stories to share from an ODA cleanup?
A: About a year ago, I took part in a unique lobster trap recovery dive in Malibu. Unlike typical recoveries from a boat, we retrieved several traps directly from the surf-covered beach. As the designated videographer for many ODA dives, I brought my camera system along—only to realize midway through the dive that I had lost it. Given the uneven, rocky bottom, I figured finding it would be like searching for a needle in a haystack. But on the very last dive, at the very last moment before turning for shore, a glint caught my eye. Sure enough, my camera had miraculously presented itself, ready to capture the next ODA adventure!
This could've been when Craig was coming out of the water with his camera?! :-)
Q: Why do you like volunteering with ODA?
A: Having moved to California about four years ago, I’ve come to see the Pacific Ocean as my backyard sanctuary and playground. As both a diver and a boater, volunteering with ODA gives me a hands-on way to protect this sacred place while making a tangible difference. But beyond this noble mission, what truly keeps me coming back is simple—it’s just plain fun, surrounded by a great group of like-minded people.
Q: Aside from diving with ODA, where else do you like to dive and why?
A: My favorite dive site is always the one I haven’t explored yet—especially if it’s a shipwreck. I’m still working my way through the seemingly endless list of wrecks and reefs in Southern California, but a couple of times a year, my wife and I venture to another country to experience the unique features of foreign dive sites. Recently, I also completed a week of training in Northern Florida to become a certified cave diver. While cave diving is fascinating and provides opportunities for excellent training, my heart remains with the Pacific—where every dive is an adventure, and you never know what incredible wreck or wildlife you’ll encounter.
Please enjoy Craig’s video interview:
We're sure Craig inspires many people to care about the plight of the oceans...and if you're one of them, we'd love to have you partner with us either as a volunteer or an donor-who-makes-cleanups-happen!
Now be sure to scroll through Craig's entire gallery of photos -- we're sure you'll see why he loves this ODA adventures!
