The ocean has a way of drawing in people who care deeply—and few embody that call quite like Mark England. A longtime ODA volunteer, Mark brings skill, passion, and a can-do attitude to every project he joins. A volunteer whose reliability and passion speak louder than words, through his consistent efforts and humble service, Mark helps ODA turn compassion into lasting impact for marine life.
ODA Founder and President Kurt Lieber shares his thoughts on Mark and the valuable role he plays in protecting our oceans.
I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Mark for about 6 years now. He’s a great diver and even better team player. Mark will pitch in wherever help is needed. Whether as a diver, a crew hand, an info booth tabler (is that even a word?), or a speaker at a variety of presentations.
I first met him when he and his lovely wife, Marjorie Zensen, were leading the way for our underwater cleanups on Oahu. Marj was our leader for several years. Mark was working at the time and still found time to go on the monthly underwater cleanups. But when he retired last year, they caught the first boat and moved to the Island of Hawai’i, otherwise known as the Big Island.
Mark and Marj are a dynamic team. ODA benefits from having two outstanding ocean advocates on our side. Both are a pleasure for me to work with, and I can’t wait to see how they broaden the scope of our work on the Big Island!
-- Captain Kurt
Dear Friend, after you read our Q&A interview with Mark, be sure to watch his video interview and look at the photo gallery below!
Q: What drew your attention to the ocean and when?
A: I've always had a deep interest in the ocean having grown up near the sea. I learned how to SCUBA dive in 1985 which opened up a whole new world for me.
Check out this photo of Mark about to go sailing in 1985...this was before he learned how to dive!
Q: What are your favorite ODA expeditions?
A: The area below Fisherman's Camp on Oahu is always a satisfying clean up. We went to that site monthly, and sometimes you couldn't tell the difference from month to month despite our efforts. Still, we knew it would have been so much worse had we not done those cleanups.
Q: Any funny stories to share from an ODA cleanup?
A: On the Big Island during a cleanup, we found a backpack with contraband inside. Also, inside the backpack was an ID card and after a simple Google search, we were able to determine that the suspected owner was a convicted felon who may have been trying to dispose of the contraband. The authorities were notified, and the bag was turned over to them. The owner had simply not disposed of the bag in water too deep for us to retrieve it!
Speaking of "funny", here's Mark...um, rather Santa Claus...volunteering at the Baltimore Aquarium in 2005.
Q: Why do you like volunteering with ODA?
A: ODA makes a difference. Most people don't realize how troubled our ocean really is. We routinely find old tires, fishing line, ghost nets and an array of other man-made objects that do not belong in the ocean. By removing them, we know that we have made at least a small difference in the health of the ocean and its sea life.
Q: Your wife Majorie also volunteers. Can you talk about the positives of volunteering together? Did one or the other start first with ODA or did you both “dive in” at the same time?
A: We both dove in at the same time! Shortly after arriving on Oahu in early 2020, we went to a club event sponsored by Island Divers. We learned about ODA there and immediately became involved as it was something that both of us wanted to be a part of.
Q: Aside from diving with ODA, where else do you like to dive and why?
A: In over 40 years of diving I have dove all around the world. Some of my favorite dive locations include Fiji (seamounts), North Carolina (wrecks), San Juan Islands (kelp forest), Bonaire (relaxed shore diving), and Indonesia (variety of sea life).
Q: Is there anything else you’d like to share?
A: Now that we live on the Big Island our ODA focus has shifted. We still do cleanups, but we’re also involved in local outreach. For example, Marjorie and I introduced ODA to the local Rotary Club in a presentation, and because of that, ODA was given a sizable donation. For the last two yearsm we have also hosted an ODA information table for the Manta Day Conference here in Kona.
Enjoy Mark’s recorded interview:
Mark’s dependable spirit shows that protecting the ocean isn’t just about one big action—it’s about showing up, again and again, for the marine life that needs us. Every hour he’s spent helping free marine life from debris adds up to something far greater—a cleaner, safer ocean for all. We hope his story encourages you to find your own way to support this shared cause, whether by volunteering or contributing to sustain our cleanups.
Dive into Mark’s photo gallery —it’s a glimpse into the heart of ocean stewardship!
