Some volunteers grow into the work—Pete Markel has been connected to it from the very beginning. With a lifelong love of the ocean that started as soon as he could swim, Pete brings a deep respect for the water’s power and beauty to every Ocean Defenders Alliance (ODA) cleanup he joins.

Since joining ODA, Pete has become a familiar face at cleanups, especially at the Seal Beach Wildlife Refuge and on our boat the LegaSea. You won’t see him in pictures for every cleanup outing he’s participated in, however, because Pete is often behind the camera rather than in front of it, capturing photos and video of the team in action. When he and his wife Hannah travelled to Hawaii, they participated in cleanups there and also filmed video interviews of our crew members for their Crew Chronicles feature!

As we’ll share below, Pete and Hannah have also brought their skills to ODA in another important way. Through their company Somnu Media, they became ODA’s social media team, helping to strengthen and expand our online presence. We are truly grateful for the energy and professionalism they’ve brought to telling ODA’s story and sharing our mission with a wider audience.

His steady presence, positive attitude, and genuine dedication make him an important part of the team, and we’re proud to recognize Pete as this month’s Volunteer of the Month.

ODA Founder and President Kurt Lieber shares a few words about Pete and his contributions to the team.

Way back in 2019, I received an email from a couple who was living in Salt Lake City, Utah, asking if they could interview me for a project they were working on. Utah?!?!

My interest was piqued because, last I looked, Salt Lake is about as far from the ocean as one could get in the continental US.

That email came from Pete Markel and (his then girlfriend) Hannah Nelson. They were creating videos about people who were doing something good for the environment and the community. I was honored that they chose ODA as one of their topics.

That meeting turned out to be pretty consequential, in that they ended up moving to Laguna Beach in Southern California and started volunteering with ODA. As we got to spend time together, I found out that they were starting a business venture that was going to focus on creating video messaging for companies and a few nonprofits.

They offered to create content for ODA’s social media outlets, and I was pleasantly surprised to find out that not only were they passionate about ODA’s activities, but they were good at what they did. Great combination!

Pete is a lot of fun to be with, and we’ve had some really interesting conversations about how best to enhance ODA’s reach with the public. I get a lot of positive comments about our social media sites: How our online presence has increased people’s appreciation for what we do, and how they are impressed with the uplifting messages that Pete helps put out.

Pete and Hannah got married a couple of years ago and brought a son into this world about a year ago. Louie Markel is now part of the ODA family as well and we’re thrilled to have them all on our crew.

The future looks good!

Dear Friend, after you read our Q&A interview with Pete, be sure to watch his video interview and check out the photo gallery below!

Q: What drew your attention to the ocean and when? 
A: I have been a body surfer & surfer since I could first swim. I have always loved being in the ocean and respected its immense power and beauty. I started to spend time beneath the surface in high school when some friends of mine got into snorkeling.

We spent every chance we had exploring the rocky coastline of South Orange County. We frequented places like Little Corona State Beach, Arch Rock, Crystal Cove Emerald Cove, Main Beach Laguna Beach, and Thousand Steps Beach. During my senior year of high school my family made a trip to Maui, and we all got to experience the underwater wonder of the tropical Hawaiian reefs.

Q: What are your favorite ODA expeditions?
A: My favorite ODA expeditions have to be the Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge channel clean ups. Seeing their popularity in volunteers grow has been awesome. Plus, getting to hang out with Kurt, Dave Merrill, and all the other So Cal ODA regulars is always fun. Everyone works hard and we make a big impact on cleaning the waterway.

Q: Any funny stories to share from an ODA cleanup? 
A: My wife Hannah and I once accidentally took the last spot on a dive boat from Kurt in Hawaii. Kurt and longtime ODA volunteer Kim Cardenas had taken my wife, Hannah, & me to a dive shop to save their spots on the dive boat. Kurt and Kim got distracted looking around the dive shop, and in the meantime, Hannah and I registered for the next morning's dive. It turned out those were the last two spots, so Kim and Kurt had to find a different dive to join. Hannah and I didn't know we had taken their spots on the boat until the next day when Kurt let us know. Oooops!!

 From left: Kim, Kurt, Pete, and Hannah at He'eia Pier in Oahu

Q: Why do you like volunteering with ODA?  
A: I like volunteering with ODA because of the people and the impact. Everyone who volunteers with ODA knows that the ocean is threatened by man-made debris. We all have one goal: Clean as much debris from the ocean as possible, and everyone works hard to reach that goal.

Pete has often been part of the RIB crew, both retrieving debris and taking photographs.
Q: Your wife Hannah also volunteers. Can you talk about the positives of volunteering together?
A: Having an organization that we both support is awesome. We both look forward to each opportunity to do a cleanup. Hannah was raised in Utah, but she studied environmental sustainability at university. We both have a passion for the world's natural environments and we both love volunteering with ODA.

Hannah and Pete stand behind the dive crew before a dive.

The Markel Family - outdoor adventurers!Q: Aside from diving with ODA, where else do you like to dive and why? 
A: Hannah and I have yet to explore diving outside of ODA. We do love it, but we haven't had the opportunity to spend a lot of time underwater. An awesome trip we really want to do is to Catalina Island to do some diving and explore the kelp forests.

Q: Why do you think it's important for people to support ODA? 
A: ODA puts its donations and its volunteers to work. Kurt is very hands on both in California and in Hawai’i. This organization actually makes an impact that you can see. 

It was our turn to capture Pete on video -- check it out! Turns out, he's great on the other side of the camera, too. 

Pete’s story is a reminder that a lifelong connection to the ocean can evolve into meaningful action. What began as a love for being in the water has grown into a commitment to protecting it—one cleanup at a time. Whether he’s out on a busy channel project or working alongside fellow volunteers, Pete shows that dedication and consistency can create real, visible results. His example shows that you can simply show-up and join in on cleanups or you can use your personal skills and expertise to help a nonprofit you love.

We hope Pete’s journey encourages you to get involved in a way that feels right for you—join a cleanup, invite someone to come along, or support the work behind the scenes. Every effort plays a part in removing harmful debris and protecting marine environments for the future.

Please keep volunteers like Pete in the water and making an impact with your donation.

We hope you’ll take a moment to enjoy Pete’s photo gallery below and see his commitment in action.