At Ocean Defenders Alliance (ODA), we're happy to give shout-outs to our wonderful volunteers through our Crew Chronicles series. This month, we're featuring volunteer Tom Boyd of our ODA Hawai’i Island Chapter.
Tom is a professional cinematographer. He's worked on award-winning feature films, TV shows, commercials, and music videos. Between film assignments, he focuses on marine conservation by providing underwater photography support to local nonprofit organizations. We consider ODA very lucky to be one of those causes Tom has joined forces with!
From left: Bea and Tom Boyd with the ODA-Hawai'i marine debris removal crew and their "Catch of the Day."
ODA has been the fortunate recipient of Tom's documentarian skills as he has both done underwater filming and photography on ODA ocean debris cleanup outings. Displayed on this page are some of the stunning wildlife photos Tom has taken during his career. We know you'll enjoy them!
ODA Founder and President Kurt Lieber shares the following reflections about Tom:
I first met Tom way back in 2011. ODA was working on nets that were draped on two sites near San Pedro: Radio Tower site and the shipwrecked Olympic. He heard about us through the grapevine and wanted to go out with us to help document the sites using his underwater video skills. [See photo from this day just below Kurt's quote.]
As we got to know each other I found out that he was working on other documentaries with another friend of mine, Bob Talbot. Knowing the skill level that Bob possesses, I had a feeling that Tom was going to be a GREAT addition to our team.
Fast forward to 2023.
I kept in contact with him when he moved to Hawai’i to be closer to the critters that he loves to film – whales. When ODA started working on removing miles and miles of fishing line from a site called Deep Step, I realized that filming that small diameter line was going to be really challenging given its transparency and blending in with the corals that it was draped on. That’s when I called Tom and asked him if he knew anyone who could shoot that for us. Knowing how busy he was with his own projects, I thought he might know of someone who could pull it off. Without hesitation he said, “I’ll do it.”
He’s gone out with us several times now and has come away with THE best footage we’ve ever seen from that difficult situation.
He’s not just talented with cameras. Tom is a great guy to just hang around with. We both share a passion for the oceans and can go on for hours talking about our wonderful experiences with the animals we share this planet with. I'm in awe of his talent to bring those interests to the video screen. And turn those images into people taking action!
Tom's wife, Bea, is also a beacon of life to be around. The world is a better place with people like Tom and Bea immersed in it.
And the critters in the oceans are better off with Tom on their side…and so is ODA!
Tom (far right) with the Californai crew and their "Catch of the Day"!
Dear ODA Friend, after you read our Q&A interview with Tom, be sure to look at the photo gallery below and watch his video at the end of the text section!
Enjoy our Q&A with Tom
Q: What drew your attention to the ocean and when?
A: I’ve been fascinated with the ocean for as long as I can remember. I grew up in New Jersey and would snorkel at the Jersey shore. My earliest recollection was around five years old peering into the ocean and looking at sea stars.
Q: What are your favorite ODA expeditions?
A: I enjoy all the expeditions I have been on. Some of the most memorable were the ones in Southern California removing so many ghost nets; it gave me such a feeling of accomplishment and goodwill towards the marine environment that I love.
Q: What is your favorite diving location?
A: Even though I’m currently living in Hawai’i I really love cold water diving. The kelp forests are really special to me. So much diversity! I also love freediving in Norway. I’ve been working on an orca film for the past several years there and it’s a really amazing place.
Photo by Tom Boyd
Q: Why do you like volunteering with ODA?
A: Seeing so many people being committed to the ODA mission is very inspiring and gives me hope.
Q: Aside from diving with ODA, where else do you like to dive and why?
A: I love freediving here in Hawai’i especially offshore with the pelagic animals such as pilot whales and oceanic whitetip sharks; Norway and the experience to be in the water with orcas; and California kelp forests are just so beautiful and diverse from nudibranchs to sea lions, just amazing!
Please check out the video work he did filming the Deep Step debris cleaup - please visit Video Footage of ‘Deep Step’ Big Island Fishing Spot, Deeply Covered in Abandoned Fishing Line.
You can enjoy more of Tom's professional work on his website.
