Deirdre joined the Marine Life Sanctuaries Society as a volunteer diver in 2016. Inspired by the wonders of the underwater world at the age of 6 during a snorkel trip in Hawaii, she soon discovered her hero, Jacques Cousteau, and knew her path would lead her to the ocean. Deirdre has worked in the diving industry since 1989 and opened a dive centre in 1997 with her husband Greg McCracken. Her passion for protection of marine life spans many decades. Deirdre has been particularly inspired by the unique beauty and significance of the glass sponge reefs of Howe Sound and is passionate in photographing these delicate reefs to further document and study them.

Lora lives on the traditional and unceded territory of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) Nation. She is a professional biologist with over 20 years of experience in marine and freshwater fish and habitat monitoring, protection and restoration. Lora started with MLSSBC in 2018 when she was approached by Glen Dennison to compile sponge mapping accomplishments into a report. Lora owns and operates an environmental consulting firm, Lake Trail Environmental Inc., and teaches environmental field skills courses at Vancouver Island University. She has a great love of the outdoors, enjoys scuba diving, mountain biking, and skiing.

Tori started volunteering for the Marine Life Sanctuaries Society as a diver for beach interpretation programs in 2011. Through these interactive experiences she found a love for sharing the marine world with others and became a scuba diver instructor to further share that love. For several years, diving opportunities have taken her to Vancouver Island and further afield to Thailand and Australia, limiting her volunteer availability. Now she resides here permanently and is excited to join the Board of Directors.

Young is an avid scuba diver, technical diver, and underwater photographer. He has been diving since 2003, exploring the beautiful waters of the Pacific Northwest, Howe Sound, Vancouver Island, as well internationally. Having experienced the beautiful underwater world, it felt natural to volunteer with and support MLSSBC’s educational and conservation efforts. Young is a Certified Specialist in Pediatric Dentistry, Certified Specialist in Orthodontics, an Assistant Clinical Professor at the University of British Columbia, and practices full time in private practice.

A member of MLSS since 2007, Sheila served on the MLSS Board of Directors as Secretary, Coordinator of the Nature Dive/Interpretation Programs, and President. Sheila is a Marine Biologist specializing in the taxonomy of marine worms with an interest in the natural history and ecology of BC’s marine invertebrates. The glass sponge reefs have captured her attention, as unique, beautiful, and ecologically valuable ecosystems. Sheila also serves on the Marine Biology Section Committee of Nature Vancouver. Sheila works as a Museum Interpreter at the Beaty Biodiversity Museum, UBC.

Tom has been a long time advisor for MLSS and officially joined the Board of Directors in 2024! Tom is a lawyer with Bernard LLP in Vancouver where he practices all aspects of employment law and with a focus on human rights, harassment law and wrongful dismissal law.

Tom has been diving since 1974 with almost all his 850+ dives being in cold water, primarily in the Pacific Northwest. He has been very active in the sport diving community serving on many boards, committees and community organizations including the Artificial Reef Society of B.C., Maritime Archaeological Society of Oregon (MAS), Underwater Archaeological Society of B.C. (UASBC), and more!

Tom’s greatest passions are marine conservation and shipwreck research, exploration, documenting and preservation – primarily related to the sea otter trade in the PNW and focused on the elusive Tonquin (1811).

Adam is a 4th generation resident of Bowen Island and the ocean with all its marvelous inhabitants have always fascinated him. Adam joined the Board in 2011 and established the annual Nature Dive on Bowen Island that became a part of the successful MLSS Nature Dive/Interpretation Programs. An avid scuba diver and underwater photographer his focus is on marine conservation, glass sponge reefs and engaging stakeholders. Adam is also the current President of the Underwater Council of British Columbia (UCBC).

Melanie has worked in the Marine Biology field for over ten years, in everything from animal care to coral restoration and sea turtle rehabilitation. Despite growing up surrounded by concrete buildings in the city of Toronto, she has always been passionate about the ocean for as long as she can remember. She moved to British Columbia in 2021 to complete an M.Sc in Oceans and Fisheries, at the University of British Columbia and joined the MLSS team in 2024. She could not be more excited to support the work of MLSS and help protect the ocean critters which call the waters of BC home. In her spare time Melanie spends as much time as she can outside. You can often find her on a paddleboard, on top of a mountain or at the bottom of the ocean. She also likes to hang out with her two needy, geriatric cats.