Executive Director

Louie Psihoyos (rhymes with Sequoias) has been widely regarded as one of the top photographers in the world. He was hired directly out of college to shoot for National Geographic and created images for the yellow-bordered magazine for 18 years. His ability to bring humanity and wit to complicated science stories carries over to his filmmaking. An ardent diver and dive photographer, he feels compelled to show the world the decline of our planet’s crucial resource, water.

He has been on contract for Fortune Magazine and shot hundreds of covers for other magazines including Smithsonian, Discover, GEO, Time, Newsweek, The New York Times Magazine, New York Magazine, Sports Illustrated and Rock and Ice. His work has also been seen on the Discovery Channel, National Geographic Television and the History Channel. Museums and private collectors around the world have sought Psihoyos' photography.

His home and studio are conveniently located between two oceans in Boulder, Colorado, where he lives with his wife, a former New York City Ballet dancer and his son Sam. His oldest son Nico is a chef on the island of Antigua in the West Indies.

 

Executive Producer

Paula’s sabbatical from a successful film career coincided with the founding of OPS. As associate producer on the first three Harry Potter films, in addition to many others, she has dealt with all areas of a large-scale production.

Returning to her Boulder home to raise a family, and found a non-profit organization of her own, There With Care, she has offered invaluable support to the team from the outset. Her knowledge ensures that the fledgling film company, OPS achieves the level of professionalism that Louie constantly demands. Her attention to detail in all production areas, from scheduling, to budget to licensing allows the team to focus on making film.

 

 

 

Producer 

Olivia Ahnemann has been a documentary producer for over ten years and has recently joined the OPS team.  Her work includes films for PBS, National Geographic, Discovery and Warren Miller Entertainment.
Olivia has a passion for exploring and has been lucky that her career has taken her, not only throughout the United States but around the world, where she has met inspiring people from all walks of life.
Olivia was born in Auckland, New Zealand and grew up in Marblehead, Massachusetts where she was always a stones throw from the ocean.  Now that she lives at the foothills of the Colorado Rockies with her husband, Mike, she finds herself craving the rhythm of the ocean.

 

Assistant Director 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Communications Director

 

 As the wife of Louie Psihoyos, Viki is in involved in a range of OPS activities, from FedX runs to Friday afternoon cookie bakes to email edits. However, her media experience, both in print and online, has helped connect OPS with the media over the years.

She is at the tail end of raising their two sons, Nico, 23 and Sam, 18.

She also enjoyed a career as a professional ballet dancer, having been a member of the New York City Ballet for 13 years. 

 

 

 

 

 

Production Coordinator

As the overseer of all facets of production, Joe’s contribution to the OPS team is varied, yet critical. He looks after the gear and the guys. His 10-year stint overseeing large-scale events in the music and festival industry has made him indispensable in the studio, and on location. Whether it’s managing a mountain of gear’s transport, or securing a cameraman to a tree, he silently gives blood, sweat and tears, and then some. He is one of the men behind the magic who makes sense of the chaos.

His many years of sailing in the Caribbean have established a love and respect for the oceans and the importance of their preservation. He is a Certified open water and rebreather diver and an alumni of the University of Colorado at Boulder where he received a BA in philosophy and Native American religious studies.

 

FreeDiver

Mandy is a world renowned female athlete combining grit and grins. She holds numerous world records for freediving, holding her breath underwater for extended periods of time, and diving to great depths. Her mermaid-like skills have brought her media attention, she has been featured on the Discovery Channel, Good Morning America, Explore Magazine, Men’s Health and Fitness, Outside Magazine among others. She was prominent during David Blaine’s 2-hour ABC special, Drowned Alive, in May of 2006, when she rescued the endurance artist from his highly visible underwater stunt. She also appeared in The Mermaid Chair with Kim Basinger on The Lifetime Channel. She competes and trains others in freediving year round.

For OPS she has served as a graceful underwater reminder of human presence in the sea, slipping effortlessly through reefs and sea canyons with ease. Her iconic open-arm gesture of receiving that she offered to the massive whales serves as visual reminder of her beauty and skill.
 

Expedition Director

Simon Hutchins spent 7 years in the Canadian Air Force as an avionics technician eventually being posted from his home in Toronto to Vancouver Island. During the years spent on the Island he developed an interest in sailing and diving. After leaving the CAF in 1994 Simon persued a carrer in yachting and diving.

Born in England in 1962 he immigrated to Canada in 1967. An avid athelete he has played ice hockey and golf as well as racing his road bike in many of the premier cycling events in British Columbia. When not on an expedition Simon still enjoys getting out on the golf course.

Qualified as a British Marine Coastguard Agency Master of Yachts, Simon is a qualified officer on the OPS flagship Athena. As a IANTD Dive Master, also serves as Athena's dive expedition manager. He is qualified on an array of technical scuba equiptment. The skills learned working on high tech aircraft systems, along with his sailing and diving qualifications create a unique set of abilities well suited to organize and maintain the expeditions. He currently lives on his 48 foot sailing yacht "Scaramouche II", an old German Frers designed racing yacht built by Palmer Johnson in 1977.

FreeDiver

Kirk Krack is a professional freediving educator, trainer, coach and entrepreneur. He is considered one of the world’s foremost authorities on the professional aspects of freediving education, instruction and safety. Along with his wife Mandy Rae, he has assisted in capturing much of OPS’ underwater footage.

His ability to spend extended time alongside sealife, without the use of distracting equipment makes him an asset to the team. He has worked for OPS in the Cocos Islands, the Dominican Republic, Hawaii, The Bahamas, the Cayman Islands and Tahiti. Also, in Japan, he and his wife bravely assisted setting underwater recording devices in the infamous killing cove, eluding guards and police. 

 

 

Marine Technician

Greg brings a wealth of technical diving expertise to the Oceanic Preservation Society. Qualified as a NAUI scuba instructor, he is also an Advanced Nitrox Instructor, Nitrox Instructor Trainer, Hyperbaric Chamber Instructor, Gas Blending Instructor and Full Trimix Certified Diver. He has spent 16 years in the dive industry, including 12 years as a high pressure life support system designer and mixed gas blending technician. His roles include purchasing, organizing and maintaining the Societies dive gear and getting the film crews in and out of the water safely. Greg also acts as safety diver during expeditions.

During some of the more adventurous expeditions, Greg's advanced knowledge of diving is crucial in planning. A keen underwater videographer, 'Moondog' as he is commonly known, is always helpful in exploring new camera techniques with the director and helping the cameramen master the diving techniques necessary to create more interesting footage.

Born in Newport Beach, California, into a yachting family, Greg lived in California and throughout Europe in his youth. Greg's initial interest in diving was sparked by free diving sessions in Greece. Moving to Fort Lauderdale in 1975 Greg has grown up around the largest yachting community in the United States and is an addition to the Athena crew when on expedition.

When not on an expedition Greg runs a yacht dive equipment outfitting and support company in Fort Lauderdale Florida called Moondog Dive Outfitters.

Editor

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Editor

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Editor

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Studio Support

 

 

 

 

OPS Expedition Dive Master

Michael Wallent has been working with OPS since 2006. He is a Professional Scuba diver, Instructor and Closed Circuit Rebreather qualified diver. Michael is responsible for ensuring that the underwater portion of the expeditions operate smoothly and safely.  He maintains the rebreathers and other dive equipment, acts as safety diver, tripod and light mule during underwater filming operations. He also assists with the maintenance of the equipment during expeditions.
Originally from Claire, in South Australia, Michael  spent most of his childhood swimming laps in the local pool, and watching underwater documentaries on Sunday nights. He learned to dive when he was sixteen, and took off to the Great Barrier Reef a few years later, hoping to someday be involved in one of those films. He caught the travel bug and found himself on a commercial fishing vessel where he saw firsthand the damage being done to our ocean environment and the attitudes of those responsible.
Michael eventually moved on to the Superyacht industry, working as Dive Master aboard Superyacht, Athena for several years.  Michael has earned his Australian Skipper Class 3, Master Class 5, International Yachtmaster and several other watchkeeping tickets. He now resides in Claire with his partner, former Athena chef, Arahina, where he is renovating a vintage cottage and working freelance for OPS and other expeditions.