Simon Hutchins
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 pursued a career in yachting and diving.Born in England in 1962, he emigrated to Canada in 1967. An avid athlete, 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 an IANTD Dive Master, he also serves as Athena's dive expedition manager. He is qualified on an array of technical scuba equipment, including being a Rebreather Instructor, and member of the 2008 Canadian Freediving Team. 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.
OPS