Edgardo Ochoa

Growing up in Mexico, Edgardo Ochoa’s introduction to diving came at an early age: A family friend took him on a snorkel trip, and the experience changed his life forever, directing his calling toward the ocean. Edgardo underwent training in recreational diving, became a scientific diver and soon after a PADI Instructor; he then began to train divers on science-diving techniques and diving safety.

Edgardo has traveled extensively, completing several thousand dives around the globe – from sea level to altitude, salt water to fresh water, and polar to tropical. Nowadays, he serves as Diving Safety Officer (DSO) for Conservation International. His mission is to encourage people to increase their knowledge so they will protect and preserve the oceans.

• PADI Professional for more than 25 years
• Started the first scientific diving program at CICIMAR-IPN in La Paz, Mexico
• Unit Diving Officer at Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, in Panama
• Acting Scientific Diving Officer (SDO) at Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC, USA
• Global Marine and Diving Safety Officer (SDO) at Conservation International in Arlington, Virginia, USA
• Published several papers on scientific diving, marine biology, dive safety and dive training