Born and raised in Baltimore—and a long history with Divers Den—Dr. Alex Brylske has forged a unique and highly diverse career. Combining more than four decades as a dive professional, with more than two decades as a marine biologist, he has had a major impact on both the scuba industry and the marine conservation community. He is the author of many scuba diving and marine education programs, hundreds of articles, and several books, including the recently released, Beneath the Blue Planet: A Diver’s Guide to the Ocean. After retiring in 2019 as a Professor of Marine Science at the College of the Florida Keys, he has focused on creating innovative marine science and conservation programs for divers and other ocean enthusiasts. He currently is the founder and principal of a consulting company, Ocean Education International, and serves as the Director of Education for Reef Smart Guides, publishers of Beneath the Blue Planet. As a scuba diver, he has amassed more 5,000 dives in more than three dozen countries around the world. His accomplishments have been recognized by numerous awards including NOAA’s Walter B. Jones Memorial Excellence Award for Coastal and Ocean Resource Management and selection as the 2012 Divers Alert Network Rolex Diver of the Year.