Jared Pagett — President
I only started diving in 2019, but I’ve fallen in love with diving and the ocean. As a graduate student at UCSB, I make the most of my limited time and funds going shore diving in the SB area. When I’m not in the water, I spend my time in an atomic physics research lab at UCSB making the coldest objects in the universe.
In addition to this club, I also run a Slack group for organizing local shore diving — shoot me an email or talk to me at one of our events if you’re interested in joining. I have a vision for a thriving community of divers in Santa Barbara — one that welcomes and helps out newer divers, teaches each other about local shore diving sites, preaches safe and responsible diving practices, and educates the community about the conservation of our local and global marine environment.
James Tennant — Vice President
I have been diving since I was 13 and have logged over 2,500 dives. I came to Santa Barbara in 2012 after enrolling in SBCC’s Marine Dive Technology program. After completing the program I became a PADI Divemaster in 2014 and a PADI Instructor a year later. I directed my passion for diving into becoming a partner in Dive Santa Barbara, a shop with over 37 years serving the Santa Barbara area. I enjoy diving in our area year-round, both coastal and out at the Islands. However, I truly enjoy lobster season for the thrill of the dives and excitement which I see other divers experiencing!
Chris Eckert — Recordkeeper
I grew up in Santa Barbara, but only dove into the world of SCUBA in 2021. Ever since, it’s been a blast exploring a new side of the Central Coast. Diving has given me a much deeper appreciation for the marine environment right off our shores. It’s also a great excuse to travel, and has since taken me to the Philippines, Azores, Mediterranean, Mexico, Costa Rica, Hawaii, and French Polynesia.
I teach middle and high school history locally, and am especially passionate about local history. I hope to demonstrate good stewardship of our environment and inspire my students to love our channel! Find me shore diving after school on sunny days or planning a dive trip somewhere warmer on the cold days.
Lea Espinosa — Treasurer
Bio coming soon!
Douglas Klug — Membership
Douglas Klug is a SCUBA instructor and underwater photographer in Santa Barbara, CA. “Diver” Doug has been diving since 1986 and logged over 5000 dives. Doug’s favorite destinations are the kelp forests of Southern California’s Channel Islands, but his adventures have taken him underwater with the sea turtles of Maui, into cages surrounded by the sharks of Guadalupe Island, and swimming with the whales in Moorea. Doug also enjoys dive travel in the Caribbean, and has visited the Cayman Islands, Bonaire, Roatan, and the Turk’s and Caicos Islands to name a few. Doug dives locally just about every week, all year long, enjoying either coastal shore dives or multi-dive day trips to the Channel Islands. Doug’s diving experience includes being a recreational SCUBA instructor as well as diving with Nitrox and Rebreathers. A former dive-shop owner and SCUBA repair technician, Doug now divides his underwater time between taking underwater photographs, teaching underwater specialty courses, and guiding divers around the underwater world of Channel Islands.
Andrew MacDonald — Sergeant At Arms
Bio coming soon!
Scott Engleman — Entertainment
Bio coming soon!
Madeleine Bow Jun Leibovitch — Media & Socials
I moved to SB in 2021, having grown up in California and then living on the East Coast for a few years beforehand. Happy to be back, the ocean hooked me pretty fast. I am always grateful to take advantage of the fantastic local shore diving, but also can’t resist a good trip to the islands! My tagline for every internet bio: I love all the arts, being outside, making things, and the ocean.