What makes our organization truly exceptional? It’s the unprecedented fusion of expertise that guides our mission.
Our board represents a groundbreaking convergence of U.S. veterans, distinguished marine biologists, certified medical professionals, and world-class safety and media specialists. This remarkable leadership team weaves together the strategic precision of military service, cutting-edge scientific insight into marine ecosystems, critical medical expertise for dive safety and emergency response, and thousands of hours of proven underwater safety experience.
Our veteran directors bring mission-critical thinking and leadership skills forged through service to country, while our marine biologists translate complex research into actionable conservation strategies. Our certified medical professionals ensure the highest standards of dive safety and emergency preparedness, bringing essential healthcare expertise to our underwater operations. Every board member has accumulated thousands of dives across the planet’s most spectacular and challenging marine environments—from vibrant coral reefs in tropical waters to the towering kelp forests of temperate seas. They combine their deep passion for diving with professional mastery in dive instruction, safety protocols, and medical response capabilities.
Together, they’re establishing new benchmarks for ocean protection and preservation.
Director of Communications
Kara Biery a seasoned 30+ year veteran in the healthcare and nonprofit sectors.
Holding a Master of Health Administration (MHA) and certification as a Certified Dementia Practitioner (CDP), she has dedicated her career to enhancing individual well-being through community-focused services. In 2020, Kara transitioned her experience into entrepreneurship by building on her passion for service she founded Island Life
Concierge LLC in 2025. Beyond her professional endeavors, Kara is involved in volunteerism and fundraising for causes close to her heart. Her dedication to community service and her multifaceted expertise make her a trusted figure in the Florida Keys region
Directtor of Operations
From Corporate Cubicles to Coral Reefs: Paula’s Underwater Odyssey
Born on Portugal’s sun-drenched coast, Paula’s destiny was intertwined with the ocean from her first breath. As a child, while other toddlers were taking their first steps on land, Paula was already drawn to the mysterious depths of the sea, spending countless hours exploring tide pools and dreaming of life beneath the waves.
Two decades ago, in the vibrant waters of Venezuela, Paula took her first plunge into what would become not just a passion, but a way of life. Though her initial career path led her through the structured world of Information Technology, the ocean’s call proved too strong to resist. In a bold move that would reshape her entire existence, she traded her computer screens for coral reefs, abandoning the corporate world to pursue her true calling as a scuba instructor.
Since then, Paula has transformed into a true citizen of the seven seas, amassing over 4,000 dives across the globe’s most spectacular underwater landscapes
Director of Ecological Purpose
Michael Goldberg has been a professional scuba diver for over 25 years and avid diver for over 30 years. After a 12-year career in finance and an 8 year stint learning the scuba industry in the British Virgin Islands, Mike and his wife moved to Islamorada from Virgin Gorda and started Key Dives in 2004. With over 10,000 dives he has seen just about everything – from diving with humpback whales to the tiniest of nudibranchs to reefs with close to 100% coral coverage. Sadly, he has also witnessed the loss of over 95% of our corals. This devastating loss has inspired Mike to create an avenue for recreational divers and the local Keys community to help rebuild our ailing reef.
Director of Safety
Dan Orr retired from the positions of President of Divers Alert Network (DAN) and Chairman of the Board of International DAN after 23 years helping DAN focus on its worldwide diving safety mission. Prior to coming to DAN, he worked and taught recreational diving in a retail store, developed and implemented course curricula in the academic environment as part of two university diving programs, collected data and supervised research efforts in the field of science diving.
Dan was certified as a US Navy diver and tested diving equipment for military contractors. As a diving industry consultant, Dan provides consulting expertise on diving safety to a number of companies in the global diving industry including Avelo (www.diveavelo.com) and ScubaTech/DIVO (www.divo.se).
He has been an invited speaker at many national and international diver education programs including Beneath the Sea, The scuba Show, Boston Sea Rovers Clinic, the British SubAqua Club Annual Convention (Birmingham, England), the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society, Beneath the Sea, the Scuba Show, Boston Sea Rovers and the Mayo Clinic Diving Medicine Workshops and the Diving Science Symposium. Dan also does regular webinars on a variety of diving safety topics.
Dan works with BlueGreen Expeditions and has provided logistics and safety expertise on expeditions to Antarctica, Svalbard (the Arctic), Greenland, Tasmania, Cuba (Gardens of the Queen), India and Guadalupe Island, Mexico. He has served on the Boards of various non-profit and for-profit organizations during his career including the Historical Diving Society (President, Chairman of the Board and Advisory Board), Our World Underwater Scholarship Society, Recreational Scuba Training Council, Force Blue (Chairman of the Board), WCH Media Group/Best Publishing Company (Chairman of the Board), the Diving Equipment and Marketing Association-DEMA (Chairman of the Board) and the Academy of Underwater Arts & Sciences (President).
He has published and co-authored over 200 articles and a dozen books and manuals including: 101 Tips for Recreational Scuba Divers, Scuba Diving Safety, Diving Science – Revisited, Pocket Guide to First Aid for Scuba Diving Injuries, Pocket Guide for Hazardous Marine Life Injuries, and the DAN Oxygen First Aid for Scuba Diving Injuries Training Manual. He is the Industry Relations Editor for DiveNewsWire and the Safety/Health/Legislation/Legal Editor for Scuba Diving Industry Magazine contributing regular articles on a variety of diving safety topics.
He has also been honored by his peers by being the recipient of many prestigious awards and honors including the NOGI Award in Sports/Education, the Leonard Greenstone Award for Diving Safety, the Our World-Underwater Award, Beneath the Sea’s Diver of the Year, the Wyland Foundation Award for Lifetime Achievement and the DEMA Reaching Out Award, Sea of Change Foundation Lifetime Explorer Award and NAUI Lifetime Achievement Award. He is a member of the Explorers Club, NAUI Hall of Honor, Hall of Fame for Disabled Divers, the Diving Industry Hall of Fame and the International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame.
Founder
Joe Gonzalez brings a disciplined, mission-driven approach to marine conservation and healing.
A disabled U.S. Navy veteran and lifelong diver, he combines decades of real-world experience with 20+ years in the global IT channel to build systems that scale impact.
He is the founder of Mother Ocean Fund (MOF) and Aquatic Tribe (AT)—a marketplace connecting divers worldwide and serving as MOF’s primary funding engine.
His model is simple: align purpose with sustainability.
Through this approach, he supports adaptive diving for veterans and civilians, while advancing hands-on ocean conservation—from reef restoration to marine cleanups.
More fins in the water. Real impact where it matters.
