EVAN SHERMAN
Back in the 80s, most young boys stacked wooden blocks, played with toy tanks, and fantasized about outer space. Evan on the other hand, stacked dive weights, played with scuba tanks (sketchy in hindsight), and fantasized about inner space. Although not direct, his path in life was evident at a very early age. Growing up he was surrounded by all things scuba (enduring the “neon nineties” plus that photographic “film” stuff old people enjoyed) and has been immersed in the sport, tropical trips, and underwater imaging his entire life. He spent a decade working in dive retail (gotta love puttin’ booties on grown men in the middle of the summer), another decade working in video production for the world’s largest scuba certification agency, and an additional couple of years working for the leading underwater camera manufacturer of that time. Within the dive industry, the guy has been around.
After seven glorious years of college, Evan received his B.A. in Film and Electronic Media from California State University Long Beach, aiming to become the next Nat Geo filmmaker. His professional underwater cinematography credits include television networks, Fortune 500 companies, and numerous scuba related entities. During these projects he learned many valuable lessons about planning and producing dive-related trips. And although imaging was very rewarding in terms of personal expression and creativity, it was developing (and experiencing) new travel adventures that garnered the most satisfaction. After all, who doesn’t like a life full of resort livin’.
In 2017 (and 100+ international dive trips later), fate stepped in (again) and solidified Evan’s career — he sold his first public dive package. Seasick Productions, which he founded in 1997 as a media production company, had officially transitioned into a licensed and insured travel agency specializing in group land tours, international aquatic expeditions, and custom adventure itineraries around the world.
Favorite quote: “The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.” ― Augustine of Hippo
MAYRA SHERMAN
Mayra Sherman is a native Southern Californian. Having been born and raised in a multi-cultural city like Los Angeles, she aspired of becoming an international politician so that she would have the chance to travel around the world and discover different cultures.
Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from Pepperdine University, check. Master’s Degree in International Studies and Global Affairs from Northeastern University, check. Her professional experience includes work at the Embassy of Mexico in Washington D.C., the Parents’ Television Council, the Commonwealth of MA Health and Human Services, Department of Homeland Security, Food For The Poor Inc., State of California, and Catholic Charities of Los Angeles. The idea of working in an office and wearing a business suit, check.
Today Mayra owns two suits: a 3mm and a 5mm. Funny how things work out.
Never in her wildest dreams did she imagine becoming a certified scuba diver and experiencing the underwater world first hand. Proof, dreams do come true. She joined Seasick Productions as Operations Manager and is using her administrative and cultural expertise to organize exotic tours where the underwater realm reigns. She is blessed with the opportunity to fulfill her passion of traveling and connecting with new cultures; collecting memories and passport stamps along the way.
Favorite guilty pleasure: Hot Cheetos
KATIE LYONS
Katie Lyons has dedicated much of her life doing what she loves most – embarking on adventure travel and exploring new countries. Katie studied Anthropology in college which became the catalyst for her current lifestyle. Whether at home or abroad, Katie immerses herself in the great outdoors – no couch potato here. While working at prestigious resorts such as Jackson Hole and for companies like the Four Seasons, she developed refined guest relations, trained in a variety of cuisines, and studied under some of the world’s best sommeliers (wine drinkers here we come).
Her first exotic international trip (Mexico and the Caribbean don’t count) was to Bali. It was to become her “Eat Pray Love” opportunity. And just like Julia Roberts, Katie fell in love while discovering the Indonesian island. However, her foreign romance was different. Katie fell in love with scuba diving. After years of mountains and snow she transitioned to the tropics so she could surround herself with islands and warm seawater.
Katie owns and operates ScubaChic Travel LLC which provides services for the yachting and scuba industries. ScubaChic Travel LLC is a contractor for Seasick Productions, assisting with the preproduction and implementation of group travel adventures. She is also a certified scuba instructor, slick dancer (has moves like Jagger), and has been known to randomly sing just before an exciting dive.
Favorite unrealized dream: Cuddle a cuttlefish
SHILO SHERMAN
It’s true. Most people have pets older than Shilo Sherman, but when it comes to international adventure travel don’t be fooled by his limited time on this planet. His passport (issued at six months old) already has numerous stamps, he has amassed a large collection of travel necessities, and he can adjust to new time zones with even the most well-seasoned traveler. More importantly, his desire to explore and discover is insatiable.
From Honduras to Baja and from Iceland to Moorea, Shilo’s earliest memories are filled with adventure. Thus, setting the tone for what awaits on the horizon. While most kids his age only witness exotic animals on TV (or in zoos and aquariums if they are lucky), Shilo has been blessed with the opportunity to encounter a variety of wildlife in its natural habitat. His aquatic ‘career’ includes in-water encounters with sharks, rays, and sea lions which quickly earned him the nickname “Lil Otter”. Shilo was also lucky enough to see whale sharks on the surface although he missed much of the tour due to an unscheduled nap.
His scuba certification is calendared for 2031.
Favorite tune: Baby shark (of course) doo doo doo doo doo doo
CARA SHERMAN
Cara Sherman found her calling in fifth grade when she won first place from a New York City radio station for her essay, “Why I’m Proud to be an American.” When she grew up, she assumed a nom de plume writing romance stories and Hollywood gossip, while serving as Editorial Director of a group of women’s magazines alongside Stan Lee and Mario Puzo. She didn’t have a bestseller in mind and couldn’t draw, so in 1980 she left Madison Avenue and relocated to Seattle, Washington, where she became Advertising and Business Manager of a regional newspaper. More importantly, it was here that she met Joe Liburdi (the individual who introduced scuba to her and thousands of others)
In 1985 Cara was lured by sunshine to Los Angeles to launch another newspaper. But then in 1988, Joe had an idea about a book they should write and they founded Underwater Exposures, Inc., the parent company for Orca Publications, a multimedia media firm. She was principal strategist and wordsmith, Joe the photo pro. Orca wrote six books on underwater photography, had articles published in myriad markets, and was the global advertising agency for Sea & Sea USA. In 2005 she became President of JoeLiburdi.com which was devoted to dive travel and underwater imaging.
Her career as a writer, marketing consultant, business manager in corporate and retail sectors, and as a biotravel host spanned three decades and three coasts.
In 2017 Cara relinquished the reigns to Seasick Productions. She is now President Emeritus.
JOE LIBURDI
Joe Liburdi started diving in 1952, when divers wore twin-hose regulators and scuba lessons consisted of the words, "Blow and go!" In 1966, while stationed with the Air Force in the Philippines, he founded the first scuba training school and AF Dive Club for service men at Mactan Air Force Base in the Philippines. That was also the year he took his first underwater photograph with a Calypso camera. Expressing his impressions of inner space had been his challenge and reward ever since. He explored the waters of Japan, Micronesia, Malaysia, Southeast Asia, and Eastern Africa. He dived the Caribbean, the Great Barrier Reef, the Red Sea. He enjoyed the tepid waters of the Fijian archipelago and explored the cold, green depths of British Columbia. He dived all the coasts of Mexico and its interior. His photographs documented the moods, moments and fascination of seven decades beneath the seas.
Joe's encounters appeared in numerous publications, including the most popular American diving magazines, Skin Diver, Scuba Diving, Dive Training, and Sport Diver. He was published in Undersea Journal, Alaskan Air Magazine, the Digital Photographer, to name a few. He coauthored seven books: A Guide to Our Underwater World, The Underwater Photo Logbook, How to Use Sea & Sea, How to Use the Motor Marine II, The Complete Guide to Sea & Sea, The New Guide to Sea & Sea, and The Complete Guide to the Motor Marine III.
Joe received the NAUI Man in the Sea award and PADI's prestigious Distinguished Achievement Award for his contributions to the sport of diving. He was applauded for his 16mm film of Mt. St. Helens' ravaged Spirit Lake in a BBC documentary called "Legacy of a Volcano". In 1995 Joe was elected to Scuba Schools International's Platinum Pro 5000 society for having pulled 5000 dives. But if we were counting, it was closer to double. In 2004 Joe was selected as contributing still photographer for National Geographic Diver Almanac and National Geographic Passport to Adventure DVD-ROM. And in 2010 he was named to International Legends of Diving.
In 1972 Joe established his first of three dive shops in the Pacific Northwest. In 1985 Joe and his wife Cara Sherman came to California and launched Underwater Exposures, Inc. and Orca Publications, a publishing and marketing firm. In 1991 Joe and his sons founded Liburdi's Scuba Center in California, becoming one of the industry's foremost training and retail facilities and the largest dealer of underwater imaging equipment in Southern California.
After his retirement from Liburdi's Scuba Center, he continued to teach underwater photography, conducted seminars and hosted workshops. But retirement didn’t suit him so he opened Joe Liburdi’s Dive & Photo in Costa Mesa at the age of 79. In 2005 Joe and Cara and started JoeLiburdi.com Dive Travel. For 12 years, Joe, Cara and Evan Sherman led trips around the world, till at 87 Joe hung up his fins. Seasick Productions acquired the company.
Joe is an industry pioneer. The white hair was testament to a career spanning 65 years. But his enthusiasm for diving and photography kept him young. He is now completing the greatest dive of all.
It is rumored the man had gills.
1930 - 2020