Speakers

Atim Lau

Underwater Photographer

Bernadette Geldenhuys

Sales and Marketing Director for Carpe Diem Maldives Cruises

Bernadette Geldenhuys is the Sales and Marketing Director for Carpe Diem Maldives Cruises, a premier liveaboard diving and cruising operator in the Maldives. With over 11 years of experience diving across 20 of the Maldives’ 26 atolls, she brings deep local expertise and an understanding of unique dive sites, currents, and marine ecosystems. Bernadette has also managed the sales and marketing of over 20 top-tier resorts, working with renowned brands like Crown & Champa Resorts, Sun Siyam Resorts, The Standard, and Kandima Maldives. Her work has been essential in building Carpe Diem's reputation internationally, promoting sustainable tourism, and delivering transformative ocean adventures that showcase the Maldives’ diverse marine life and natural beauty.

Chan Wai Leung

SSI Freediving Instructor Trainer

Chris Chan

Instructor Trainer Evaluator of SDI TDI

Chris Chan, an SDI TDI Instructor Trainer Ambassador 2019, is a professional scuba diving Instructor Trainer Evaluator (ITE). First Chinese designer to design the TDI Course (Tech Trim). He stationed in Sabah, Malaysia for 6 years and has been teaching scuba diving full-time since 2001. As the founder of Diving Dragon, the first SDI TDI 5 stars Instructor Training Centre and the 5 stars Professional Development Center in Hong Kong, Chris currently offers various recreational and technical diving courses for both amateur divers and diving professionals, including instructor trainer courses. Chris is tenacious of his mantra when it comes to diving - Do it now and do it right! Your willpower matters!

Dylan

CEO of Taiwan Dive Center

Geena Gerald

Strategic Analyst II, Palau Visitors Authority

Geena Gerald works as a Strategic Analyst II at the Palau Visitors Authority, where she helps gather and analyze data to improve tourism and promote Palau as a sustainable destination. She works on visitor forecasts, competitive research, and collaborates with other Statistical offices in Palau to get important tourism data. In her free time, Geena loves going to the beach with her family and doing something fun with her kids. She also enjoys helping her husband to cater food for special events like birthdays, customs, and weddings to name a few, as they work together to grow their small family business.

Herman Wong

Regional Manager, PADI

1. Introduce PADI’s Conservation Day activities and information, and the development of conservation activities in Greater China. 2. Introduce PADI Midway Diver Course and how to apply the skills learned in the course to conservation diving activities.

Joe Chang

AOI Exclusive Underwater Photographer

In Taiwan's Green Island, I have been conducting long-term research on sea slugs, including species identification, behavior, and their habitat. This has earned recognition in the International Marine Geography Competition. Ocean Geographic Honourable Mention Marine Pixels Honourable Mention Taiwan Olympus OMsystem Contracted Underwater Photographer Crest Brand ambassador Marine Soft Animal Identification Collaboration – Sea Slug Guest of TV program “30 Meters Underwater”

Joseph Tham

Underwater Photographer

Intrigued by the exquisite and minute details of Mother Nature, Joseph Tham decided to take his passion for photography underwater. He loves to immerse himself in the experience and wonders of a new encounter before reaching for his camera. A multi award winning photographer at a few competitions in Singapore and Indonesia, Joseph endeavours to capture more of the scintillating colours, hypnotic textures and the mysterious spirit of the underwater realm.

Kato Katosang

State & Community Representative II, Palau Visitors Authority

Kato Katosang, a 37-year-old father of four, joined the Palau Visitors Authority (PVA) last year. He has since worked closely with the states of Palau to promote eco-tourism and sustainable practices, focusing on reducing plastic use and encouraging responsible travel. His role at PVA has given him a sense of purpose he had been searching for throughout his life. When not with his kids, Kato enjoys fishing in Palau’s waters—a passion he’s pursued for over 20 years. He’s seen firsthand the effects of pollution, climate change, and overfishing through the decline in reef fish catches. His love for fishing drives him to find solutions to marine life challenges and raise awareness whenever possible.

Kayson Lo

Project Manager, Ocean Park Conservation Foundation, Hong Kong

Project Manager of Ocean Park Conservation Foundation, Hong Kong (OPCFHK), mainly focuses on marine conservation including biodiversity and marine litter and plastic pollution issues. OPCFHK has been committed to advocating, facilitating and participating in effective conservation of Asian wildlife through partnerships, fundraising, research and education, including marine conservation in Hong Kong. Over the years, it has conducted various research, conservation and education works on the local wild horseshoe crab population and marine debris issues.

Kenneth Mok

Instructor Trainer of SDITDIERDI, Instructor of Shark CCR

Kent Yeung

Underwater Videographer

A former TV artist discovered a profound connection with the ocean during his inaugural dive. Enthralled by each plunge, his love for the ocean burgeoned. This d e e p passion sparked a transformative decision to leave his previous career behind and embrace his newfound calling - the ocean. Transitioning from a TV artist to an underwater videographer and dive instructor, his mission evolved. He envisioned revolutionizing creative underwater video production for t h e commercial arena. Collaborating with prestigious TV broadcasting companies and various media platforms, his ultimate aim is to unveil the ocean's splendor to the public through his captivating work.

Luca Keller

Videographer/Filmmaker

Luca Keller is a German filmmaker and marine videography instructor based in Southeast Asia. With experience as a dive instructor and underwater videography trainer, he has taught divers from around the world how to capture the underwater world through video. Luca co-founded "Underwater Lunatics", an independent production company, whose debut natural history documentary has won over 20 international awards. He is also a co-founder of "SeventyOnePercent", an international collective of underwater filmmakers and storytellers. With over 140,000 followers on Instagram, Luca uses his platform to raise awareness about marine life, reaching a global audience.

Mustafa Yassin

CEO of EGYPTIAN CRUISING COMPANY

* Diver and PADI MSDT * More than 20 years of diving the Red sea * Owner of Egyptian Cruising Company luxury fleet * Organizer of Diving Cruises in the Red sea

Peggy Chiang

Professional Underwater Photographer

Po Yan

TV Artist

TV Artist Po Yan, who is already an Advanced Open Water Diver (AOW), recently traveled alone to Xiaoliuqiu, Taiwan, and successfully obtained a free diving license in 3 days. She will share her experience, insights and tips in the seminar.

Shu Shu Ricky

PADI Course Director/TecRec Instructor

Shu Shu Ricky is an award-winning photographer who has received numerous local and international awards in underwater photography and excels in capturing underwater behaviours. In 2016, he was invited by CMAS to represent Hong Kong in the Tulamben competition in Indonesia, where he won three gold medals and became the overall champion. He has been interviewed on radio and his photos have been published in diving magazines and newspapers worldwide, as well as in Hong Kong. His wish is to share Hong Kong's ocean through his photographs with fellow ocean enthusiasts. He fell in love with underwater photography when he first started diving in 2004 and began using his first camera, the Canon G12, in 2008.

Steve Chan

PADI Instructor

Takuya Torii

Mr./Corporate Messenger Boy of INON INC.

Takuya is a corporate messenger boy of INON INC., manufacture of underwater imaging gears. During his 20 years’ carrier with the company, he has been driven to develop and serve global market by interacting with enthusiastic people seeking their underwater photographic equipment to showcase beauty of the ocean. He often shows up different dive shows to meet enthusiastic people fascinated in the ocean, diving and underwater imaging, to get inspired himself as one of those people, and to deliver corporate message as well as collecting market needs. This time, he introduces latest compact strobe, unique GoPro system including compactible wet lenses as well as easy and useful accessories for popular TG series. Let’s join to update your “grocery list” during DRT Show Hong Kong.

Vania Kam

Underwater Photographer / DIWA Underwater Photography Examiner

- “Vania is a macro and wide-angle shooter, who demonstrates a diverse ability and eye that makes for a dynamic, colorful and bold portfolio.” (Lia Barrett, Photo Editor of Dive Photo Guide) - Over 30 local and international awards from various renowned competitions such as UPY, Nature’s Best Photography Asia, United Nation World Ocean Day, Ocean Art, DEEP Indonesia and Olympusphere HK. - Vania’s photos are published and exhibited worldwide such as Smithsonian Museum (Washington D.C.), National Geographic and Milk Magazine (HK). - Vania also shares her love of the Ocean and her passion in underwater photography around the globe as a guest speaker in HK DRT, Shanghai DRT, Taiwan DRT, Malaysia DRT, Thailand TDEX, Queen Mary Hospital (HK), and Hong Kong Camera & Imaging Festival.

Wu Yung Sen

Underwater Photographer

Wu Yungsen, underwater photographer, magazine writer, underwater photography course instructor, specializes in underwater nature photography.

Zeny Cinco Pallugna, Ph.D

Director, Office of Market Development, Philippine Department of Tourism

Zeny Cinco Pallugna, Ph.D., is a certified advanced scuba diver, public servant, and tourism practitioner. She currently serves as the Director for Market Development at the Philippine Department of Tourism and is a member of the DOT Dive Committee. Zeny's career began as a Tourism Officer in the DOT Caraga Region (where Siargao is located), and she continued to serve as a Foreign Service Tourism Officer at the Philippine Department of Tourism offices in New York and San Francisco for over two decades. Her journey led her to become the Regional Director for the MIMAROPA region, including Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, and Palawan. Zeny enjoys diverse leisure activities, including scuba diving, golf, surfing, and mountaineering. She is also an advocate of purposeful tourism.

Zul Ng

Brand Ambassador for Weefine / Founder of The Art of Bio Luminance Pedagogical / Co-Founder of PhotoProfessional.org

I have worked as an artist in design and advertising agencies since 92, honing skills in print and media. My tools have advanced from pencils to studio photography, marking the start of my creative journey. In 1994, I delved into underwater photography, and I began experimenting with constant lighting from 2002, utilising early LED technology and through trial and error, I eventually yield result that were feature in my book, published in 2004. Subsequent test and collaborations led me to WeeFine, a pioneer in light technology development. Together we embraced on a journey to continue to come up with innovative solutions that have since reshaped the industry. Today, I stand as a facilitator for sharing the hidden secrets and advancements achieved through our partnership with WeeFine.