Principal Investigator and Project Coordinator

30 years of diving experience. Master of Science, Environmental Management. NAS Part 1 Underwater Archaeology qualification. PADI Master SCUBA Diver Trainer (retired). Over 25 years in the Royal Canadian Navy — serving on six frigates on the East Coast, advancing from Marine Engineering Mechanic to Marine Systems Engineering Officer.
The credentials are what let him do the work properly. The work is what actually matters.

On Collaboration

The best leads in wreck research don’t come from sonar. They come from the person who grew up near the water and heard their grandfather mention a ship that went down in a storm. They come from the local historian who noticed an anomaly in a harbour master’s log. They come from the diver who photographed something on the bottom that didn’t match any known wreck in the area.

If that sounds like you — whether you’ve been diving for thirty years or you’ve never put on a tank — get in touch. The research moves faster with more eyes on it.

Senior Diver & Dive Operations Coordinator

Thirty-six years of shipwreck diving from the cold waters of Canada to the Caribbean as far south as St. Lucia. Advanced Open Water and Enriched Air certified with more than 1,000 dives. A Certified Association Executive with a degree in Communications and Public Relations, and a professional background in writing, editing, and government and media relations.

The credentials explain what he has done. His support for the Shipwreck Hunter project comes from a simple belief — that history should be experienced, not just read in a book.

Professional Diver & Marine Operations Specialist

More than 40 years of diving experience across commercial, instructional, and expedition environments. Tony holds DCBC Unrestricted Occupational Diver certification and is a PADI Master Instructor with extensive experience in cold-water, wreck, and closed-circuit diving operations.

His work includes hazardous water diving, underwater survey operations, structural assessment, and safety oversight in complex marine environments. Tony’s operational experience ranges from offshore Atlantic waters to confined and low-visibility sites where precision and discipline are critical.

He is also recognized for his underwater operational role in internationally broadcast Oak Island exploration projects, supporting anomaly investigation and structured expedition diving.

Tony brings deep field experience, calm execution, and a disciplined approach to underwater work in challenging environments.

Historical Research Advisor

More than 38 years of diving experience and one of Atlantic Canada’s most recognized maritime historians. Bob has conducted over 1,200 dives in Halifax Harbour, combining hands-on underwater exploration with decades of historical research focused on shipwrecks and maritime heritage.

He is the author or co-author of seven books and more than fifty published articles on maritime history, including works on the SS Atlantic, the Halifax Explosion wrecks, and historic vessels of Atlantic Canada. His research has received multiple awards and has generated millions of online readers.

Bob regularly delivers public lectures and has appeared in media coverage on maritime history and shipwrecks, including CBC, CTV, Global News, and international documentary programs.

His combination of diving experience and published scholarship provides critical historical context and interpretation for the expedition’s work documenting Atlantic Canadian shipwrecks.

Senior Diver & Offshore Operations Specialist

Jamie Hiltz brings more than 30 years of diving experience and over 40 years of offshore fishing and seamanship in Atlantic waters. His background combines structured wreck diving, vessel handling, and practical offshore judgment developed through decades working in demanding North Atlantic conditions.

Jamie has extensive experience in cold-water and low-visibility wreck environments, along with operational work in ghost gear recovery and vessel salvage operations. His role on expedition projects includes wreck exploration, diver safety oversight, and offshore vessel support.

He has also served as a safety diver on the Oak Island television series, operating within controlled production environments requiring strict safety protocols and coordinated dive operations.

Jamie’s combination of offshore experience, disciplined diving practice, and practical maritime knowledge strengthens expedition safety and operational reliability in challenging Atlantic conditions.

Senior Diver & Marine Technical Specialist

Dana Sheppard brings more than 30 years of diving experience and 25 years of service with the Department of National Defence as a Hull Technician and metal fabricator. His background combines extensive wreck diving with practical marine engineering knowledge gained through decades of naval ship repair, fabrication, and vessel maintenance.

He is certified in ultrasonic, magnetic particle, and dye penetrant non-destructive testing, providing valuable insight into ship construction, structural condition, and marine material degradation.

Dana’s role includes wreck exploration, diver support, and technical assessment of marine structures during expedition work. His combination of diving experience and marine engineering expertise adds important technical perspective to underwater documentation and site interpretation.

Senior Diver & Technical Diving Specialist

Dwayne McLaughlin brings more than 45 years of diving experience and extensive expertise in cold-water wreck diving. A NAUI Instructor and IANTD Normoxic Trimix Diver, he combines advanced technical diving capability with training in nautical archaeology and decades of practical field experience.

A retired member of the Canadian Armed Forces, Dwayne contributes disciplined operational standards, strong gas-management skills, and calm leadership in complex underwater environments. His background also includes small-vessel operations, dredging work, and metalworking, providing additional insight into wreck structure, sediment movement, and historical materials encountered on site.

His role within the expedition includes advanced wreck exploration, technical dive support, and structured underwater documentation in challenging Atlantic conditions.