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Kerry BresnahanDivemaster

  • Highest Dive Rating Held: AAUS Scientific Diver / Divemaster
  • Affiliations: SSINAUISDI/TDI

Kerry Bresnahan's Gallery:

Background:

Kerry got into diving through the Three Seas Program at Northeastern University while earning her master’s in marine biology. It wasn’t just a certification—it was a turning point. Through science diving, she’s explored kelp forests in the Pacific Northwest, studied coral reef dynamics in Panama, and dived all around New England investigating local marine habitats.

For Kerry, diving isn’t just a way to get underwater—it’s how she does her research, asks better questions, and finds new ways to understand the ecosystems she’s working to protect. Whether she’s doing transects, collecting data, or helping out behind the scenes at ECD, she brings curiosity, calm, and a field journal never too far from reach.

Favorite Dive Site:

Hospital Point in Bocas del Toro, Panama. It’s a shallow wall dive, but packed with life—every crevice hiding something new. Between the sponges, coral, and invertebrates, the whole site feels like it’s glowing with color. For Kerry, it was the biodiversity that stood out—species of fish she hadn’t seen at any other site around Bocas, and a constant sense that something fascinating might be just around the next corner. It’s the kind of place that makes you want to slow way down and look a little closer.

Favorite Creature:

Kerry’s got a soft spot for basket stars—those intricate, alien-looking echinoderms that look like they belong in a sci-fi film more than the ocean. Their structure, movement, and overall weirdness have totally won her over. She’s also always on the lookout for seahorses. As one of the most unique and unexpectedly expressive fish she’s encountered, spotting one never gets old. Whether it’s a surprise find in eelgrass or tucked into some coral rubble, a seahorse sighting is an automatic highlight.

Favorite Certification Course:

Kerry’s favorite course so far has been Rescue. It challenged her in all the right ways—mentally, physically, and emotionally—and pushed her to start thinking like a dive leader instead of just a participant. It gave her the tools to respond in real scenarios, the confidence to manage stress underwater, and a deeper respect for the responsibility we all carry as divers. Plus, she’ll admit: pretending to be the panicked diver during practice drills was way more fun than she expected.

Goals In The Dive Industry:

Kerry dives to explore, to learn, and to inspire. She’s driven by the thrill of discovering new species, the satisfaction of putting science into action underwater, and the deep belief that diving should be more accessible to everyone. She hopes to inspire future marine biologists to fall in love with diving not just as a skill, but as a powerful tool for research and connection. For her, diving is both a personal passion and a professional resource—and she wants more people to realize just how much it can open up.

Holds the following ratings:

  • AAUS Scientific Diver

Dive Kit:

As a science diver, Kerry’s used just about everything—whatever gets the job done, holds up in cold water, and doesn’t fog up mid-survey. She’s partial to gear that’s simple, rugged, and field-tested (bonus points if it doesn’t smell like the last five dives). If it keeps her warm, stays out of the way while she’s taking notes or running a transect, and survives the back of a dive boat in Panama and January in Maine, it’s a win in her book.