Island Divers Hawaii, Honolulu

Though he earned a Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences from the University of California San Diego, Matt Zimmerman decided to pursue his love of the ocean instead of science and move to Oahu. He founded Island Divers Hawaii there as a way to share his enthusiasm for scuba diving as well as the discoveries it can share, from intricate coral to schools of fish locked in a never-ending struggle for tenure. Zimmerman and his knowledgeable staff teach dive courses for curious students and lead boat charters that give divers the chance to test their new skills. Not only that, these operations happen in the pristine waters of the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary in Maunalua Bay, where swimmers share space alongside oceanic giants.