Katie Dyal has been passionate about the world's water since childhood. Her love and knowledge of aquatic ecosystems increased as she gained her Masters in Water and Soil Science at the University of California, Riverside. After that she helped with reef conservation efforts in Fiji in which she studied local reefs and participated in teaching the local children. She then worked as a field instructor teaching children about the Pacific Ocean and its habitats on Catalina Island. She has also worked as an instructor aboard a sailing vessel along the California Channel Islands. During this time she continued to work with undeveloped areas in the Caribbean.

Michael Smith received his marine biology BS at the University of Rhode Island. Since then he has enjoyed working with the environment as a shark and fish researcher, a kayak guide in the San Juan Islands sharing the water with orcas, a naturalist aboard whale watching vessels, as a volunteer at a local Nicaraguan school, and as a classroom teacher.  He has also worked as an instructor on Tall Ships teaching marine science, snorkeling, and sailing. When not working with Common Tides he works as a director and instructor at two summer marine science programs in New England along with finding time to surf, scuba dive, coach swimming and to cheer the Seahawks on to a win in the Super Bowl.