Sierra Phillips

A National Geographic Educator, STEM researcher and United Nations Youth Delegate, Sierra holds a master’s degree in Exploration Sciences. With multidisciplinary training in marine biology and ecology, nautical archaeology, marine mammal care, shark conservation, scientific diving, documentary filmmaking and the psychology of extreme exploration, she has completed field assignments on all seven continents. Additional training includes submersible piloting, cave diving and wildlife photography.

Sierra has conducted and led nautical archaeological and benthic research in the South Pacific, Mediterranean, Caribbean, Antarctica and Japan. In the Amazon, she worked with the rehabilitation and release of spider monkeys and jaguars from Bolivia’s pet trade. Her recent Antarctic research included piloting submersibles to catalog whale falls and map the seafloor. She has completed 26 dives across three submersible models, reaching depths of 3,015 feet.

Her diving background includes certifications and training in scientific diving, freediving, cave and technical diving and saturation diving. Sierra has contributed to coral restoration, fish identification, juvenile shark research, Paleolithic data collection and maritime heritage projects using photogrammetry and GIS. She is currently developing a course program for Santa Barbara City College’s Marine Diving Technologies program, working with commercial diving students to build skills in research, nautical archaeology, conservation, ROV operations and marine technologies.