**Many of our colleagues are oceanographers, ocean scientists, biologists, geophysicists, etc. How would you describe your specialized profession?** I would say I am a deep sea volcanologist, seafloor surveyor and science visualizer. **Did you have a moment in your childhood when you knew what professional direction your life would take? Did you have a “fall in love with the ocean” moment?** I probably have to cite the usual influences like 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Jacques Cousteau, and Bob Ballard (yes, I am that young). But I knew pretty much at age 15 that I wanted to do what I do now. **What path led you to choose robotics and data visualization (projected video environments/virtual reality/3D photogrammetry) in a marine environment?** First, I wanted to be a submarine engineer, but I am bad at math. Then I wanted to become a submarine captain, but naval subs have no windows. So I ended up as a scientist, which is more agreeable and I got those windows. **You have a variety of exciting research interests. Is there a central theme that links them all?** My goal is to provide the highest possible detail of the seafloor. Doing so seems to be most rewarding at deep sea volcanoes. **What makes you most excited about your research, or your future direction?** The great challenge we still face in marine geology is to actually transport ourselves to the seafloor. We now recreate the marine environment in virtual simulators that finally give us a feeling of our presence down there.