Chelsea Mayer

Chelsea is a wildlife photographer whose career has been shaped by a longstanding interest in animals. She grew up in Huntington Beach on the southern California coast, volunteering throughout her teenage years at an animal shelter and a wildlife rehabilitation center. In 2011, she graduated from UCLA's School of Theater, Film and Television with a Bachelor of Arts in Film Production.

After a few years working in film, Chelsea turned her sights seaward to pursue a life outdoors. For three years, she observed the marine mammals of southern California while working as a naturalist, photographer and deckhand aboard whale watching boats in Orange County. Wanting to explore more of the ocean, she became a dive professional, working as a divemaster in the Channel Islands and as a safety diver and camera assistant on natural history film productions.

Chelsea hopes her photography inspires appreciation for wildlife and is exhibited at art festivals and galleries when she's not at sea. She is also a partner photographer with Girls Who Click, mentoring young women conservation photographers and leading photography workshops for teenage girls. She enjoys working aboard expedition ships, meeting people from around the world and sharing her enthusiasm for wildlife and conservation. Chelsea is a U.S. Coast Guard-licensed 100-ton Captain, PADI Divemaster and American Cetacean Society Naturalist.