Mark Shelley

Mark Shelley is President and Founder of Sea Studios, Inc., and Founder and Executive Producer of Sea Studios Foundation. Mr. Shelley is also a Senior Series Producer for National Geographic Television. Sea Studios, Inc. was formed in 1984 with Robin and Nancy Burnett, two of the four founders of the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Sea Studios is one of the premiere production companies in the world dedicated to science and nature programming. As lead producer and director of photography for Sea Studios, Mark has been responsible for numerous award-winning exhibit and television programs. Exhibit clients have included major aquariums, zoos, natural history visitor centers around the world. Television clients have included National Geographic Television, Turner Broadcasting (National Audubon), Discovery, and Nature.

Under Mark's direction, Sea Studios has been responsible for developing many new techniques in underwater, macro, and time-lapse photography. He has a specialization in deep sea videography and has developed deep sea imaging systems for Bob Ballard, National Geographic Television, and the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute. Mark is an expert diver and U.S. Navy certified submersible co-pilot. His deep sea work has been seen on such National Geographic Specials as Lost Fleet of Guadalcanal, Lusitania, Roman Wrecks, and the BBC program, Dive to Midnight Waters.

Most recently, with Sea Studios Foundation, Mark served as Executive Producer and Director of Photography for The Shape of Life, an eight hour, Hi Definition series of specials co-produced with National Geographic Television.

Mark graduated from Stanford University (B.Sc., 1972) with honors in Biology and conducted research at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution for two years. Prior to beginning his film career, Mark was Program Director of Oceanics School, which ran academic programs on traditional square-rigged sailing ships. While freelancing in New York City, Mark had the opportunity to produce shorts for Saturday Night Live and line produce German theatrical films. It was while Mark was in New York that he had the opportunity to work on his first National Geographic Specials, Dive to the Edge of Creation and Polar Bear Alert. He is a licensed pilot with an instrument rating (and owner of a Cessna 182) and avid surf kayaker. Mark is married and the proud father of Lucy.