Travis

Born and raised in Snohomish, WA, Travis Pickett went off to Washington State University and discovered a love for photography. He has since utilized his skills for landscape shots--including Iceland, The Bahamas, and locally--in addition to professional photo shoots. His day job involves media production in marine operations for OceanGate, Inc. Travis truly enjoys capturing memories, exposing people to new places and perspectives, and pursuing photos that encapsulate a great deal of effort and lack of comfortability.

Mikayla

Inspired by marine biologists on Shark Week when she was in 5th grade, Mikayla Monroe got involved in marine work via hands-on activities such as beach cleanups, habitat restorations, and volunteering at the Seattle Aquarium. Following those childhood ambitions has led her to log 16 submersible dives and counting as a Submersible Co-Pilot. She continues to be involved in outreach for young women in STEM and environmental volunteerism. Mikayla was also an Official Student Blogger for the American Institute for Foreign Study while studying abroad in Ireland.

Together Travis and Mikayla challenge each other to dive into colder water, run faster up the mountain, and find new places to explore. They’re always ready to go and eager to spend time outdoors. Their favorite places this past year include Glacier National Park in Montana, Stehekin in the heart of North Cascades National Park, and La Push in Olympic National Park. No matter where they venture or what time of year, Travis and Mikayla find a body of water to plunge into for a refreshing dip and use the Wim Hof method to stay warm. Throughout their explorations, Travis and Mikayla shop at local, small businesses and travel with their own set of utensils, straws, water bottles, and mugs to avoid single-use plastics. They also source organic foods for snacks. (Fun fact: Mikayla’s nickname on her select softball team when she was a teenager was “Organic.”)

When they're not on land-based adventures, Travis and Mikayla work for OceanGate, the  manned submersible company based at the Port of Everett. Mikayla is a Submersible Co-Pilot and Data Analyst. Travis is a Photographer/Videographer and Operational Technician. Below are few of Travis's videos.