from the beginning...
Photo by Lee Jordan, Emmy Award winner.
David J. "D.J." Mansfield was born in the small town of Houston, in Texas County, Missouri. As a young child, his family relocated to St. Louis, Missouri, where he spent his weekends floating the Meramec River and enjoying the adventures of growing up in the Midwest. At just 17 years old, D.J. graduated from Jackson High School and boarded his first airplane bound for Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, California. That flight marked the beginning of an extraordinary 21-year career in the United States Marine Corps.
D.J. discovered scuba diving while stationed in Sasebo, Japan, where his best friend, Ryan, introduced him to the underwater world. Instantly captivated by the tranquility and adventure of diving, he began what would become a lifelong passion. Progressing through the ranks of the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI), he earned certifications from Open Water Diver through Rescue Diver before pursuing the professional level. His passion expanded into technical diving, including cavern diving, trimix, and numerous advanced specialties.
In 2009, D.J. attended PADI's prestigious Course Director Training Course (CDTC), earning the highest instructional rating within the organization. Since then, he has trained and mentored hundreds of dive professionals while serving as an Instructor Trainer in multiple capacities throughout the dive industry. Today, he remains one of a select group of Technical Diving Instructor Trainers on the West Coast and continues exploring wrecks and challenging dive environments throughout California and beyond.
Following his retirement from the Marine Corps as a Master Sergeant (E-8), D.J. assumed the role of Director of Operations for a prominent Southern California diving company. There, he managed service operations, marketing initiatives, website development, cloud-based business systems, and large-scale e-commerce operations across Amazon and eBay. During this time, he created what became Orange County's highest-performing Groupon promotion in the diving industry. Eventually transitioning into entrepreneurship, D.J. founded and now serves as Chief Executive Officer of OC Divers, LLC, operating Orange County Divers and ScubaDirect.com while consulting for businesses throughout the diving industry. His mission remains focused on growing the Southern California diving community through integrity, professionalism, education, and exceptional customer service.
A dedicated community leader, D.J. has devoted thousands of volunteer hours to coastal conservation and underwater cleanup efforts throughout his nearly three decades in diving. He has been featured in numerous publications and media outlets for his leadership within the dive community, including coordinating the Dana Point Harbor Underwater Cleanup and assisting with the identification and confirmation of historic local shipwrecks.
Beyond the diving industry, D.J. proudly serves as an Ambassador for the Robert Irvine Foundation, supporting military veterans, first responders, and their families through advocacy and charitable initiatives. He also serves on the Board of Directors for The Invicta Project, a nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening communities through leadership, service, and veteran-focused outreach. In addition, he serves as Chairman of the Board and Dive Safety Officer for Task Force Pacific, leads the Newport Harbor Underwater Cleanup, and serves on the Board of Directors for the USC Catalina Hyperbaric Chamber's Chamber Day and Chamber Eve fundraising events. Through these nonprofit organizations, D.J. remains committed to giving back to both the diving community and those who have served our nation.
Looking toward the future, D.J. continues to pursue excellence in technical diving while mentoring the next generation of dive professionals. He is passionate about developing instructors who understand not only the skills required to teach diving safely but also the responsibility that comes with shaping future ambassadors of the underwater world. A lifelong learner, entrepreneur, and servant leader, D.J. approaches every challenge with energy, professionalism, and an unwavering commitment to making a positive impact.
For divers seeking exceptional instruction, professionalism, and mentorship, D.J. is committed to providing the highest quality training every single day. His goal is simple: to help every diver become safer, more knowledgeable, and more confident beneath the surface.
D.J. discovered scuba diving while stationed in Sasebo, Japan, where his best friend, Ryan, introduced him to the underwater world. Instantly captivated by the tranquility and adventure of diving, he began what would become a lifelong passion. Progressing through the ranks of the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI), he earned certifications from Open Water Diver through Rescue Diver before pursuing the professional level. His passion expanded into technical diving, including cavern diving, trimix, and numerous advanced specialties.
In 2009, D.J. attended PADI's prestigious Course Director Training Course (CDTC), earning the highest instructional rating within the organization. Since then, he has trained and mentored hundreds of dive professionals while serving as an Instructor Trainer in multiple capacities throughout the dive industry. Today, he remains one of a select group of Technical Diving Instructor Trainers on the West Coast and continues exploring wrecks and challenging dive environments throughout California and beyond.
Following his retirement from the Marine Corps as a Master Sergeant (E-8), D.J. assumed the role of Director of Operations for a prominent Southern California diving company. There, he managed service operations, marketing initiatives, website development, cloud-based business systems, and large-scale e-commerce operations across Amazon and eBay. During this time, he created what became Orange County's highest-performing Groupon promotion in the diving industry. Eventually transitioning into entrepreneurship, D.J. founded and now serves as Chief Executive Officer of OC Divers, LLC, operating Orange County Divers and ScubaDirect.com while consulting for businesses throughout the diving industry. His mission remains focused on growing the Southern California diving community through integrity, professionalism, education, and exceptional customer service.
A dedicated community leader, D.J. has devoted thousands of volunteer hours to coastal conservation and underwater cleanup efforts throughout his nearly three decades in diving. He has been featured in numerous publications and media outlets for his leadership within the dive community, including coordinating the Dana Point Harbor Underwater Cleanup and assisting with the identification and confirmation of historic local shipwrecks.
Beyond the diving industry, D.J. proudly serves as an Ambassador for the Robert Irvine Foundation, supporting military veterans, first responders, and their families through advocacy and charitable initiatives. He also serves on the Board of Directors for The Invicta Project, a nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening communities through leadership, service, and veteran-focused outreach. In addition, he serves as Chairman of the Board and Dive Safety Officer for Task Force Pacific, leads the Newport Harbor Underwater Cleanup, and serves on the Board of Directors for the USC Catalina Hyperbaric Chamber's Chamber Day and Chamber Eve fundraising events. Through these nonprofit organizations, D.J. remains committed to giving back to both the diving community and those who have served our nation.
Looking toward the future, D.J. continues to pursue excellence in technical diving while mentoring the next generation of dive professionals. He is passionate about developing instructors who understand not only the skills required to teach diving safely but also the responsibility that comes with shaping future ambassadors of the underwater world. A lifelong learner, entrepreneur, and servant leader, D.J. approaches every challenge with energy, professionalism, and an unwavering commitment to making a positive impact.
For divers seeking exceptional instruction, professionalism, and mentorship, D.J. is committed to providing the highest quality training every single day. His goal is simple: to help every diver become safer, more knowledgeable, and more confident beneath the surface.