Board Members | DiverMojo Foundation

DMF Board Members

Merlin Walberg, President

Merlin is the Founder and owner of DiverMojo. She is the Founder and President of the DiverMojo Foundation, bringing together her lifelong love of the ocean, her expertise in leadership development, and her deep commitment to marine conservation.

Certified as a scuba diver in 2011, Merlin quickly discovered that being underwater was more than a passion—it was a calling. As a Master Scuba Diver Trainer, she delights in introducing others to the underwater world, emphasizing safety, stewardship, and respect for the ocean environment. She admits to talking to the fish and having them pose for photos for her!

In 2018, Merlin founded DiverMojo after she mentioned going to Belize to participate in reef conservation. Several others asked if they could come along. That first trip marked the beginning of a dive travel company built on purpose: combining extraordinary diving experiences with meaningful service and conservation.

In 2022, at the request of the DiverMojo community, Merlin worked with fellow divers to establish the DiverMojo Foundation, creating a lasting platform to support ocean conservation initiatives around the world. The Foundation reflects her belief that divers can be powerful stewards of the ocean and that collective action creates real impact.

Today, Merlin lives and works without borders, traveling the world to identify exceptional dive destinations and partner with local conservation leaders—micro game-changers who are protecting marine ecosystems and inspiring global change. Through DiverMojo and the DiverMojo Foundation, she continues to invite others to experience the magic of the underwater world while helping safeguard it for future generations.

Debbie Hatch, Director of Education

Teaching has always been at the heart of Debbie’s work. A formal educator since 2004, she thrives on helping people gain confidence as they learn new skills and perspectives. She believes education is one of the most powerful tools for change and is driven by a deep desire to learn, share, and make a meaningful difference.

Debbie’s love for the ocean began in childhood while watching Jacques Cousteau on television. That early inspiration led her to become a certified scuba diver in the early 1990s. With more than 30 years of diving experience, she considers the ocean both a classroom and a sanctuary.

As Director of Education for the DiverMojo Foundation, Debbie combines her love of the ocean and passion for teaching. Focused on inspiring the next generation of ocean stewards, she works directly with schools and communities, helping children understand the ocean not as a distant place, but as our home. Through storytelling, hands-on experiences, and accessible conservation messaging, she emphasizes that everyone has a role to play—from the smallest to the largest, the youngest to the oldest, the krill through the shark.

Debbie also shares her passion through writing and social media, documenting her dives, highlighting local cultures, and offering practical tips for living more ocean-conscious lives. She has led dozens of beach cleanups, worked in coral nurseries, and advocates for the protection of reefs, marine life, and mangrove ecosystems. At her core is a belief that protecting the ocean isn’t optional—it’s personal. She sees education as a ripple effect: when children are inspired, their families and communities follow.

Karen A. Blood, Treasurer

Karen is a seasoned leader, entrepreneur, and problem-solver whose career has been shaped by strategic thinking, mentorship, and a deep commitment to mission-driven work.

Over the course of her professional life, Karen launched and successfully managed multiple IT firms, navigating complex challenges through clear goal setting and innovative problem-solving. As a leader, she quickly recognized that long-term success depends on people. Identifying, mentoring, and empowering imaginative and capable associates became a defining focus of her work—especially when the path forward felt daunting. Alongside her entrepreneurial career, Karen served productively on numerous boards, bringing passion for each organization’s mission and a keen ability to recognize opportunities that advance shared vision.

Karen has always felt drawn to the natural world, reveling in discovering and sharing its beauty through travel and exploration. Her connection to the ocean runs especially deep. Becoming a scuba diver before turning 50 was a personal milestone she achieved in 2008, fulfilling a long-held dream. Like many divers, she knew early on that her happy place was underwater, surrounded by marine life.

Since retiring from her professional career, Karen has devoted increasing attention to understanding the challenges facing our oceans—and the profound implications those challenges hold for all life on Earth. This awareness has strengthened her resolve to act and to use her skills where they can make a meaningful difference.

Through her involvement with the DiverMojo Foundation, Karen brings both her leadership experience and her passion for the ocean to the organization’s mission. She is particularly inspired by opportunities to support micro game-changers—individuals and organizations whose focused efforts create outsized impact—and to help translate vision into sustainable action. As Karen reflects, “I continue to revel in discovering, sharing, and working to preserve the beauty of our planet and its creatures through travel and diving. I continue to better understand the power we each have—and must put to use—to protect our oceans. I hope you do too.”

Marie Bennett, Secretary

Marie Bennett is a professional flutist, scuba diver, and creative collaborator whose work bridges art, science, and ocean advocacy.

As a musician and storyteller, Marie’s creative practice is deeply influenced by the natural world—especially the ocean. Through music, narrative, and cross-disciplinary collaborations with scientists and conservationists, she creates spaces for listening, reflection, and care for places and species under threat. Her work invites audiences to slow down, pay attention, and connect more deeply with the living systems that sustain us.

Marie’s relationship with the ocean deepened when she became a scuba diver and quickly discovered that time underwater changed the way she listens—to the environment, to others, and to herself. What began as fascination became personal commitment, shaping not only how she moves through the world, but also how she creates and shares her art.

Drawn to the DiverMojo Foundation's mission and community, Marie brings a spirit of curiosity, creativity, and collaboration to our work. She is particularly excited to explore new ways of sharing music, storytelling, supporting local conservation initiatives, and helping to connect people more meaningfully to the ocean and the communities that depend on it.