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 Tom Campbell started his diving career at age 18 in the cold water lakes and rivers of Alberta and British Columbia, Canada. He moved to California with the goal of becoming involved in professional military diving. After completing the rigorous physical and mental demands required for volunteers into the Marine Corps First Force Recon Company, Tom was sent to the US Naval School of Underwater Swimmers in Key West, Florida, where he graduated as a qualified Navy Diver. In 1964-1965, Tom was part of a select Force Recon unit that was assigned to SEAL Team One in Vietnam to conduct covert operations. Shortly after his discharge, Tom became a NAUI diving instructor and has introduced hundreds of people to the ocean realm.
After graduating from college with a degree in business and law enforcement, he attended the California Highway Patrol Academy and started his career in one of the world's top law enforcement agencies. Tom spent twenty years with the CHP and received numerous commendations for his service, one of which was given by the President of the United States. While serving on the Highway patrol Tom was selected to be part of President Reagan's security team and he started the "Sober Graduation Program."
International Wildlife, UNEP, and BBC's Wildlife Photographer of the Year competitions have honored Tom with world recognition. In addition, Tom often appears as a featured speaker at film festivals, such as those in Antibe, France and Lofoton, Norway as well as at festivals throughout the US, such as the prestigious Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival and Wildscreen in England.
 After many years of shooting videos for television productions, Tom plunged into the world of High Definition (HD) cinematography. As a pioneer in underwater HD, Tom is world renowned for his meticulous camera work and stunning imagery. His talents are in high demand around the world for assignments, which have taken him from the frigid waters of the North Atlantic to the tropics of the world. Recent projects include filming dolphins in the Bahamas, dugongs in the Arabian Gulf, poisonous fish in Papua New Guinea, giant mantas in Mozambique, manatees in Florida, and great white sharks in South Africa. For nearly a decade, Tom worked for the non-profit Save Our Seas Foundation for whom he produced, filmed, and directed award winning shows about marine life.
Throughout his professional years, Tom has been a highly successful still photographer and videographer. His underwater still images and magazine articles have appeared in hundreds of popular publications worldwide.
He has completed assignments for a wide range of corporations such as the BBC, Continental Airlines, National Geographic, Time Life Books, New York and LA Times magazine. Tom feels that the most important contribution any wildlife photographer or filmmaker can make is to create an awareness that will protect and preserve our environment for future generations. To that end, he seeks out projects that feature scientists working on marine wildlife to better understand our endangered ocean habitats. Seeing Tom Campbell's films, in the full glory of High Definition, captures and captivates viewers as they learn about marine wildlife and the need to protect our ocean world.
Tom calls Santa Barbara, CA home where enjoys riding his Harley-Davidson V-Rod and taking his Cabo 35’ sportfishing yacht out to the Channel Islands, a favorite place to dive and film.
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