While Maira leads the majority of Mar Hosted Trips, we are honored to say we have so many trips that Maira can’t be on every single one of them. Enter – Trip Leaders! This crew of dive enthusiasts are members of the Mar Hosted community that have been hand-picked and trained by Maira to carry on the responsibility of leading an epic Mar Hosted Trip!
Let us introduce you to our crew!
MHT TEAM
Maira Thomas
CEO & Founder
maira@marhostedtrips.com
It all started with Maira! Maira Thomas is the planner, curator, and primary leader of all MAR Hosted Trips.
She’s pretty great, and you can read more about her and how MAR Hosted Trips began here.
Shevaun Fortune (Shev)
CAO & TRIP LEADER
support@marhostedtrips.com
PADI #511174
Shev has not held back since diving into the underwater world in early 2020.
Not letting the pandemic slow her down, Shev worked her way through the PADI levels safely from her coldwater home of Western Canada, until finally heading to Huatulco, Mexico for a divemaster internship in February 2021.
What was supposed to be a 3-month journey quickly became living abroad as life in México kept Shev in Huatulco and life in snowy Canada has lost its appeal.
Because the world of divers is so small, Shev and Maira connected through the internet, becoming fast friends, dive buddies, and now, the faces behind MHT!
Shev is honoured to be a part of the MHT team and can’t wait to meet you on a trip.
When not working or travelling with Maira, Shev can be found managing Octopus Dive School in Roatan, or working on her blogs, Shev Strolls & Dive Into Mexico.
Clarence Thomas
CFO & Trip Leader
billing@marhostedtrips.com
PADI #373608
Clarence got his first taste of diving in 2011 on a tiny Indonesian island called Gili Trawangan (Gili T for short). While he didn’t actually get in the water, an encounter with a Scandinavian taking his Open Water course would inspire Clarence to look as cool as the class did carrying all their gear.
He wanted in!
A few weeks later Clarence found himself in Koh Tao, Thailand watching VHS tapes and going cross-eyed from looking at the PADI dive tables.
With a mask from the 70s and fins that left scars, Clarence fell in love with the new world of diving. He went on to complete his PADI Rescue course in 2013 in Honduras and eventually, his Divemaster in México in 2015.
Clarence loves to find baby trunkfish, is still amazed when anyone finds a scorpion fish, and is still searching for his first seahorse.
TRIP LEADERS
Steph Philips
Media Assistant & Trip Leader
Steph is our social media queen and one of our trips leaders!
Steph loves diving because of the peace and appreciation for the ocean it has brought into her life. When asked about why she hangs out with us, she says:
“I feel so grateful to be apart of this community and to be lucky enough to travel and experience the world with friends.”
And we feel the same!
Vicki Anderson
Media Assistant & Trip Leader
Vick is an OG Scuba MAR Maid and one of our best hype gals.
Aside from diving, Vicki spends her time traveling, working on her photography, or helping our MHT with merch. And if that wasn’t enough, her “real” job is an educational technology specialist in cybersecurity firm, and teaching part-time at Arizona State University and other schools and districts.
Vicki has been diving since 2009, been on a dozen MAR Hosted trips, and completed her SSI Divemaster program in March 2024!
You can find Vicki on our trips to Isla Mujeres.