The Expedition Team

Joseph Frey is a Canadian explorer, science writer, retired military officer, and expedition leader specializing in the integration of historical research, underwater archaeology, marine science, and advanced marine imaging technologies. His work focuses on combining archival analysis, field operations, and digital documentation to interpret complex maritime heritage sites and underwater cultural landscapes.

Frey has participated in major international expeditions, including the discovery expedition to HMS Erebus, NOAA’s survey of the German submarine U-576, and the HMCS Canada Expedition 2025, which produced the first comprehensive three-dimensional documentation of Canada’s first purpose-built warship. He serves as Vice-President and Chair of the College of Fellows of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society and is a former Vice-President and Director of The Explorers Club.

For the Bell Island Expedition, Frey is responsible for overall project direction, interdisciplinary coordination, institutional partnerships, and the integration of historical and scientific research.

Kirk Regular is associated with the Marine Institute of Memorial University of Newfoundland and supports the expedition through marine operations planning, survey integration, and coordination of applied ocean technology systems. His work contributes to the integration of marine science, vessel operations, and digital survey methodologies within the expedition framework.

Through the Marine Institute, Regular supports the expedition’s operational planning, research-vessel coordination, and the integration of academic and technical field activities. His experience in marine operations and applied ocean technologies contributes to the development of the expedition’s integrated Digital Terrain Model (DTM) approach.

For the Bell Island Expedition, Regular assists with expedition planning, marine survey coordination, and the integration of field operations with academic research and technical documentation.

Neil Burgess is associated with the Shipwreck Preservation Society of Newfoundland and Labrador and contributes regional expertise, heritage knowledge, and operational support for the Bell Island Expedition. His work helps connect the expedition with local heritage organizations, diving communities, and regional stakeholders.

The Society has long supported the documentation and protection of maritime heritage sites in Newfoundland and Labrador waters, particularly those associated with shipwreck archaeology and underwater cultural heritage. Burgess assists in ensuring that expedition activities align with established heritage stewardship practices and local operational requirements.

For the Bell Island Expedition, Burgess supports historical coordination, regional operational planning, and liaison with local heritage and diving communities.

Brenden St. John is Head of Ocean Science at VOYIS and specializes in advanced underwater imaging, photogrammetry, and subsea survey technologies. His work focuses on the development and deployment of high-resolution optical imaging systems for marine science, shipwreck documentation, and ocean exploration.

St. John has been involved in major underwater imaging initiatives and technical survey projects in challenging marine environments, including work associated with deep-water archaeology and polar exploration. His expertise includes laser scanning systems, subsea imaging integration, and large-scale three-dimensional documentation workflows.

For the Bell Island Expedition, St. John supports the integration of imaging systems, survey technologies, and Digital Terrain Model (DTM) development for the documentation of the battlefield landscape.

Tim Joyce is associated with the Royal Canadian Geographical Society and supports the Bell Island Expedition through cartographic coordination, educational outreach, and public engagement initiatives. His work contributes to the development of mapping, educational resources, and geographic interpretation associated with the expedition.

Through the Royal Canadian Geographical Society and Canadian Geographic Education, Joyce assists with the communication of expedition results to national and international audiences. His involvement supports the integration of cartography, storytelling, and public education within the broader Battle of the Atlantic Virtual Memorial project.

For the Bell Island Expedition, Joyce supports geographic interpretation, educational development, and public-facing communication of the expedition’s historical and scientific results.

Guy Shockey is a Canadian technical diving instructor, expedition diver, and founder of Thermocline Diving. He is one of Canada’s most experienced technical divers and has participated in advanced wreck-diving, underwater archaeology, and expedition operations in deep-water and cold-water environments around the world.

Shockey has extensive experience in technical diving instruction, closed-circuit rebreather operations, and diver-based photogrammetry. He served as Dive Team Lead during the HMCS Canada Expedition 2025, coordinating deep technical diving operations associated with the three-dimensional documentation of Canada’s first purpose-built warship.

For the Bell Island Expedition, Shockey is responsible for technical diving operations, diver safety, underwater imaging coordination, and the management of in-water expedition activities.

Roger Lacasse is an accomplished technical diver with more than 900 dives across North America, the Caribbean, Europe, Asia, and Australia. A technical diver since 2002, he is trained in cave and trimix diving and specializes in underwater photogrammetry, three-dimensional modelling, and the documentation of maritime heritage sites.

Roger served as 3D Photogrammetry Lead for the HMCS Canada Expedition 2025, overseeing image acquisition and model development for the first complete three-dimensional photogrammetric documentation of HMCS Canada, Canada’s first purpose-built warship. The project produced a high-resolution digital model from thousands of underwater photographs and provided new archaeological and ecological management data for NOAA and marine heritage and ecological researchers.

For the Bell Island Battle of the Atlantic Virtual Memorial Expedition 2027, Roger serves as 3D Photogrammetry Lead, responsible for coordinating underwater imaging and photogrammetric documentation of the four Bell Island wrecks. Working with expedition partners, he will help develop detailed three-dimensional models that form a key component of the project’s integrated Digital Terrain Model and Virtual Memorial.