In 1959 Chuck and several of these local diving enthusiasts and diving scientists from the Scripps Institute of Oceanography, opened The Dive Locker in San Diego – one of the earliest dive stores in California. Along with running the retail business, Chuck learned underwater photography from Ron Church and in the 1960’s and 70’s, his photo and film work gradually eclipsed his income from the retail business. As his expertise grew this allowed him to shoot catalogs, photograph for magazines and eventually become involved in film for major motion pictures such as The Deep, For Your Eyes Only, The Abyss, and Never Say Never Again.
Over the years Chuck has been the mentor to many people, including his own son Flip, a famous photographer and filmmaker in his own right, well-known IMAX filmmakers (and ISDHF Inductees) Howard and Michele Hall, and world famous photographer Marty Snyderman.
Always teaching and encouraging to so many who are learning, Chuck now travels the world and shares what he knows and his passion for the underwater world. Along with his wife Roz, these days Chuck uses video to capture that underwater world.