Cheryl Patterson

For Cheryl Patterson, travel has never simply been about visiting new places. It has always been about discovering the stories, people, cultures, and experiences that make our world so extraordinary.

Born and raised in London, England, Cheryl caught the travel bug at an early age. Her first international adventure came at just eight years old with a trip to Venice, and from there, her love of exploration only grew. Throughout her school years, she traveled extensively throughout Europe and the Mediterranean, sparking a passion that would ultimately shape the course of her life.

At just 18 years old, Cheryl earned her degree in Travel & Tourism with distinctions and began building a career in the travel industry. Her professional journey took her through travel agencies and tour operators in the United Kingdom before eventually bringing a very important new adventure into her life.

While her husband, John, was stationed in England during his service in the United States Air Force, the two met and eventually married. John brought Cheryl to the United States, where their life together would lead her somewhere she never expected – beneath the surface of the ocean.

During their time in Tucson, Arizona, John encouraged Cheryl to give scuba diving a try. What began as a simple “try dive” with her husband quickly became a second passion that would change the course of her life. Cheryl fell in love with the underwater world and went on to earn her scuba instructor certification and work in a local Toledo, Ohio dive shop so she could share that passion with others.

As her two worlds – travel and diving – continued to come together, Cheryl recognized something missing. She saw an opportunity to provide scuba travelers with something more: genuine customer service, honest guidance, quality experiences, and a level of care that extended far beyond simply booking a trip.

So, in 2004, Cheryl combined her two greatest passions and created Deep Blue Adventures.

What began as a small family business has grown into a highly respected dive and adventure travel company, but Cheryl’s original vision remains at the heart of everything Deep Blue does. She believes travelers deserve more than a reservation – they deserve someone who understands their passions, listens to their dreams, and helps create a journey that is truly their own.

As Founder & CEO, Cheryl continues to be the driving force behind Deep Blue’s endless curiosity and sense of adventure. She has spent decades exploring destinations both above and below the surface and has built relationships around the world that allow Deep Blue travelers to experience places in ways that go far beyond the typical tourist itinerary.

For Cheryl, the world is one giant story waiting to be discovered.

She believes there is something incredible above, below, and everywhere in between, and that every destination has a story worth sharing. Whether that means diving alongside extraordinary marine life, walking through a remote village, experiencing a new culture, or simply connecting with the people who call a destination home, Cheryl wants every traveler to come away with a deeper understanding and appreciation for our world.

Her passion for diving may have been what started the journey, but her passion for people, travel, adventure, and our planet is what continues to drive it.

And after more than two decades of Deep Blue Adventures, Cheryl is still dreaming about where we’ll go next. And she’s excited to bring you along the journey too.