David Styles spent 23 years at sea, mainly in product and crude tankers, including 6 years as Master. Following his sea-going career, he worked as a Port Captain and Marine Superintendent for an independent tanker company in the Bahamas.

He qualified in 2002 as an OCIMF SIRE Category 1 inspector and is also qualified as an ISM Lead Auditor.

Since 2009 David has been living in South Africa, where he operates his own marine consultancy. Based near Johannesburg, David is within easy reach of air links to most of the African continent, as well as being conveniently placed for inspections at short notice in the South African ports.