Matt grew up in Flushing, Michigan and spent most of his summers in Higgins Lake, Michigan, which sparked his love for the water. He grew up around the water (summers at the lake, always around boats, and saw others diving) so one day he did a Discover Scuba and was immediately hooked. He got certified in 2008. His most memorable dives were during his Open Water course, where he went from a pool course with 6 students to private checkout dives in Lake Fenton, Michigan. Seeing the fish and the sunken shipwreck has always stuck with him.