Bell is a licensed Master Mariner, and has captained tugboats, sailing ships, excursion boats, and research vessels. His travels have taken him from Canada to South America and from the Galapagos Islands to the Aegean Sea.

Today he is a writer and consultant, and enjoys visiting schools to share his enthusiasm for writing and the Bay. He has written a book called Awesome Chesapeake about the amazing Chesapeake Baythe largest estuary in North America. This book tells about the fascinating creatures and plants found in and around the Bay's 2,500 square miles. Mr. Bell wrote this book to help children discover the interesting traits of some of the plants, animals, birds, and fish they are likely to find in and around the Bay.