The Blue Wild -- Ft Laud -- April 23-24, 2016

[Sheri Daye]

Blue Wild Ocean Adventure and Marine Art Expo Set for April 23-24

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (January 7, 2016) – The 9th annual Blue Wild Ocean Adventure and Marine Art Expo is set to take place at the Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center from April 23 to 24, 2016.

Spanning more than 65,000 square feet and featuring more than 150 exhibitors, the interactive Expo will include seminars and demonstrations covering watersports such as scuba and freediving, spearfishing and lobstering, SUP, surf, underwater photography/videography, and more. Additional exhibits include adventure travel, beachwear fashion shows, water toys by Nautical Ventures, and a Contender Boats display.

This year’s event includes an indoor pool where guests can try out new water toys and take part in professional demonstrations including breath-hold techniques, stand up paddle-boarding (SUP), yoga, and kayaking. The Kids Corner will include many free activities including marine-themed face painting, marine art classes and bean bag throws.

New speakers will cover spearfishing, surfing, and underwater photography techniques. Returning favorites include Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Stan Waterman, outdoorsman and TV star Manny Puig, Rescue Swimmers from the USCG, and world spearfishing champ Joseba Kerejeta.

The Expo boasts one of the most extensive marine art and photo exhibits in the country. Marine artists include Carey Chen, Pascal Lecocq, Randall Scott, Steve Ozment, Craig Dietrich, Don Ray, K.C. Scott, and Manny Puig. The South Florida Underwater Photography Society (SFUPS) will display works from accomplished club members.

Visit TheBlueWild.com to learn more about the 2016 Blue Wild Photo/Video Contest, sponsored by Force-E and SFUPS. Winning entries will be on display and announced on Saturday at 5:30 pm.

“We strive to offer an exciting atmosphere where ocean lovers can see the latest products, get great deals, listen to the best speakers, and meet other watersport enthusiasts,” said Sheri Daye, the event’s producer. “We’re entering our ninth year and this is our biggest and most exciting show yet.”

Admission is $25 at the door. Kids 12 and under are free. Admission includes entry to the Saturday night Blue Wild After Party at the Courtyard Marriott Fort Lauderdale Beach where guests can mingle with industry experts and celebrities and enjoy music, BBQ and happy hour prices all night.

Show hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday and 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday. The Blue Wild After Party is from 7:30 to 11:00 p.m. For more information please visit TheBlueWild.com.

 

[Sheri Daye]

Here's our list of exhibitors so far, and it keeps growing every day. We have a fun crowd and an exciting atmosphere at this Expo. Save the date on your calendar for April 23-24, 2016, and come join us!!!

AB Biller
American Del Advantage
Aqua Lung
Armor Bags
Austin’s Diving Center
BADSPADE Eyewear
Barbon Watercolors
Billfish Republic
Blackbeard's Cruises
Blue Water Explorer Ltd
Body Glove
Born of Water
Carey Chen
CaribeSUP
Compressed Air Supplies & Equipment
Contender Boats
Cressi
Deep Apnea
Deep Blue Freediving and Spearfishing
Deep Worldwide
DeeperBlue.net
Dietrich Underwater
DiverR
Divers Alert Network
DIVERS DIRECT
DiveWise
DocksLocks
Don Ray Art
Dornellas Design/Hunter SUP Boards
Dream Vacations
Drift Freediving
Dry Case
Evo1
Finholder and More
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
FWC Lionfish Outreach
Florida Freedivers
Florida Skin Diver's Association
Force-E
Freediving Instructors International
Front Line Freediving
Gannet Dive Company USA
GATKU
Hammerhead Spearguns
Hand Craft Inlay
Hatch Custom Spearguns
Headhunter Spearfishing
HECS StealthScreen
HexSkin
Holder of the Stone
Immersion Freediving
Into the Blue
Island Water Sports
IUSA
Jason Mathias
Jose Debasa Photography
Kadollu Designs
King Sailfish Mounts
Kluch
Koah Spearguns
KScott Underwater
Kulcha Shok Muzik
Lauderdale Diver
Mako Spearguns
Manny Puig Art
Mares
Mary Sayre Art
Maverick America
Miami Waterkeeper
Minuteman Press
Moana Waterman
Mora Surf Boutique
Mythicon
Naomi Gittoes
Nautical Ventures
Nautilus Spearfishing
Neptonic Systems
Neritic Diving
Ocean Geographic Magazine
Oceanic Gear
OMER
OnBoard Band-it
OneBreath Magazine
Orion Spearguns
PADI
Palapas Ventana
Paradise Properties of Roatan
Pascal Lecocq Painter
Pelagic Gear
Performance Freediving International
Pirate Spearguns
Plaza Beach Resort Bonaire
Randall Scott Art
Riffe International, Inc.
Robert Croft
S FL Underwater Photography Society
Salty Jewelry
SE Florida Coral Reef Initiative
Sea Experience, Inc
Sea Sniper Spearguns
Sea Stinger
Seac USA Corp
Shark Shield
Slave to the Wave
Spearboard
Speared Apparel
SpearfishingWorld.com
Sportube
Stan Waterman
Steve Ozment
Stoked on Salt
Stream2Sea
Stuart Cove's
SunglassHaven.com
Surf World
Surfrider Foundation
Team USA
Tito Spearguns
Torelli USA
Underseas Sports
UNEXSO / The Dolphin Experience
Viking Surf SUP
Wong Spearguns
WoodRoze Sustainable Optics
Y Not Charters
Yamamoto Corporation
Yazbeck
YETI Coolers
ZooKeeper

 

[Sheri Daye]

Blue Wild Ocean Adventure Expo Announces Underwater Photo/Video Contest
Adventure-seekers vie for $5,000 in prizes
Line-up of renowned freedivers, spearfishers and other underwater experts announced

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (March 2, 2016) – The 9th annual Blue Wild Ocean Adventure Expo and the South Florida Underwater Photography Society are calling for entries for the Ocean Adventure Photo/Video Contest. Free to enter, the contest is open to all and offers underwater photographers and videographers the chance to win $5,000 in prizes. The Expo is set to take place at the Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center from April 23 to 24, 2016. Contest entries will be shown and winners announced at the event on April 23 at 5:30 pm.

Ocean Adventure Photo/Video Contest Themes and Categories

• Macro Underwater Photo – any single image taken with a macro/super macro lens of a subject composition recorded in life size at a 1:1 or greater reproduction ratio. The subject or focal point is expected to fill as much of the frame as possible with extreme detail.

• Wide-Angle Underwater Photo – any single image taken with a wide-angle lens consisting of a focal length greater than 35mm. The image is made of a wide scene with a subject in its natural environment. Over/under (half below and half above the water) and Close Focus Wide-Angle compositions are acceptable in this category.

• The Ocean Adventure “Waterman Video Award” – a video submission between one and three minutes in length depicting the high adventure of oceanic activities that may include diving, SUP, kayaking, surfing, spearfishing, or any watersport lifestyle activity. Video may include above and below water footage. Editing of video is allowed and expected. Camera on spear gun, mask, head or hand is allowed. Combination of cameras is acceptable.

First place prize winners will be awarded a trip valued at more than $1,000, such as four days of shark/dolphin diving with UNEXSO in the Bahamas including hotel accommodations at Pelican Bay Resort and round trip transportation on the Balearia Fast Ferry from Fort Lauderdale to Freeport, or a weeklong, live-aboard scuba adventure aboard Blackbeard's Cruises to the Bahamas including all diving, meals and an air-conditioned room. Second and third place prizes include photo/video equipment from Fantasea and GoPro.

Visit TheBlueWild.com to learn more about the 2016 Blue Wild Photo/Video Contest, to submit photos and videos, and to view the contest rules and specifications.

World-class Speakers

A dynamic line-up of world-class speakers will offer daily seminars covering freediving, spearfishing, lobstering, underwater photography and videography, kayaking, paddleboarding, safe boating and more. This year’s speakers include: Umberto Pellizari, world class freediver from Italy; Joseba Kerejeta, spearfishing world champion from Spain; Stan Waterman, award winning cinematographer and author; Chris Gillette, underwater photographer and TV GatorBoy; Manny Puig, outdoorsman and TV/movie star; and many more.

More Information

Spanning more than 65,000 square feet and featuring more than 150 exhibitors, the interactive Expo will include seminars and demonstrations covering watersports such as freediving, spearfishing, SUP, surf, scuba, and underwater photography and videography. Additional exhibits include adventure travel, beachwear fashion shows, water toys by Nautical Ventures, and a Contender Boats display.

This year’s event includes an indoor pool where guests can try out new water toys and take part in professional demonstrations including breath-hold techniques, stand up paddleboarding (SUP), yoga, and kayaking. The Kids Corner will include many free activities including marine-themed face painting, marine art classes and bean bag throws.

The Expo boasts one of the most extensive marine art and photo exhibits in the country. Marine artists include Carey Chen, Pascal Lecocq, Randall Scott, Steve Ozment, Craig Dietrich, Don Ray, K.C. Scott, and Manny Puig. The South Florida Underwater Photography Society (SFUPS) will display works from accomplished club members.

Admission is $25 at the door. Kids 12 and under are free. Admission includes entry to the Saturday night Blue Wild After Party at the Courtyard Marriott Fort Lauderdale Beach where guests can mingle with industry experts and celebrities and enjoy music, BBQ and happy hour prices all night.

Show hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday and 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday. The Blue Wild After Party is from 7:30 to 11:00 p.m. For more information please visit TheBlueWild.com. “Like” The Blue Wild Ocean Adventure Expo on Facebook at Facebook/TheBlueWild on Instagram/the_blue_wild and on Twitter @TheBlueWildExpo.

 

[Sam Miller III]

,
SHERI
What an event!

Your Big Blue is STILL on my bucket list!

Some day some how before my DOC (Date of Croaking)I hope, if the offer is still open to attend and hopefully be a presenter along with Son also Dr. Sam IV. Sam is NAUI (Life)PADI instructor, SSI Pro 500 ex Active member of Long Beach Neptunes and an ER&Hyperbaric Doctor, who is also one heck of an entertaining speaker.

As you possibly recall I have a certain expertise in the red & white divers flag. I was the first (and only) Expert witness in the 1962 first litigation involving a diver flying the divers flag who was struck and severely injured by a power boat. Since that time I have been involved in numerous consultations and was instrumental in the 1988 failed attempt to claim proprietary ownership of the divers flag. In my thorough research of the history of the flag it was discovered I and the last man standing who was involved in the original development of the flag, So I produced a power point presentation which I premiered at the Long Beach SCUBA Show several years ago and have shared through out California. I understand Florida is now in turmoil over proposed dive flag usage It is apparent your Florida legislating bodies and the modern late model tube sucking bubble blowers need an education on the flag.

FYI-- A locally based DIVCON which I have been involved in for seven years:
(Suitable for reading in the dark of the night over a glass of California VINO !!!)

"7th Annual Diver Education Conference March 12, 2016 8:00 Am - 6:00 Pm Pacific Gas & Electric - Energy Education Center 6588 Ontario Road, Avila Beach, CA.

Topics and order of presentation subject to change

Dr. Sam Miller III Dive Historian – The Evolution of Underwater Photography; Boutan to Go Pro
(Dr.Miller is a published UW photographer, Charter member of the LA Underwater Photographic Society (UPS) 1957, cofounder of Orange County Unwater Photographic Society ( O CUPS) 1966

Patrick Smith Commercial & Scientific Diver, MA in Public History & Historic Preservation Co-Author "Shipwrecks of Southern California" The B-29 Superfortress of Lake Mead

Michael D. Harris California Department of Fish & Wildlife Dramatic Increase in Sea Otter Mortality from White Sharks in California

Karl Huggins USC Wrigley Marine Institute - Director of the Hyperbaric Facility Decompression Management Recommendations for the Public Safety Diver

Dr. Sam Miller IV Hyperbaric & Undersea Medicine - Emergency Medicine Marion Medical Center Emergency Physician Sea Sickness and Related Issues for the Diver

Michael Darlington Sergeant – Monterey County Sheriff’s Office, Enforcement Operations Bureau Review of 2015 Dive Team Operations

Peter Brede CNC Trading, Previously the Technical Advisor for Sales of Life Rafts and Life Vests for Search & Rescue and Commercial Airlines Lessons from Helicopter Operations & Victim Recovery after Immersion

Devon Tompkins Owner, Pacific Housing Repair Techniques for Taking UW Images in Poor Visibility

Fee: There is a non-refundable $10.00 fee for the Diver Education Conference that covers the cost of the morning snacks and buffet lunch.

Pre-registration is required due to the limited seating. Contact Depth Perceptions Diving Services to register. Payment can be made by cash or check only. No credit or debit cards accepted. Last day to register is March 8th, 2016.

Conference Sponsors:
Pacific Gas & Electric Company - Energy Education Center Energy Education Center Facilities
Depth Perceptions Diving Services Conference Organization - Conference Promotion

Registration: Pre- Registration Is Required Contact - Depth Perceptions Diving Services 805-595-3631 cmcdiver@aol.com 12322 Los Osos Valley Road San Luis Obispo, CA. 93405

Payment - $10.00 Per Person. Payable to Depth Perceptions by Cash or Check. No Credit or Debit Cards Accepted.
Includes - Conference Material, Beverages"

A response to a few questions as follows:

" This event is identified as a conference and in a true sense I assume it is, but attendance is initially restricted and required for the members & guest the local San Luis Obispo Underwater Search and Recovery team, other California based S&R teams. The surplus tickets are sold to the general public at $10.00

It's intent was to provide a yearly educational training for the local San Luis Obispo Underwater Search and Recovery team. And indeed it has, as a group and individually for the past seven years they have been exposed to and rubbed elbows with some of the most knowledgeable experienced divers on the west coast, and probably the US.

I know of no other venue where a diver can chat in a relaxed environment over a cup of coffee on a one to one basis with the premier camera repair man of the US. or the director of the Catalina chamber, or a Scripps trained hyperbaric doctor, a fish and game warden, a world class underwater archeologist or the historical aspects of a particular subject from one who has experienced the event

Each speaker is required to prepare a synopsis with references of their subject consisting of approximately 10 pages which will be printed, bound as a proximately 100 page document and presented free of charge to every attendee. As expected these documents contain a wealth of information have become collectors items.

The morning arrival coffee and snacks are fantastic, the lunch is unquestionably unmatched in quality and quantity enough to feed 100 divers or 500 humans. The lunch buffet is a sight to behold. If that is not enough the lunch time entertainment is provided by John Mc Kinney (son of Jack) and are a combination of his fathers and his commercial underwater movies.

Generally on Sunday morning those who have not had enough are invited to travel 20 miles south to the Kirby Morgan commercial diving training facilities for a 20 minute supervised dive using the latest Kirby Morgan commercial equipment.

And so ends the San Luis Obispo Underwater Search and Recovery team week end..Chocked full of information and a refreshing dive at the end
SDM,111"

I apologize for the length ...but no the great California wine

 

[Sheri Daye]

Sam, always great to hear from you, and we are honored to hear that Blue Wild is on your bucket list.

You and your son are always welcome to speak. We love to see new faces, and I know you'd bring a wealth of knowledge and history to our diving audience.

Take care and hope to see you around.