June Speaker Gabriel Jensen, SOUTH FLORIDA'S SEASONAL SEAS

From the surface, the ocean looks the same to us humans year round, but beneath the waves, the changing seasons bring forth epic underwater migrations and behaviors all under our noses. Utilizing international award-winning images taken during thousands of hours underwater, SFDI club member Gabriel Jensen will use anecdotes of adventure paired with population data to tell the story of South Florida's underwater seasons and why it matters above the waves.  It's kinda like a divers almanac of what to look for year round! 

ABOUT GABRIEL JENSEN

SFDI club member Gabriel Jensen is an internationally published underwater photographer, biochemist, and photonaturalist, and winner of the 2025 Close Up Photographer of the Year (CUPOTY.com) competition in the Underwater category.  His award-winning images highlighting the exotic underwater microfauna of Florida’s urban waterways have been featured by Forbes, NOAA, REEF, BBC Wildlife, Smithsonian Magazine, and National Geographic Wild. As a board member of the South Florida Underwater Photography Society, he works to connect local underwater image makers and empower them to be ambassadors for our oceans.

MAY - SFDI Member Andy Dion, on diving the Blue Heron Bridge

Phil foster Park

Divers enter from the beach under the Blue Heron Bridge. Andy will explain the logistics.

Andy in his element.

Andy was diver certified in 1973 and currently has a Master Diver certification with SSI. He also was Master Diver Certified in 2009 with NAUI and has an AAUS Scientific Diver Certification. He volunteered as an Aquarium Diver with Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium in Tacoma Washington.  This work required diving in a 75 degree warm water South Pacific shark tank and a 45 degree cold water North Pacific tank, sometimes in the same evening. He has done a lot of cold water diving in the North East and North West, but is now dedicated to warm water diving. Since his camera is considered standard diving equipment, he will be presenting photos from dives at the Blue Heron Bridge.

APRIL - Rosie Moore, Manager of Citizen Science of the International SeaKeepers Society

Rosie Moore holds a BA in Environmental Science and an MS in Geosciences from FAU. With over a decade of experience in wildlife research and using geospatial technology for conservation, she specializes in studying apex predators and human-wildlife interactions. Her passion for science communication led her to a career as a television host for major networks, such as Discovery Channel and History Channel, making complex scientific topics accessible to the public. Now, as Manager of the Citizen Science Program at The International SeaKeepers Society, she combines conservation, education, and media to connect boaters with research opportunities and promote ocean science.

MARCH - Maggie Winchester-Weiler, Plastic Free Cities/Shoals Marine Laboratory

From Fear to Fascination: The Science and Conservation of Sharks

Sharks are vital to healthy ocean ecosystems, yet they face increasing challenges from human activities. The Atlantic is no exception, with fishing pressures, habitat loss, and climate change threatening their survival. Join Maggie Winchester-Weiler, Florida Conservation Program Manager for Ocean Conservancy, for an engaging dive into the biology of sharks, the physiological impacts of catch-and-release fishing, and the critical conservation efforts needed to protect these apex predators. Together, we’ll explore what divers and ocean lovers can do to ensure a thriving future for sharks in our waters.

Maggie Winchester-Weiler is a scientist and educator specializing in conservation and physiology of marine wildlife, and manages the youth empowerment and plastic reduction program, Plastic Free Cities, across Florida for Ocean Conservancy. Based in Miami, Maggie coordinates stakeholders, governments and youth to advocate policies that maintain or improve the health of the ocean and locally, Biscayne Bay. Leveraging her scientific background, she informs research and public awareness campaigns to improve water quality and reduce marine debris statewide. Maggie received her Master of Science from UMass Dartmouth, where her research focused on the physiological responses of sharks to catch-and-release fishing, and she is an Adjunct Faculty member at Shoals Marine Laboratory, where she teaches Shark Conservation and Biology.