Explorations in Excellence by Jill Heinerth

Join SFDI on Wednesday, April 7th, as we are privileged to welcome worldwide underwater explorer Jill Heinerth. More people have walked on the moon than have been to the places Jill has explored right here on earth. Instead of following maps, she has blazed a trail into the planet exploring lava tubes beneath the ocean floor, submerged caves inside icebergs, and the deepest vistas of the world’s oceans.

Jill’s dynamic multimedia presentation inspires audiences to reach beyond their limitations, challenge the unknown, and overcome their fears. She shares remarkable experiences and lessons learned in the deadly arena of extreme underwater exploration and adventure filmmaking, applying her practical knowledge to share lessons on risk management, discovery learning, failure, and collaboration strategies.

You won’t want to miss this exciting presentation!

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About Jill Heinerth

Jill Heinerth is an underwater explorer, writer, photographer, speaker, and filmmaker. A pioneer of technical rebreather diving, she has led expeditions into icebergs in Antarctica, volcanic lava tubes, and submerged caves worldwide. Jill is the first Explorer-in-Residence of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society. Her memoir, INTO THE PLANET, has been lauded by the Wall Street Journal, Oprah Magazine, and the New York Times. Her children’s book THE AQUANAUT is a Blue Ribbon Selection for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. Jill is a Fellow of the International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame, Underwater Academy of Arts and Sciences, Women Divers Hall of Fame, and the Explorers Club, which awarded her with the William Beebe Award for ocean exploration.

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The World War II Wrecks of the Solomon Islands

The Solomon Islands are located in the South Pacific just east of Papua New Guinea. During World War II, the United States and Japan fought battles on the islands and the sea surrounding them. Especially at Guadalcanal, the warfare was incredibly brutal. There are more than 200 shipwrecks and almost 700 aircraft in those waters. Photographer Matthew Meier has presented a webinar on the subject for a New England dive club, and we will watch it at this Wednesday’s meeting. Looking forward to seeing you there!

About Matthew Meier

Matthew Meier is an award winning professional underwater, nature and travel photographer living in San Diego, CA. Matthew also shoots commercially, specializing in architectural and product photography. His images have been displayed in art galleries, museums and private collections, as well as published in books, magazines, and ad campaigns.

For the past ten years Matthew has also served as a contributing editor, photographer and travel writer for X-Ray International Dive Magazine.

Matthew writes: “Being underwater is my happy place, and I love being able to document the wonderful creatures found there. I was formally trained in commercial photography at the Brooks Institute of Photography, completing their Master’s program, but have been taking pictures of nature all my life. I credit Ralph Clevenger’s tutelage at Brooks with helping me learn underwater photography and the guidance of Marty Snyderman to keep me working in the industry.”

Explore more of Matthew’s work at www.matthewmeierphoto.com. You can also follow him on Instagram @matthewmeierphoto.

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The Amazing Underwater World of Puget Sound

When most people think of “World Class Diving” they tend to think Caribbean, Maldives, Roatan, or some other tropical destination. But, did you know, apart from the Red Sea, the Pacific Northwest was Jacques Cousteau’s favorite place to dive? Please join SFDI this Wednesday, February 3rd, as we explore the Amazing Underwater World of Puget Sound. Jim Gunderson will take us on a virtual tour of the underwater wonders of the Pacific Northwest.

About Jim Gunderson:

Jim Gunderson is originally from Casper, Wyoming. He began diving in the high-altitude, low-visibility lakes in Wyoming in 1986. He became a scientific diver in 2003 at the University of Hawaii. Jim entered the professional diving ranks in 2011, and he holds certifications from PADI, the American Academy of Underwater Sciences (inactive), Scuba Educators International, and NAUI. Jim is now a NAUI Course Director Trainer with almost 5,000 recreational, scientific, training and teaching dives under his belt. He has been a primary author or contributor to four core scuba course textbooks and eleven specialty textbooks, and has been a delegate to the US Recreational Scuba Training Council when he was the Training Manager for NAUI. Currently, he is working on some technical diving certifications.

Jim is also a 14 year alumnus with the National Ski Patrol in which he was a Senior Patroller, Emergency Care Instructor, Patrol Director, Emergency Care Advisor and a Senior Patroller Examiner. He holds degrees in psychology from the University of Wyoming and in Marine Science from the University of Hawaii at Hilo, and is pursuing his MBA from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. Jim currently is in the Risk Mitigation Department at DAN as the Assistant Director for Training. When not diving, he enjoys downhill skiing, riding his motorcyle, and is an avid softball player. He’s married to Danelle and they have four daughters, and two granddaughters.

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One Team, One Fight: The Motto of Force Blue

ONE TEAM, ONE FIGHT: THE MOTTO OF FORCE BLUE

Join SFDI in person or on Zoom on Wednesday, January 6th, when we will have a conversation with the Co-Founder and Executive Director of FORCE BLUE. Established as a 501c3 nonprofit organization in 2016, FORCE BLUE seeks to address two seemingly unrelated problems — the rapidly declining health of our planet’s marine resources and the difficulty returning combat veterans have in adjusting to civilian life — through one, mission-focused program. By uniting the community of Special Operations veterans with the world of marine science and conservation, FORCE BLUE has created a trans-partisan model of caring, cooperation and positive change with the power to restore lives and restore the planet.

Jim has brought FORCE BLUE’s One Team, One Fight to the United Nations. “It isn’t about scientific breakthroughs or technological advancements,” he says. “It revolves around the power of belonging — the inspiration we derive and the exponential progress we make when mission is all that matters.”

We’ll also hear about an online event happening on January 21st that will be hosted by FORCE BLUE.

We hope that you will join us for what promises to be an inspiring conversation about purpose, service and marine conservation.

ABOUT JIM RITTERHOF

Jim Ritterhof is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of FORCE BLUE. Working as a professional writer for over 25 years, Jim has penned and directed award-winning advertising campaigns, screenplays, teleplays and documentaries. As Founder and Creative Director of NYC-based advertising and content production company Chowder, Inc., Jim wrote and produced the theatrically released feature film, Cayman Went and the children’s book, Tuke the Specialist Turtle. An avid SCUBA diver and lifelong environmentalist, Jim previously served on the Board of Directors of the Central Caribbean Marine Institute (CCMI) and was recently named “2019 Sea Hero of the Year” by Scuba Diving Magazine and the Seiko Watch Corporation for his work with FORCE BLUE.

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