Announcing "The Blue Wild" -- Expo 2010!!!

[Sheri]

Announcing The Blue Wild Expo 2010 -- on June 5 and 6! That's the first weekend in June at the Ft. Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center. It's our fourth year, and we've outgrown our previous venue.

As most of you know, we have plenty of action for spearos, whether you're a scuba diver or freediver, whether you are interested in underwater photography or videography, whether you love marine artwork or want to learn more about blackouts, shark management, or dive history....we have something for everyone, including a Film Festival!

Speakers this year: Stan Waterman (famous producer/underwater cinematographer), Dr. Jose Castro (world renowned shark scientist from Mote Marine Labs), Rob Torelli (spearo and award winning videographer who has filmed all kinds of sharks, whales, etc, for major networks), Pipin Ferreras, Manny Puig, Ron Mullins, Art Pinder, Dan MacMahon, Kirk Krack, Dimitris Kollias , and lots more. We also have many Exhibitors (many who will give Presentations/Product Demos) including the Riffe's, Mark Laboccetta, Kevin Bruington, Daryl Wong, Ray Powell, Guy Skinner, Roger Yazbeck, and many more. The Expo also features interesting hands-on Workshops and a huge Raffle at the end of each day with over $30K of prizes!

Don't miss the Friday Evening Kick Off Party at the Marriott Courtyard on Ft. Lauderdale Beach -- on the sundeck, right on the beach, drinks, music, and lots of fun. The nightlife in Ft. Lauderdale Beach is HOT!

For out-of-towners (and in-towners who want to party), our sponsoring hotel, the Marriott Courtyard on Ft. Lauderdale Beach is offering an amazing $89/room rate (on the beach). We recommend that you take a taxi from the Ft. Lauderdale airport if you are flying in, to avoid parking. We will have a shuttle running continuously to the Convention Center which is 2 miles away. The previous weekend is Memorial Day. If you want to make a week out of it, that special rate still applies if you are attending the Expo. Space is limited, so reserve early.

You can dive right off the beach during the day and party at the clubs and restaurants at night. But most of all, you won't want to miss this Expo! For hotel and other info, and to register in advance, go to this website.... http://www.thebluewild.com/.

[Sheri]

Or...if you don't feel like reading all that stuff above, just watch this. :D

YouTube- The Blue Wild 2010 promo

[LunkerBuster]

Amazing Sheri....thanks again for your endless labors for the benefit of all spearos...it is appriciated :)

[diligaf]

Sheri… I can’t wait for Expo, but I must admit I may be looking forward to the “Kickoff Party” the most! Getting to talk fish, seeing old friends, and enjoying a few beers! And the best thing this year… I don’t have to be the bartender. Last year making all of those margaritas and pina coladas was rough and I spilt the first batch…opps… but hey it turned out fantastic, cause it was one “heck” of a party!:cool:

But this year… we got real bartenders, the beach, more time to party, and an atmosphere that will be unsurpassed. This is going to be the biggest, baddest, dive party of all-time! :thumps:

I got my hotel room and I’m ready to party!:beer:

[LunkerBuster]

dili, you got a hotel room and you live in pompano?? real party attitude there :thumps:

[diligaf]

dili, you got a hotel room and you live in pompano?? real party attitude there :thumps:

Yea... I'm going to have fun & no worries about getting home.

[TEAM USA 2010]

I can't wait!
Sheri...you always do such a fantastic job putting it all together!
THANKS!

[Powers]

In.

[HeadHunter]

Don't miss this...I don't know of anyone who's ever attended a Blue Wild that regretted going. A w/e of spearfishing gear, workshops, videos, speakers, new friends, raffels, prizes, etc for a few bucks...hard to beat! We are lucky to have this and all proceeds go to charity! Thanks Sheri!

[SpearMax]

Don't miss this...I don't know of anyone who's ever attended a Blue Wild that regretted going. A w/e of spearfishing gear, workshops, videos, speakers, new friends, raffels, prizes, etc for a few bucks...hard to beat! We are lucky to have this and all proceeds go to charity! Thanks Sheri!

I have to agree with Dan. I have been to every Blue Wild and had a great time. :beer: :beer: :thumps:

[sacha58]

It's going to be my second one and I'm looking forward to it :thumps::thumps::thumps::thumps::thumps:

[Sheri]

Thanks, guys, glad you're coming again. Well, Dan, you and your better-half BETTER come back. I'm counting on you to calm me down, and speak, and help me clean up....once again. Seriously, the whole thing is a team effort, and I'm humbled by the team that has stepped in to help me do this thing...Daryl Wong, Chad Carney, Bobbi, Bruce and Cheri, too many to mention...y'all knew I bit off more than I could chew. :p

I can't believe how this has taken off! Here's the list of exhibitors, and I'm getting more every day. Talking to a couple European companies now and a couple more artists and travel destinations. It's a nice mix. :thumps:

*23six Productions Co
*A B Biller
*Armor Products
*Art Pinder
*Austin’s Diving Center
*Bass Pro Shops
*BC Powerbands
*Bigblue Dive Lights
*Big Fish Assassin
*Bleu tec
*Blue Water Hunting International
*C4 Spearguns
*Carey Chen
*Costa del Mar
*Deathstick Spearguns
*Deep Worldwide Magazine
*Demka Spearguns
*Devin the Artiste
*Dessault America
*DiveR Fins
*Divers Alert Network
*DiveWise
*E-Searider
*Florida Freedivers/Rob Allen
*Florida Skin Divers Association
*Florida Skin Diver
*Florida Wildlife Commission
*Force-E
*Freedive Shop/TrintonX/Esclapez
*Freedivers
*Freediving Unlimited/H2O Photo Pros
*Hammerhead Spearguns
*Hawaii Skin Diver
*Helter Skeletons
*IANTD: *Int'l Assoc of Nitrox and Tech Divers
*Island Magic Enterprises
*IUSA: Int'l Underwater Spearfishing Assoc
*JBL Spearguns
*Jeremy Sinkus/Holder of the Stone
*Jose Fernandez Photography
*King Sailfish Mounts
*Mako Spearguns
*Manny Puig
*Mares Diving/Mares Spearfishing
*Ocean Rhino Spearguns
*Pascal Lecoq Painter
*Pelagic Gear
*Performance Freediving
*Persistent/Pipin Ferreras
*Polynesian Soul
*Professional Fitness Trainers
*RealSea Inc.
*Reef Photo and Video
*Riffe International, Inc.
*Salty Bones
*Scubaboard
*Scubasworld
*Spearboard
*Spearing Magazine
*Spearotek/Beuchat
*Spetton USA
*Stan Waterman
*Technosport, Inc./Omer USA/C4 USA/Sporasub USA
*Tito Spearguns
*Twin Palms
*Wong Spearguns
*Zeagle

[Petra]

We'll be coming again, of course!

If you need an extra hand or volunteer, just say the word! I'd love to be a part of such an amazing event.

[FishTracks]

have room for weekend.........looking forward to it and sharing ideas

[Sheri]

Petra, thanks! I will take you up on that. I can always use pretty ladies to register the guys...or sell 'em lots of raffle tickets. ;)

Fish Tracks, see you there. That is exactly what makes the Expo good, I think. Besides the exhibitors and speakers, everyone just gets to hang out and talk and make new friends. It creates a great atmosphere when you get a bunch of passionate spearos together. :cool:

[headhunter561]

You know I'll be there. To anyone on the fence, you will not regret it! The amount of gear, and amazing presentations, masses of cool people, and just good times and fish stories is awesome. Plus its all for charity!

edit... just read above and I basically echoed Dan's post, but he said it a lot better. so I shoulda just said:

+1

[mohalk]

I really wish I could be there. I'd honestly rather go to this than DEMA any day. Unfortunately, same weekend as the Hell Diver's rodeo in Louisiana and I can't miss that!

[Ballenita]

Last year show was the first one that I attended. It was an awsome experience. I thought I was in heaven. Can't think of a reason not to be there. Sheri did an amazing job and not a sour face in the entire place. Tons of fish stories, great people, and tons of great gear raffled out. My 14 year old son walked away from the raffles with not one, but two Riffe spearguns fully rigged with spooled reels.

Thanks again Sheri for giving us the oppurtunity to enjoy such an awsome event.

See yall there!

[headhunter561]

Its official, I will be speaking, primarily about Dive Flag Awareness. Looking forward to seeing everyone!!

[Bill McIntyre]

My 14 year old son walked away from the raffles with not one, but two Riffe spearguns fully rigged with spooled reels.


So that was your son? I wanted to kill the little bugger.:)

[Ballenita]

Yeah man, it was crazy dude. He has gotten alot of use out of the 100x euro. It had more kills on it last year than any of our other guns combined..LOL

[Shark Tales]

Can't wait to attend this year. Last year was so much fun and very informative. Happy to help in any way I can Sheri.

[Sheri]

Ballenita, glad you and your son can make it again. I like to see your smiling faces. John, thanks for offering to help. I really appreciate it.

I just got great news! The Coast Guard agreed to be a part of our event, and they are going to do a live Search and Rescue demonstration in the ocean during our Friday night Kickoff Party (which is on the sundeck of the Marriott overlooking Ft. Lauderdale Beach), so we'll be able to see it all! They will have a Rescue Swimmer dropping out of a helicopter, etc. How cool is that?!? The party is going to be action-packed with live music, raffle, tiki bar, and Kirk Krack/PFI Instructors will also be doing free blackout-rescue instruction in the pool. There'll be a lot of celebrity speakers there, and it'll just be an all-around fun time. It's from 6 to 10 pm.

By the way, a Rescue Swimmer will also give one of the presentations on the weekend, to tell rescue stories, and also, to tell divers how they can enable an easier Search and Rescue. They said that we are the hardest of all objects to find in the ocean.

Woo hoo! Thank you, United States Coast Guard!!! :thumps:

[LunkerBuster]

wow Sheri that is tremendous, I am really excited for that..I mean, I was already really excited, but now, even more so

Bill, we were all jealous of Ballentina's boy :)

[FDU]

That sounds great Sheri. Cant wait for the show!!

[ROBERTO REYES]

Sheri

I have been in the coast Guard Aux as a volunter for almost 15 years,
that search and rescue presentation is soooo cool.

Most people dont realice the awesome job the Coast Guard does.



Ballenita, glad you and your son can make it again. I like to see your smiling faces. John, thanks for offering to help. I really appreciate it.

I just got great news! The Coast Guard agreed to be a part of our event, and they are going to do a live Search and Rescue demonstration in the ocean during our Friday night Kickoff Party (which is on the sundeck of the Marriott overlooking Ft. Lauderdale Beach), so we'll be able to see it all! They will have a Rescue Swimmer dropping out of a helicopter, etc. How cool is that?!? The party is going to be action-packed with live music, raffle, tiki bar, and Kirk Krack/PFI Instructors will also be doing free blackout-rescue instruction in the pool. There'll be a lot of celebrity speakers there, and it'll just be an all-around fun time. It's from 6 to 10 pm.

By the way, a Rescue Swimmer will also give one of the presentations on the weekend, to tell rescue stories, and also, to tell divers how they can enable an easier Search and Rescue. They said that we are the hardest of all objects to find in the ocean.

Woo hoo! Thank you, United States Coast Guard!!! :thumps:

[Sheri]

Roberto, one of the top Cuban freedivers in Florida that I interviewed for a magazine article told me that he escaped to Florida in an inner tube with dive fins, kicking his way over. What he did not know is that Hurricane Andrew was on the way, because they didn't get weather reports in Cuba.

Anyway, he was more than half way when the hurricane approached, and calm seas turned rough very quickly. He figured his life was over and was saying his final prayers when, ironically, a Russian sub spotted him and told the US Coast Guard. The Coast Guard came out to rescue him in the middle of a hurricane! He says he respects the US Coast Guard like no other and owes them his life. If you hear him tell the story, it makes you cry.

Hooray for US Coast Guard!!! :thumps:

[Rinaldo]

There's a good reason why I look up to you Sheri and this is one of the many. Count me in.

[Sheri]

Glad you're coming, Rinaldo. But THIS is who you should be looking up to, listen to this.

I am so excited, because everything seems to be falling into place for the Expo. We are getting a "USCG Rescue Swimmer" to lead a session on Rescues at Sea. There are the elite of the Coast Guard. There are only about 300 of them across the country. Not many get picked for it, and then there's an attrition rate of between 55 and 80% when they get training.

Anyway, we will hear exciting rescue stories, advice so we don't need to be rescued, what we should do to enable a rescue if we get in that situation, etc. Should be a good one!

[Chad Carney]

Sheri, the USCG will be awesome!

Looking forward to your presentation too Rob!

And all the new areas like the film festival with Stan Waterman & Rob Torelli, Dr. Castro, Manny & more for the shark gig, presentations by boating experts, deep scuba, commercial deep diving, wreck specialists... way cool!

And lots of the previous speakers are back, like Kirk and Mandy, Dan MacMahon, Art Pinder, Del Wren, Pipin Ferreras and Daryl Wong of course, and many more!

I'll see you there!

Chad

[fizisition]

*23six Productions Co
*A B Biller
*Armor Products
*Art Pinder
*Austin’s Diving Center
*Bass Pro Shops
*BC Powerbands
*Bigblue Dive Lights
*Big Fish Assassin
*Bleu tec
*Blue Water Hunting International
*C4 Spearguns
*Carey Chen
*Costa del Mar
*Deathstick Spearguns
*Deep Worldwide Magazine
*Demka Spearguns
*Devin the Artiste
*Dessault America
*DiveR Fins
*Divers Alert Network
*DiveWise
*E-Searider
*Florida Freedivers/Rob Allen
*Florida Skin Divers Association
*Florida Skin Diver
*Florida Wildlife Commission
*Force-E
*Freedive Shop/TrintonX/Esclapez
*Freedivers
*Freediving Unlimited/H2O Photo Pros
*Hammerhead Spearguns
*Hawaii Skin Diver
*Helter Skeletons
*IANTD: *Int'l Assoc of Nitrox and Tech Divers
*Island Magic Enterprises
*IUSA: Int'l Underwater Spearfishing Assoc
*JBL Spearguns
*Jeremy Sinkus/Holder of the Stone
*Jose Fernandez Photography
*King Sailfish Mounts
*Mako Spearguns
*Manny Puig
*Mares Diving/Mares Spearfishing
*Ocean Rhino Spearguns
*Pascal Lecoq Painter
*Pelagic Gear
*Performance Freediving
*Persistent/Pipin Ferreras
*Polynesian Soul
*Professional Fitness Trainers
*RealSea Inc.
*Reef Photo and Video
*Riffe International, Inc.
*Salty Bones
*Scubaboard
*Scubasworld
*Spearboard
*Spearing Magazine
*Spearotek/Beuchat
*Spetton USA
*Stan Waterman
*Technosport, Inc./Omer USA/C4 USA/Sporasub USA
*Tito Spearguns
*Twin Palms
*Wong Spearguns
*Zeagle


What a list, just keeps getting better and better every year. I might even try my hand at one of the raffles this year:D

[Sheri]

Hey, Fiz. Well, you do have very good odds of winning at The Blue Wild raffle, you know. ;)

There's a whole lot of good stuff compared to the number of people that are there. I'm not a gambling type, but I'd be dropping tickets in if I wasn't the hostess.

Have to give special thanks to the generous nature of the donor companies. They are all just trying to make a living in a tough industry, specially during these times, but they continue to give. I will be posting the 2010 raffle list soon on the website, but you can take a look at the 2009 list to get an idea...2010 is even better.

By the way, that list of companies you copied from me is already old. Here's an update. Notice some of the new companies that are joining us....Aggressor Fleet, Aqualung, Captain Hooks, Cressi, Diver's D\Lyte (hydration drink for divers) , Divers Design (beautiful nautical jewelry), REEF (environmental org), and more including several European companies...Blue tec, XXone, Demka, and Trygons from Greece, Polo sub from Italy, DiveR from Australia, Freedivers from South Africa, Yamamoto from Japan, and I'm about to get someone from Turkey. We're getting so international! :cool:

23six Productions Co www.23six.com
Aggressor Fleet - www.aggressor.com
American Del Advantage - jd10466@msn.com
Aqualung - www.aqualung.com
Armor Products - www.armorbags.com
Art Pinder - www.artpinder.com
Austin’s Diving Center - www.austinsdiving.com
Beuchat/SpearoTek - www.spearotek.com
Bigblue Dive Lights - www.bossk.com.hk
Bleu tec / Greece - www.bleutec.eu
Blue Water Hunting International / Australia - www.bwhi.com.au
Boat Center (Miami) - www.boatctr.com
C4 Spearguns - www.c4carbon.com
Captain Hook's Marina and Dive Center - www.captainhooks.com
Carey Chen - www.careychenart.com
Costa del Mar - www.costadelmar.com
Cressi - www.cressisubusa.com
David Dunleavy - www.daviddunleavy.com
Deathstick Spearguns - www.deathstickspearguns.com
Deep Worldwide Magazine - www.deepww.com/online
Demka Spearguns / Greece - www.demka.eu
Dessault America - dessault-america.com
DiveR Fins - www.diveraustralia.com.au
Divers Alert Network - www.diversalertnetwork.org
Divers Direct - www.diversdirect.com
Diver's D\Lyte - www.diversdlyte.com
DiveWise - www.divewise.org
Diving Designs - www.divingdesigns.com
E-Searider - www.e-searider.com
Florida Freedivers/Rob Allen - www.flfreedivers.com
Florida Skin Diver - www.floridaskindiver.com
Florida Wildlife Commission - www.myfwc.com
Force-E - www.force-e.com
Freedive Shop/TrintonX/Esclapez - www.freediveshop.com
Freedivers / South Africa - www.freedivers.co.za
Freediving Unlimited/H2O Photo Pros - www.freedivingunlimited.com
Hammerhead Spearguns - www.hammerheadspearguns.com
Hawaii Skin Diver www.hawaiiskindiver.com
Helter Skeletons - www.helterskeletons.com
Historical Diving Society USA - www.hds.org
IANTD: Int'l Assoc of Nitrox and Tech Divers - www.iantd.com
Island Magic Charters - www.island-magic.com/boatchrt.php
IUSA: Int'l Underwater Spearfishing Assoc - www.iusarecords.com
Jason Mathias - www.jasonmathias.com
JBL Spearguns - www.jblspearguns.com
Jeremy Sinkus/Holder of the Stone - www.jeremysinkus.com
Jose Fernandez Photography - www.jafphotography.com
King Sailfish Mounts - "fish mounts | mounted fish"
Mako Spearguns - www.makospearguns.com
Manny Puig - www.mannypuig.com
Mares Diving/Mares Spearfishing - www.mares.com
Nautilus Spearfishing - www.nautilusspearfishing.com
Ocean Rhino Spearguns www.oceanrhino.com
Pascal Lecocq Painter www.pascal-lecocq.com
Pasta Pantaleo - www.artbypasta.com
Pelagic Gear - www.pelagicgear.com
Performance Freediving - www.performancefreediving.com
Persistent/Pipin Ferreras www.persistent-team.com
Polo Sub Wetsuits / Italy - www.polosub.com
Polynesian Soul - polynesiansoul.com
Professional Fitness Trainer - www.professionalfitnesstrainer.com
RealSea Inc. - www.realseacamo.com
Reef Photo and Video - reefphotovideo.com
REEF: Reef Environmental Education Foundation - www.reef.org
Salty Bones www.saltybones.com
Salty Dawg Scuba - www.saltydawgscuba.com
Scubaboard - www.scubaboard.com
Scubasworld - www.scubasworld.com
Secret Mermaid Society - www.thebluewild.com
Seven Anchors - www.sevenanchors.com
Soprassub - www.soprassub.com
Spearboard - www.spearboard.com
Spearing Magazine - www.****************.com
Spetton USA - www.Spetton-USA.com
Stan Waterman - www.stanwaterman.com
Steve Ozment - www.steveozmentdesign.com
Technosport, Inc./Omer USA/C4 USA/Sporasub USA - www.omerdiving.com
Tito Spearguns - titotigershark@hotmail.com
Trygons Designs / Greece - www.trygons.com
Twin Palms - www.twinpalmscenter.com
United States Coast Guard - www.uscg.mil
Wong Spearguns - www.wongspearguns.com
XXone - www.xxone.gr
Yamamoto Corporation - www.yamamoto-bio.com
Zeagle - www.zeagle.com

[Sheri]

OK, here's something else I have to point out. I am so proud of the collection of marine artists we have now. We got enough to make a special marine art exhibit with all these high caliber artists. :thumps:

David Dunleavy (sponsoring artist, designed this year's Expo logo)
Carey Chen (everybody knows who he is! world class)
Jeremy Sinkus (glass artist, beautiful , love his work)
Pascal Lecocq (another famous painter, cool surrealistic scenes)
Pasta Pantaleo (and another famous painter, gorgeous billfish)
Jose Fernandez (photographs alligators, fish, sharks, divers...stunning)
Jason Mathias (up and coming painter, young and already well known)
Rob Goins (metal art, fish, hippy from the Keys, love his stuff!)
Steven Ozment (local painter, exhibits at Sailfish Marina, great reef scenes)
Helter Skeletons (beautiful and unique! skeletal artwork)
King Sailfish (fish mounts, I consider that artwork, can't get enough)

And I'm talking to couple more. I hope other divers love marine artwork as much as I do. When we can't be in the water, we can at least look at it! :)

[jfjf]

What a list, just keeps getting better and better every year. I might even try my hand at one of the raffles this year:D

THe EZ Rider bag I won last year is still the most comfortable piece of furniture in my living room.

[greekdiver]

Looking forward to seeing Bleu Tec guns and fins, XXone fins and Polosub wetsuits!!!

and the model from Trygons! :)

[Sheri]

and the model from Trygons! :)

Greekdiver, I will put in a special request for you. ;)

Alex is trying to get Herbert Nitsch to come (deepest man on one breath...700 feet on a Trygons sled). He said Herbert will be busy working as a pilot, but he wants to come and there is a chance! Ya never know...everything else has been falling into place.

[greekdiver]

I'm trying to get Victor from abellansub.com to come. Maybe it's too late now? His guns are awesome.

I'm surprised Martin Stepanek is not coming. I guess it conflicts with PFI.

[Sheri]

I mentioned it to Martin at DEMA, but he hasn't reached out. I bend over backwards to be fair to anyone that wants to participate....regardless of who my friends are, or what equipment I use, or anything of that nature. I respect anyone that makes a living in this profession.

I'm pretty good at putting my neutral Expo hat on if I say so myself. And one of the things I'm most happy about is how everyone seems to get along so well at the Expo. I almost couldn't believe how well the scuba divers were getting along with freedivers, the artist/photographers getting along with spearos...all nationalities, ages, economic classes partying together....it was great! :thumps:

[Wilddiver]

Oh dear...I do so wish I could join y'all!

[Ballenita]

Yeah Sheri, I see you have a nack for bringing things together.....Nice work there lady...LOL

[Ryfish]

Sheri,

Met you last year at the Expo, cant wait for this year it looks like it is going to be even better then last year!

[Sheri]

Ryfish, glad you're coming back! Things are lining up for bigger and better alright. ;)

I sold out of booths, but the fire marshal allowed me to fit in seven more booths in, so I've gotten a few more fine exhibitors...like PADI. They will be helping anyone that wants to learn scuba diving. I convinced a friend at work to finally get certified. You can't live in Florida and not dive!

I also signed up Bob Croft as a speaker. He is the only American that challenged/beat the Europeans when freediving was just starting out over here. He invented packing, taught Navy divers how to escape from submarines, was the first man to break the 200 foot barrier, etc. He was a pioneer and has a fascinating presentation on the history of freediving.

I also heard today that someone I considered a "long shot" agreed to come and speak....yay. His name is Rodney Barreto, and he is the Chairman of the FWC Commission -- obviously a very powerful and influential position. Can't wait to hear his views on the state of the fisheries, rule making, the future, etc. He'll be open to interaction with the audience.

Of course, we also have our good ole-fashion spearfishing story-telling standbys...Dan MacMahon, Cam Kirkonnel, Dimitris Kollias from Greece, Rob Torelli from Australia, and several others...all great guys, of course.

Something for everybody! :thumps:

(Pics are Bob Croft and Rodney Barreto)

[HANGTIME NC]

Sheri, Hope ya'll have a good one this year! I can't make it down this time. The guys that won the trip for Rob are coming up that weekend. If we are weathered out I'll be down.

[Daryl Wong]

Aloha,

I have three guns going up for Sheri's expo. A few camou semi enclosed hybrids and one really nice magnum hybrid.
Here is a picture of the sister gun to the one going up to the expo. They both came off the same plank. Its rare to find this type of grain and I only use it for special events and sometimes good customers. I fnished this one first and will finish the other one this weekend. Both have this killer grain.

Come out to the expo and check it out. You might get lucky. I hope I do with all the great gear so far!:thumps:

Aloha, Daryl

[Sheri]

Last year, I recommended that Expo attendees read "Adrift" before Steve Callahan got here, and that made it more fun and special to meet him. This year, our featured speaker is Stan Waterman, and I am recommending the same thing.

If anyone would like to buy his autographed hardcover autobiography, Sea Salt, you can mail a $33 check to:
Stan Waterman
13 Greenwood Ave.
Lawrenceville, NJ 08648
Or use a credit card on his website (book not autographed): stanwaterman.com

I just finished reading it...really enjoyed it. As someone wrote, "Liberally sprinkled with humor, verve and singular turns of phrase, his autobiography deftly portrays the joys and travails of a diving pioneer and legend." What an interesting life he's led!

[Chad Carney]

It's getting close now!

I can't wait!

Chad

[Griswold]

Looking forward to it - this is far the best show for the spearfishing crowd. Thanks again to Sheri and her crew for putting it together. The fact that the proceeds go to charity is pretty cool too.

[rtdean]

Sheri,

Enjoyed meeting you at the Miami Boat Show this year. It is our first time exhibiting at the Blue Wild, but I'm excited. . . even "blew off" a 2 week Keys dive vacation, to be sure I could be there! Really looking forward to it.

Rick Dean

[florfreediver]

Hi All,
I am not sure if it has already been mentioned but entrance to the Port, and then to the Convention Centre may require a picture ID.

I have never been there myself but I had a customer in the shop recently saying that a lot of visitors forget about the ID requirement and then cannot gain access :>(

Perhaps Sheri has been given a "by" on this requirement? Possibly so?

Look forward to seeing everyone at the Expo!

Mike.

[Sheri]

Rick, wow, you blew off a 2 week vacation to the Keys?!? Well, glad you're joining us, and I promise....this will be fun!

Mike, good point. The Broward County Convention Center has very strict security because it's next to Port Everglades. You must have an ID to get in...recommend either drivers license or passport.

See y'all there!

[dparache]

yes i will flying in from new york city ... just to meet some spearos n learn some more about spearfishing also hope to get a dive in there .. but maybe i will win the wong hybrid gun:D:beer::beer::D:thumps::beer::beer::beer::beer ::beer:

[Swimsuit]

So excited to be attending this, although as many of you know, it may bring a few tears. For those that don't know (like me up until February), in the first year after someone's death, you spend a lot of time realizing it's "the first time I've done X since," filling in the blank with whatever you are doing. Jeff and I always enjoyed attending spearfishing events together. For me this will be the first time I've been with the spearfishing community since I lost him. That, in addition to knowing he would love to be there with all of us, will make the weekend difficult. However, it looks to be a fantastic showing & I will so enjoy seeing all of you. Thanks, Sheri, for all you do, & for thinking of me & Jeff. I knew how big and important he was to me, but I never felt we were that significant to very many others. It's nice to feel special.

[DiveGal]

Wasn't sure if I could make it or not. Looks like I can. YEA!!!! Just made my hotel reservation but will have to buy my tickets at the door.

I can't wait to put faces to avatars. :D Looking forward to seeing old friends and meeting new ones.

[headhunter561]

Can't wait to see everyone at the party tomorrow night, then at the expo!!!

-Rob

[HANGTIME NC]

Hope you all have a blast! Rob, you better save me one of those Hog shirts.
Joey

[headhunter561]

Hope you all have a blast! Rob, you better save me one of those Hog shirts.
Joey

You know I got you brotha!