August Speker Shelby Thomas CEO and Founder of the Ocean Rescue Alliance

(Shelby (although local, is unavailable to attend physically) will be joining us via Zoom)

Ocean Rescue Alliance (ORA) is a marine conservation and restoration non-profit organization that implements innovative techniques to restore our marine environments.

ORA supports saving our oceans one reef at a time through the creation of artificial reefs designed to incorporate art, innovative designs, and safe materials to enhance marine habitats, protect coastlines and provide a unique diving location. Our research investigates artificial design improvements, coastal protection with wave reduction modules, coral restoration, oyster restoration, mangrove restoration, seawall enchantments, fish population dynamics & recruitment to contribute to effective restoration. Our artistically crafted reefs enable every individual the opportunity to create an eternal reef for their loved one or company. Art themed reefs connect the local community history and culture while creating a lasting memory on the ocean floor that will help restore our marine ecosystems. Our education program seeks to empower and inspire our future generations to maintain our marine environments. Our citizen science program, Coral Rangers, engages our local communities in reef monitoring and coral restoration efforts. Our goal is to spread awareness and create marine habitats that will last for generations to come. Through ORA our alliance will unite marine conservation and restoration organizations around the globe helping us save our oceans one reef at a time!

(Shelby (although local, is unavailable to attend physically) will be joining us via Zoom)

2.  Shelby Thomas Bio

Founder and CEO of the Ocean Rescue Alliance, a marine conservation and restoration nonprofit organization, that implements innovative techniques to restore marine environments. She is an expert in marine restoration and conservation, receiving her master’s in Marine Ecology and currently completing her PhD in Marine Biology with the University of Florida. She is an environmentalist and marine conservation advocate who hopes to inspire others to protect our environments. She has worked with various restoration projects including coral, seagrass, oyster, sea-urchin, and scallop restoration.

She is passionate about preserving our natural ecosystems and creating a foundation for their appreciation. Her nonprofit combines art to aid in communicating science to the public in impactful ways. The Ocean Rescue Alliance artificial reefs create complex habitat space, enable species specific restoration and serve as ecotourism destinations that combines art and culture to connect the communities they serve. She now has worked with over 25 different restoration projects and continues to conduct research in this field. Through her research and outreach, she plans to assist in conserving, restoring, and better managing our ecosystems. She would like to make a lasting impact, conserving our environments while also improving peoples lives around the world.

July Speaker Dr. David Guggenheim, from Washington, D.C. “Cuba’s Remarkable Reefs and Hopeful Stories from the Ocean Doctor”

“Cuba’s Remarkable Reefs and Hopeful Stories from the Ocean Doctor”

Since 1970, the Caribbean has lost half its coral reefs, an ominous and accelerating phenomenon reflected around the world. Beyond the heartbreak of the loss of such exquisite beauty, losing coral reefs means the annual loss of billions of dollars from the global economy and the end of a way of life for the billions who depend on these ecosystems.

Marine scientist and conservation leader Dr. David E. Guggenheim has had a front-row seat to this disaster. But when he began a new chapter of his career in Cuba, he found something completely unexpected: hope. After years of watching reefs deteriorate, Guggenheim was astonished to come face-to-face with Cuba’s remarkably healthy coral reefs overflowing with marine life. Guggenheim reveals the hidden lessons of Cuba’s reefs that could help rescue coral reefs around the world. Understanding why takes us on a journey through the island’s unique history – and our own.

While the past 60 years have seen the worst decline in ocean health in human history, Cuba’s oceans and coral reefs remain remarkably healthy, a living laboratory little seen by this generation of scientists. Which begs the question—Why are Cuba’s ocean waters so healthy? The answer is deeply entwined with the country’s extraordinary and singularly unique history, from its dramatic political past to its world-class environmental protections influenced by an unlikely partner, Jacques Cousteau.

“The Remarkable Reefs of Cuba” tells the story of the demise of the world’s ocean ecosystems, the hard work of those trying desperately to save it, and an unexpected beacon of hope from an island full of mystery and surprise.

(David will be joining us via Zoom)

Dr. David Guggenheim is a marine scientist, conservation policy specialist, ocean explorer, submarine pilot, author and educator. He is the founder and president of the Washington, DC-based nonprofit organization, Ocean Doctor, dedicated to advancing the conservation of the world’s oceans through scientific research, education and community engagement. He is also an Adjunct Professor at Johns Hopkins University teaching Ocean Stewardship and Sustainability. He is a past Florida resident.

Guggenheim has worked in Cuba for more than 20 years leading collaborative research and conservation efforts in Cuba focused on coral reef ecosystems. His forthcoming book, "The Remarkable Reefs of Cuba: Hopeful Stories from the Ocean Doctor" will be released next month.

He regularly appears on television and radio appearances. He has appeared on 60 Minutes, CNN, MSNBC, PBS Newshour and NPR among others.

David Guggenheim previously served as Vice President at The Ocean Conservancy, President & CEO of The Conservancy of Southwest Florida, co-chair of the Everglades Coalition and president of the Friends of Channel Islands National Park.

Paul Heinerth of Hudson, FL, who has been diving for over 50 years

Paul Heinreth has been a scuba diver since 1969 and a scuba instructor since 1977 and owned his own dive shop for 29 years. He just got the shop back in May of 2022. He has been involved in numerous expeditions, discovered caves and explored caves and wrecks. Paul has participated in the making of two Hollywood movies and numerous documentary films including two featured in National Geographic. Paul is a Master Instructor with the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI,) an Instructor Trainer with the International Association of Nitrox and Technical Divers (IANTD,) and an Instructor Trainer with Technical Diving International (TDI.) He is also a Cave Instructor Sponsor for the Cave Diving Section of the National Speleological Society. In 1979, he found “Giant Cave” in Belize for which the Explorer Club sanctioned an expedition with their flag in 1982 with legendary Sheck Exley as his co-leader. As a member of the U.S. Deep Cave Team, Paul participated in both Wakulla Springs projects (1987 and 1998) led by Dr. Bill Stone. It was with the United State Deep Cave Team (USDCT), that Paul started to use rebreathers in 1993. He has taught thousands of divers and continues to teach diving full time today. Paul has received numerous awards, most recently a lifetime achievement award at the 2016 TEKdiveUSA Technical Diving Conference and the Golden Diver award from Cozumel in November of 2019.

Paul has received the Fellowship Award from the National Spelunking Society (NSS) in July of 2001, the Abe Davis Award in 1976 and two Outstanding Service Awards from the Cave Diving Section, (CDS). The National Association for Cave Diving (NACD) has honored him with the Bronze, Silver and Gold Wakulla awards (100, 500 and 1,000 logged safe cave dives). Paul also earned the Technical Canadian Diver of the Year award in 2002 along with the Explorers Club’s Best Exploration Film award for the ICE ISLAND film.

Paul has presented many times over the years for both the NACD and the NSS/CDS cave diving conferences in Florida as well as given talks in Canada, England, France, Australia and Mexico. He has been the Master of Ceremony of the yearly CDS International Cave Conference in Florida since 2016. (again May 28, 2022)

At the invitation of the Cave Diving Association of Australia (CDAA), Paul lectured in 6 Australian cities over a three week period in November of 2014 covering topics from cave diving history, various expeditions’ reports and sat on a panel discussion on rebreather training in cave diving environment. Paul also spoke at the Canadian Underwater Hyperbaric Medical Society (UHMS) in Quebec City, October 2014. He often speaks at local schools on various subjects from career day to explorations, trying to get young people motivated to spend more time outdoors.

3.

Hannah Medd: Lead Scientist and founder of the American Shark Conservancy (ASC)

Hannah Medd, Msc, is the Lead Scientist and founder of the American Shark Conservancy (ASC) a scientific nonprofit in Palm Beach, Florida. A part of ASC's research focuses on the relationships and impacts of human activity on the marine environment, including recreational shark fishing and diving. ASC collaborates with both anglers and divers to help answer important questions about vulnerable shark species and develop best practices to ensure a better future for the activities and the sharks. Hannah will speak about The American Shark Conservancy's Florida Shark Survey: the benefits of citizen science to gather vital data on elusive shark species. Hannah has worked in the dive industry as a retail manager, product and brand developer, certified technician, and assistant instructor (SSI) with brands such as Divers Direct, West Marine, and Mares.