Dive Into The Gulf: An Exposition

February 23 - 25, 2024

Lionfish Dinner • Behind the Scenes Tours • Vendor Booths • Hotel Packages • Educational Sessions and More!

This is a captivating event that unites scuba diving enthusiasts, science aficionados, conservationists, artists, and educators for an exhilarating weekend of exploration, education, and fun. Scheduled for February 23-25, Dive into the Gulf promises an unforgettable experience for divers, ocean lovers, and conservation advocates alike.

Dive Into What To Expect

Dive Into the Gulf offers attendees a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in various facets of marine life, education, and conservation. Highlights of the event include:

Education: Engage in enlightening discussions led by experts from the Gulf and diving communities, interact with conservation, education, and regulatory organizations, explore exhibits showcasing volunteer and enrichment opportunities, and savor tastings of sustainable seafood.
Scuba Diving: Explore vendor booths featuring the latest dive gear, seize the chance to try scuba diving in the magnificent Moody Gardens pool, and embark on charter diving excursions in the mesmerizing Gulf of Mexico.
Ocean Art: Delight in an array of captivating ocean-inspired art at artist booths that celebrate the beauty of the underwater world.
Galveston: Dive into all that Galveston has to offer, from local attractions to invaluable volunteer opportunities that support the environment.
Moody Gardens: Gain insight into our public, non-profit educational destination dedicated to harnessing the power of nature for rehabilitation, conservation, recreation, and research. Attendees can participate in behind-the-scenes tours and hands-on experiences to appreciate the value of our planet's terrestrial and aquatic realms.

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Dive Into The Schedule

* All events with an * by them are ticketed events. Please ensure it is either included in your hotel package or you have purchased an individual ticket if you plan to attend.
** All events with ** by them are exclusive to those who are staying with us at the hotel and purchased a hotel package to attend the expo

Download Schedule

Friday, February 23rd:

4pm-5:30pm: Dive into the Gulf Experience*

Guests will join Moody Gardens as we explore the Gulf of Mexico’s twilight zone. Learn how scientists investigate our ocean depths using robots (ROVs), divers, and specialized research equipment to better understand reefs in the Gulf of Mexico.

6pm-9pm: Welcome Party at the Aquarium*

This is the Dive into the Gulf kick off you don't want to miss. Attendees can explore the Aquarium Pyramid after hours, meet scientists and learn more about their work, mingle with fellow ocean enthusiasts, and meet Moody Gardens Ambassador animals. Ticket includes entry to the Welcome Party, two drink tickets, and light sustainable seafood hor d'oeuvres.

Saturday, February 24th:

7 am: Breakfast Buffet Available for Purchase at Café in the Park

8:30 am-10 am: Dive into Coral Rescue at Moody Gardens Experience*

Join the Moody Gardens Cnidarian Team and the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary as we explore coral rescue in the Gulf of Mexico. Participants will have the opportunity to learn about coral reef conservation and restoration in the Gulf of Mexico through interactive learning activities.

9 am-10 am: Aquarium Behind the Scenes Tours**

The first 36 people to purchase a hotel package and register for the expo will have the opportunity to take a behind-the-scenes tour of the Aquarium Pyramid.

9 am - 5 pm: Dive into the Gulf: An Exposition! (Moody Gardens Convention Center Expo B/C)

Ticket includes entrance to the expo and online silent auction, one raffle ticket, and entrance to the Aquarium pyramid. ($41 value)

Educational Sessions To Be Held During Expo: Each educational session will be 30 minutes with 15-minute Q&A. An expo ticket is required to attend. The following sessions will be available with some of the most highly regarded professionals in their field speaking on each topic.

10:30am - Steve Jamroz: DAN Director of Marketing - DAN Membership, Dive Accident, and Travel Insurance
11:30am - Marissa Nuttall: Research Specialist and Diving Unit Supervisor, Flower Garden Banks NMS - Diving for Science: Adventures and Exploration at Flower Garden Banks
12:30pm – Panel Discussion on Conservation efforts
Guests including Joel Johnson, National Marine Sanctuaries Foundation CEO
1:30pm - Jay Haigler: Founding Board Member/Lead instructor for Diving With a Purpose - Restoring Our Oceans, Preserving Our Heritage
2:30pm - Kelly Martin: NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries - Restoration into Mesophotic and Deep Benthic Communities
3:30pm - Dr. Leisa Deutsch and Dr. Kristi Ray: Hyperbaric Physicians, Medical Director for the dive program at Moody Gardens and Sonny Carter Training Facility at Johnson Space Center.
4:30pm - Sheryl Rozier and Elizabeth Walla: Galveston Park Board - Coastal Zone Management Programs, and Women in Coastal Science

10am-2pm: Dive into Scuba Experience*

Have you ever wondered what it's like to breathe underwater? If you want to find out but aren't quite ready to take the full plunge into a certification course, the Dive Into Scuba Experience with the Texas Scuba Adventures team will let you try scuba to see if you like it. For donation to the Moody Gardens Conservation Fund, ages 8 and up, advance registration required and limited capacity that will fill up, on-site medical questionnaire and waiver required prior to activity.

Learn More

7 pm - 10 pm: Currents in the Gulf Lionfish Seafood Dinner*

Chef prepared sustainable seafood dinner, cash bar, fundraiser, and guest speaker await you in our Viewfinders Terrace on the 9th floor of the Moody Gardens Hotel on Saturday, February 24th from 7-10 pm. All proceeds from this dinner go directly to conservation efforts. Guests must purchase a hotel package or an individual ticket to attend. Space is limited.

Sunday, February 25th:

8:30 am - 10 am: Dive into Conservation Experience*

Join the Moody Gardens animal care and conservation teams to learn and interact with some of the unique conservation programs supported by Moody Gardens. Participants will have the opportunity to take part in Moody Gardens conservation efforts through immersion in the coral reefs of our terrestrial world - the rainforest!

10 am to 11 am: Aquarium Behind the Scenes Tours**

The first 36 people to purchase a hotel package and register for the expo will have the opportunity to take a behind-the-scenes tour of the Aquarium Pyramid.

Event Speakers

Currents in the Gulf Lionfish Seafood Dinner - Keynote Speaker

Michelle Johnston, Superintendent of Flower Gardens National Marine Sanctuary

Dr. Michelle Johnston joined the marine sanctuary program in 2010, completing a variety of exciting dive missions across marine sanctuaries from Aquarius missions in the Florida Keys, shipwreck surveys in the Great Lakes, combating crown of thorns starfish outbreaks in American Samoa, and managing invasive lionfish in the Gulf of Mexico. She has served in a variety of roles, including marine ecologist within the headquarters science division, and both research ecologist and research coordinator at FGBNMS. Michelle also served as acting deputy superintendent at National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa. Michelle brings a wide variety of expertise across multiple fields of sanctuary management, including applied science, outreach, and community engagement. She is a NOAA dive master, and has expertise in coral reef ecology and invasive species management. Michelle has previously been a scuba dive team member at the Seas Aquarium in Florida, a sea turtle field biologist in South Carolina, as well as a marine educator and surf instructor in North Carolina, Australia, the Bahamas and Hawaii.

Purchase Tickets

10:30am - Steve Jamroz

DAN Director of Marketing

Presentation: DAN Membership, Dive Accident, and Travel Insurance

Steven Jamroz, MA, brings a wealth of marketing experience, currently serving as the Director of Marketing at Divers Alert Network since August 2017. With a diverse background, they previously held roles such as Marketing Manager at MANN+HUMMEL Group and Product Marketing Manager at Acushnet Company / Titleist Golf. Steven holds an MA in Digital Media Strategy from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a BSBA in Marketing from the University of Richmond, supplemented by certifications as a Photographic Craftsman and Certified Professional Photographer from the Professional Photographers of America.

11:30am - Marissa Nuttall

Research Specialist and Diving Unit Supervisor, Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary

Presentation: Diving for Science: Adventures and Exploration at Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary

Marissa is part of the research team at Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary and manages NOAA Diving operations for the site. She leads research on habitat characterization, mesophotic ecosystems, sound monitoring, and resource protection. Her research utilizes scuba diving and remotely operated vehicles, as well as mapping technologies, to support characterization and resource management. Marissa is also a current Ph.D. student in the Fisheries Ecology Lab at Texas A&M University at Galveston, working on a project examining the habitat and ecosystem connectivity of reef fish on the natural banks in Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. This project utilizes passive acoustic telemetry to track the movement of fish in and around the sanctuary and aims to assess the habitat requirements of key reef-associated fish species.

12:30pm - Panel Discussion on Conservation efforts

Presentation: Protecting our nation's marine sanctuaries, what's next?
featuring:
Joel Johnson, National Marine Sanctuaries Foundation CEO and Matt Brookhart, Office of National Marine Sanctuaries

1:30pm - Jay Haigler

Founding Board Member and Lead instructor for Diving With a Purpose

Presentation: Restoring Our Oceans, Preserving Our Heritage

Jay V. Haigler, a founding board member and lead instructor at Diving With a Purpose (DWP), plays a pivotal role in the international organization's mission to preserve submerged cultural heritage, particularly within the African Diaspora. Serving on the board, he provides strategic governance, while as a lead instructor, Haigler imparts direct training in maritime archaeology and ocean conservation to both adults and youth. Additionally, he leads a Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) mission to recover World War II soldiers and aircraft in the coastal waters of France, showcasing his commitment to science communication through various media outlets and maintaining roles on the boards of influential organizations.

2:30pm - Kelly Martin

NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries

Presentation: Restoration into Mesophotic and Deep Benthic Communities

Kelly is a Program Analyst at NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, serving as the Project Manager for the Mesophotic and Deep Benthic Communities Active Management and Protection project. This project is a part of the effort to restore Gulf ecosystems that were impacted by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010. Kelly received a Bachelor of Marine Affairs from the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science and a Master of Marine Affairs from the University of Washington School of Marine and Environmental Affairs. Her career in education, outreach, conservation, and policy has spanned from the coral reefs of The Bahamas and the estuaries of the Pacific Northwest to the halls of Congress in Washington D.C.

3:30pm - Dr. Leisa Deutsch and Dr. Kristi Ray

Dr. Leisa Deutsch - Medical Director for the dive program at Moody Gardens and Sonny Carter Training Facility at Johnson Space Center.

Dr. Kristi Ray - Neutral Buoyancy Lab, Deputy Medical Director at NASA

Presentation: Bringing Undersea Medicine to the Surface

About Dr. Leisa Deutsch:
Dr. Deutsch, an experienced emergency, undersea, and lifestyle medicine physician with 14 years of practice, holds a bachelor's degree in biology and neuroscience from Davidson College. After earning an MPH in epidemiology, she pursued medical school at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and later served as a Commissioned Officer in the US Navy. Dr. Deutsch's diverse career includes roles such as the Shock Trauma Platoon Director in SW Afghanistan, Undersea Medical Officer at the Naval Aerospace Medical Institute, and current positions as the Medical Director for the dive program at Moody Gardens and the Sonny Carter Training Facility at Johnson Space Center.

Kristi Ray:
Kristi Ray, DO, MPH is a Florida native. She graduated from Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine and trained in Family Medicine in Philadelphia. She then completed a fellowship in Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine from Louisiana State University in New Orleans and Aerospace Medicine at UTMB. She is the current Deputy Medical Director for NASA's Neutral Buoyancy Lab (NBL) and works as a Medical Officer for the oil and gas industry.

4:30pm - Sheryl Rozier and Elizabeth Walla

Galveston Park Board

Presentation: Coastal Zone Management Programs, and Women in Coastal Science

About Sheryl:
Sheryl Rozier, a University of Houston Architecture graduate, oversees infrastructure projects at Park Board-managed facilities and beaches, managing planning, implementation, and tracking. With prior experience as Operations Manager/Lead Project Manager at Structural Consulting Co., Inc., Rozier also leads environmental initiatives, permitting, and represents the organization in federal and state emergency relief efforts. Actively engaged in volunteerism, she coordinates the Clean Galveston program, participates in the Texas General Land Office Adopt-a-Beach Clean-Up, and holds memberships in organizations like the Project Management Institute and the American Shore and Beach Preservation Association as a Certified Tourism Ambassador.

About Elizabeth:
Elizabeth Schneider Walla, the Environmental Coordinator for the Galveston Park Board, manages solid waste and spearheads initiatives like the beach toy borrow box program. With over 5 years of experience in natural resource management, she ensures Park Board compliance with regulations through permit administration, community engagement, and environmental designations. Walla, a Texas A&M University at Galveston graduate in Coastal Environmental Science and Society, co-founded the Women in Coastal Sciences series and has worked with organizations like the Texas Conservation Corps, Galveston Bay Foundation, and Center for Texas Beaches and Shores.

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