The Las Vegas desert was awash with all things diving and ocean-related for four intense days of meetings, seminars, and networking at the annual Dive Equipment Manufactuaring Association (DEMA) Trade Show, held alterantely in Orlando, Florida and Las Vegas, Nevada.
Shark Savers’ booth was a hub of activity. Interested divers and dive professionals spent time talking with staff about the promoted programs; SharksCount, Shark Sanctuaries, and Manta Ray of Hope.
The booth also featured Shark Savers’ new merchandise and the shark backpacks were definitely the hit of the show, quickly selling out!
The booth hosted artist David Dunleavy, who kindly signed all his exclusively designed Shark Savers t-shirts and the iconic Dr. Eugenie Clark, who stopped by to sign a limited number of Shark Savers’ bamboo bags with Stan Waterman.
On Thursday, Shark Savers’ board members Stan Waterman and Wendy Benchley gave a seminar on how JAWS brought them together as friends, and how they have shared a passion for sharks and their conservation ever since.
Shark Savers’ conservation biologist and program manager Samantha Whitcraft held a seminar on Friday about SharksCount, her citizen science program that engages divers in the process of collecting data about sharks that can be used for conservation purposes.
Much of the Shark Savers’ team was able to attend the NOGI Awards and a cocktail party hosted by the Women Divers Hall of Fame, a great chance to decompress and network in a social setting.
DEMA is always a non-stop whirlwind event but despite the exhausting hours, Shark Savers was successful in reconnecting with past friends and supporters and reinvigorating partnerships as well as forging exciting new relationships that will help us on our mission to save sharks!
