Blue Wild Ocean Adventure and Marine Art Expo

Blue Wild Ocean Adventure and Marine Art Expo to Feature Impressive Lineup Feb. 21-22

Florida’s only consumer water sports event, the 2015 Blue Wild Ocean Adventure and Marine Art Expo, will take place at the Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center Feb. 21-22, and feature more than 130 exhibitors, seminars, workshops and demonstrations covering freediving, scuba diving, spearfishing, lobstering, board sports, underwater photography, videography and marine art.

Nearly 20 industry-leading experts will present water-themed topics of all kinds. Here’s a sneak peak:

• Manny Puig, shark wrangler, swamp explorer, and sculptor, will discuss his interactions with mako sharks, alligators and other creatures that are encountered regularly while exploring the waters of Florida.
• Five-time Emmy-winning cinematographer and producer, Stan Waterman, will be present an excerpt of his film taken in 1965 when he and his family lived in French Polynesia for a year. He is the author of Sea Salt and currently leads charters and lectures around the world.
• Australian whale videographer and guide, Rob Torelli, will present some of his amazing whale footage. Rob has supplied the BBC, Animal Planet and National Geographic with footage taken while freediving.
• Michael Barnette and Dan MacMahon will unveil recently discovered deep-water shipwrecks for the first time at the Expo. Barnette is a world-renowned deep diver and wreck explorer, and MacMahon is one of the most respected spearfishermen in Florida. They have teamed up to share this historic discovery.
• Avid scuba diver and award-winning underwater videographer Diane Randolph will present amazing never-before-seen video. Her videos received high honors and were shown at the San Diego Film Festival in 2013.

Additional top-line speakers can be found at thebluewild.com/speakers.

Other not-to-be-missed attractions include Marine artists Carey Chen, Pascal Lecocq, Randall Scott, Steve Ozment, Craig Dietrich, Don Ray, K.C. Scott; a Bikini & Boardshorts Fashion Show; a Breath-Hold Contest; a Photo Contest; and the new outdoor Adventure Zone, featuring two large pools where guests can try out new water toys and take part in professional demonstrations including kayaking, stand up paddleboarding (SUP) and breath-hold techniques.

Admission is $23 at the door (or $20 online early bird). Kids 12 and under are free. Admission includes entry to the Saturday night Blue Wild After Party at the Courtyard Marriott Fort Lauderdale Beach, where guests can mingle with industry experts and celebrities and enjoy barbecue and happy hour specials. Show hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. The Blue Wild After Party is from 7:30 to 11 p.m.

For more information visit TheBlueWild.com or Facebook.com/TheBlueWild.