Welcome to the SDM Crew page… we are here to ensure your adventure exceeds all expectations.
ELI MARTINEZ
OWNER / OPERATOR
Eli is your trip leader on SDM Expeditions. Growing up in deep South Texas, animals were always a part of his life.
As the former editor of Shark Diver Magazine, he is deeply rooted in the shark diving community. He helped pioneer and push what is known about sharks, shark behavior, and how they are seen.
Eli’s love (or, more accurately, his obsession) for animals and nature is where his heart truly lies, and dispelling the "predator myth" is his life's work.
He has spent countless hours under the sea, and in the field honing his skills as both a wildlife photographer and guide. Studying animal behavior, trying to better understand their true nature. You can follow Eli’s work on his Facebook, Youtube, and Instagram account.
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Experienced professional with a diverse background in the TV and documentary world, with expertise as a cameraman, wildlife guide, storyteller, producer, and safety diver.
Eli has worked as a TV presenter for various networks, delivering engaging content to audiences worldwide for, Discovery Channel's, Shark Week, Disney Plus, Animal Planet, Nat Geo Wild, BBC, CNN, Outdoor Channel, WWF. He has been featured on NBC's The Today Show… as well as various documentaries, newspapers and magazines, around the world.
His latest TV work can be seen on Disney Plus; The Shark Attack Files. (Season 1 and 2).
Maritza Martinez
Co-Owner / Operator
Ever wondered about the friendly face behind those emails? Meet Maritza, your go-to person at SDM who will guide you through every step of your journey.
Whether it's answering your inquiries or meticulously coordinating your travel logistics – from trips to transfers, hotels, and beyond – Maritza is your ultimate support system, ensuring your expedition unfolds seamlessly.
But Maritza isn't just an office expert; she's also your adventure companion. When she's not behind the desk, you'll find her right alongside you, co-hosting the expeditions that make your dreams come true.
Her dedication to the wildlife she encounters is unparalleled, and her enthusiasm is downright contagious. You'll feel her passion reverberate through every interaction, making your journey not just memorable, but transformative.
Chris Doherty
Trip Leader
Ever since Chris was a little boy he has always been captivated by the ocean and everything in it. It all stared with a family vacation to Florida at a young age and once he laid his eyes on the water he has been hooked ever since.
After college he moved to the U.S. Virgin Islands to pursue a career in diving and photography. There he received his first open water certification and began his underwater adventure. Since then he has worked as a photographer and divemaster in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Hawaii, and now resides in South Florida.
He has traveled to many exotic locations all over the globe to dive and photograph - driven by a determination to capture the essence and beauty of the ocean to help educate others and preserve its beauty.
David Martinez
Trip Leader / Dive Instructor
David (28) has spent the last 10 years of his life honing his skills as a Boat Captain (100 Ton), dive instructor, wildlife guide, cameraman, and shark feeder.
At the age of 20, he worked as a safety diver and cameraman for the TV series, Blue Water Savages, (eight episode) for the Outdoor Channel.
He will be guiding more expeditions for SDM for the 2024 season.
You can follow his work on Facebook and Instagram.
Sophia C. Martinez
Trip Leader in Training / Photography
Raised in the SDM world, Sophia naturally grew up with a deep love for wildlife and the outdoors. She spends a part of her year helping crew SDM's expeditions, learning about conservation, and working on her photography.
Sophia began traveling with her parents at the age of 5. Sophia's connection with wildlife ignited, fuelling her determination to safeguard these treasures. Focused on predatory species like wildcats, sharks, and bears, she's embraced the role of a wildlife photographer.
Her lens captures more than images; it tells stories. With every frame and tale, Sophia aspires to kindle awareness and reverence for our natural realm. Her ultimate goal? To spark a fire of protection for our vanishing wild sanctuaries, uniting all willing souls in this crucial cause.You can follow her never ending adventures on her Facebook and instagram pages.
Amanda Williams
TRIP LEADER
Growing up in northeast Texas, Amanda spent most of her time outdoors and connecting with nature. However, it wasn’t until 2018 she discovered scuba diving and her love for the marine world after diving the waters of the Florida panhandle. It was at that time she began to aspire a career that would keep her in and near the sea. In February 2021, she left for Playa del Carmen, Mexico to obtain her Divemaster certification and begin a new journey exploring the underwater world.
Amanda now spends much of her time working on a liveaboard that visits the Bahamas for dolphin and shark expeditions, but can be found swimming with Florida sharks in her free time. She has a passion for photography, birding, shark diving, and meeting new people and seeing new places.
ABOUT US
SDM adventures is a family business, run by Eli and his wife, Maritza Martinez.
Our company's goals are simple “to connect the world with wildlife, help protect what is left of our wild places and dispel the predator myth.” which is the belief that predatory animals are mindless monsters that need to be killed or culled.
For the past 22 years, we have organized wildlife photography expeditions worldwide - sharing with people the importance of protecting our natural places, and viewing wildlife the way they should be experienced… living their lives, wild and free.
We strive to help predatory species with their terrible PR problems. We share stories of their lives, showing people the positive side of these animals - how they live, and why we need them.
Giving back to the animals we love is our most important work.
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OUR ORIGIN STORY
Based out of South Texas, we began life as a publishing company. The first issue of Shark Diver Magazine, was published in March of 2003. Over an 8 year period, a total of 25 issues of SDM were printed and published.
To help finance our publication, we organized expeditions to various places around the world, seeking out different species of sharks.
Our very first expedition was for sandtiger sharks, off Morehead City, NC. May, 2003.
These early expeditions are what helped us hone our knowledge about shark behavior - spending countless hours, observing them in the wild, learning how sharks live and interact with each other.
Feeding sharks during organized shark dives, allowed us to learn about shark behavior at an entirely different level. This helped us see the game within the game, learning new behaviors and social hierarchies that were previously unknown.
But as the years went on, we expanded our expeditions to include diverse wildlife; including whales, crocodiles, bears and wild cats.
These early expeditions opened up our world to experience more on how other wildlife - especially predatory species interact, live and benefit their eco-systems.
Sadly, the last issue of SDM was published in 2012. We recognized that social media was taking over the world, and a quarterly magazine just could not keep up with the speed of story telling on today's platforms.
BUT, we also discovered the benefits of using these mediums to tell our story. We could now connect daily with our readers and share all the latest news involving wildlife in real time.
Therefore, we quit publishing our paper magazine, and focused our attention on two areas of our business that we truly enjoyed;
- Storytelling... using platforms like; youtube, facebook, and instagram.
and
- Organizing Expeditions… connecting people with wildlife, and helping them on their photographic journeys.
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“Our mission is to help destroy the predator myth, because people will only protect what they love.”
Over the years, our shark conservation efforts have taken diverse forms. From aiding in shark research to documenting novel behaviors observed during our expeditions.
One particularly rewarding collaboration involved partnering with the Canadian Shark Conservation Society (CSCS) in the Bay of Fundy to study porbeagle sharks. Through two organized expeditions, we contributed to the CSCS's understanding of this threatened species.
These ventures were especially impactful as they unveiled crucial information about the sharks in the Bay. During these trips, we deployed the first two satellite tags on these sharks. The tag data revealed a startling reality - these sharks ventured out of the Bay, putting them at risk from commercial fishing activities.
This discovery emphasized the need for enhanced protection to preserve this rare and vulnerable species. Our work highlighted the importance of scientific research in guiding conservation efforts for these remarkable creatures.
GIVING BACK
During our time running the magazine, we championed sharks by highlighting their significance in ocean ecosystems and their role in benefiting both people and communities through eco-tourism.
Our publication shed light on the global overfishing crisis facing sharks and the efforts underway to safeguard them.
Although we've ceased magazine publication, we persist in giving sharks and other wildlife a voice. We share these vital messages through our expeditions, TV programs, blogs, vlogs, school presentations, and social media.
Many of our expeditions focus on endangered species, affording us unique insights that could contribute to their survival.
Our species-specific expeditions delve into intimate details, aiming to help ensure their survival.
Thank you for reading and visiting our website.
- the SDM Crew.
A BTS look at the SDM team while photographing black bears off North Carolina.