Saturday, March 28, Beneath the Sea kicked off their 48th other-than-COVID-years-annual expo after a seminar/reception evening for exhibitors on Friday. The Meadowlands Exposition Center in Secaucus, New Jersey came alive for the weekend, with representatives from every marine-related activity you can imagine.
The international event featured over 200 exhibitors, with vendors for SCUBA equipment, diving excursions, adventure travel, art, and more, along with a special focus on diving safety and the protection of our marine environment.
This year I was granted a rare opportunity to speak with the incredibly-busy organizer Maria Hultz. Maria not only impressed upon me the diversity of the show, but also introduced me to some of the many distinguished figures present.
(Sea) Stars of the show
Captain Barbara “Bobbie” Scholley, a retired US Navy captain, was named “Legend of the Sea.” Captain Scholley is heavily decorated with meritorious service, commendation, and other medals for her extraordinary accomplishments during her service in the Navy — which included the recovery of the USS Cole in 2000 after it was bombed by Al-Qaeda in Yemen.
She is an active member of Women Diver’s Hall of Fame (WDHOV) and 1012 Diver of the Year.
2026 Divers of the year
- Mary Connelly, with a 40-year career in higher education, was recognized as Diver of the Year for service. She is also a member of WDHOF since 2013.
- Anna and Ned DeLoach were recognized for their contribution to the Arts. The beautiful, written and video documentation by these underwater naturalists has enhanced our understanding of marine life for decades.
- John Stella was recognized as Diver of the Year in Education, for his documentary work in marine archaeology and exploration.
Success
You are now signed up for our newsletter
Success
Check your email to complete sign up
Luigi Russo showcased his extraordinary Arenui — a unique, boutique liveaboard in the traditional Phinisi style. This classic Indonesian vessel boasts luxury accommodations and gourmet dining while visiting select dive sites across Indonesia.
Luigi highlighted Indonesia’s impressive biodiversity as part of the “Coral Triangle.” Although it covers only 1.6 percent of the world’s oceanic area, this region boasts 76 percent of all known coral species, 54 percent of the Indo Pacific Fauna, and six out of seven of the world’s marine turtles.
Indonesia goes above and beyond biodiversity, in that it also has a high density of endemic species. Countries with this trait are called “megadiverse.” There are only 17 megadiverse countries in the world, and Indonesia is number one in megadiversity.
Jim Petersen is the owner of Pan Aqua Diving, the number one dive shop and training agency in New York City. Pan Aqua Diving is a full-service scuba center, offering quality training, gear, and “unforgettable local and tropical dive adventures.”
Claire Carey-Vera and Ricardo Vera design and hand-craft elegant, marine-motiffed jewelry for New York City’s Nautilus Jewelry Incorporated.
Although she was not one of the exhibitors, my guide, Maria Hults, was inducted in WDHOF with the class of 2000. Diving since the 1950s, Maria was one of the first women to join the National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI). She has trained notable divers like Green Berets and FBI Underwater Evidence Teams, as well as diving instructors, and continues to certify over 100 divers per year. In 2012, she was recognized as Diver of the Year in Education.
Another legend of the sea was added to the show this year — the surprise appearance of real-live mermaids!
