Welcome to the SDM Crew page… we are here to ensure your adventure exceeds all expectations.
ELI MARTINEZ
OWNER / OPERATOR
Eli Martinez is an explorer, storyteller, and wildlife photographer who has spent his life chasing the wild. Raised in deep South Texas, he grew up immersed in nature, drawn to the animals that roamed his world. That early fascination became his life’s work.
As the former editor of Shark Diver Magazine, Eli helped reshape the way the world sees sharks, challenging myths and offering a deeper understanding of these often misunderstood predators. His journey has taken him across the globe, from the depths of the ocean to some of Earth’s most remote landscapes, always in search of the rare and the remarkable.
Through his lens, Eli doesn’t just capture animals, he tells their stories.
For him, photography isn’t just about images. It’s about presence, emotion, and connection. He’s spent decades studying animal behavior, refining his craft, and guiding others into raw, unforgettable wildlife encounters.
“When people experience the wild, they understand… And when they understand, they care.”
That’s the mission. That’s the work.
You can follow Eli’s work on his Facebook, Youtube, and Instagram account.
🎧 Listen to Podcasts Featuring Eli
Get to know the stories behind the photos. Eli shares wild tales and deep insights on conservation, photography, and building a life around purpose-driven adventure.
👉 Don’t Cut Your Own Bangs - Episode 67
👉 Beyond the Wild - Episode 35
👉 Under The Finfluence - Episode 4
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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 she’s not just behind the scenes.
Maritza is also in the field, co-hosting expeditions and making sure every guest feels seen, supported, and part of the adventure. Her presence brings warmth to the wild, and her love for wildlife, and the people who come to experience it, is impossible to miss.
Her dedication is unmatched. Her energy is contagious. And her goal is simple: to help make your journey unforgettable.
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.
ABOUT US
SDM Adventures is a family-run business, founded and operated by Eli and his wife, Maritza Martinez.
Our mission is clear: to connect the world with wildlife, help protect what remains of our wild places, and dispel the predator myth—the misguided 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 across the globe, emphasizing the importance of protecting natural habitats and experiencing wildlife as it should be: living freely in their natural environments.
We are dedicated to improving the public perception of predatory species. Through our expeditions and storytelling, we showcase the positive aspects of these animals’ lives, demonstrating how they live and why they are essential to our ecosystems. By sharing these stories, we aim to foster a deeper understanding and appreciation for these often-misunderstood creatures, helping to secure their place in the wild for future generations.
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 our journey as a publishing company, with the first issue of Shark Diver Magazine published in March 2003. Over an eight-year period, we printed and published 25 issues of SDM, sharing captivating stories and stunning images of sharks from around the world.
To help finance our publication, we organized expeditions to various destinations, seeking out different species of sharks. This venture quickly evolved into our core business—wildlife photography expeditions.
Our very first expedition was for sandtiger sharks, off Morehead City, NC. May, 2003.
These early expeditions were crucial in honing our knowledge about shark behavior. We spent countless hours observing sharks in the wild, learning how they live and interact.
Feeding sharks during organized dives allowed us to understand their behavior on a deeper level, uncovering new behaviors and social hierarchies that were previously unknown.
As the years went on, we expanded our expeditions to include a diverse range of wildlife such as whales, crocodiles, bears, and wild cats.
These experiences broadened our understanding of how different predatory species interact, live, and benefit their ecosystems.
Sadly, the last issue of SDM was published in 2012. We recognized that social media was revolutionizing storytelling, and a quarterly magazine could not keep up with the fast pace of today's platforms.
However, we discovered the advantages of using these mediums to share our story, allowing us to connect with our readers daily and provide real-time updates on wildlife.
Consequently, we transitioned from publishing a paper magazine to focusing on two areas we are passionate about:
Storytelling: Leveraging platforms like YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram to share our adventures and insights.
Organizing Expeditions: Connecting people with wildlife and assisting them on their photographic journeys.
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“Our mission is to help dispel 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.