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.
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-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.