Join us at Patagonia Fulton Market for a screening of The Last Dive, a new documentary following the story of a giant manta ray off the coast of Mexico, followed by a panel discussion.
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Terry is a legendary figure in Baja Mexico, an American veteran who has spent decades living on—and in—the water. Once a man burdened by a troubled past, Terry’s life was transformed by an unlikely friendship with Willy, a 22-foot oceanic manta ray. For nearly two decades, Willy would slap his wings against the hull of Terry’s sailboat to signal their next dive, and together they explored the ocean’s depths—an extraordinary bond that turned Terry into an unexpected conservationist. Now in his 80’s, Terry embarks on one final journey to a remote island in hopes of reuniting with his old friend. But he’s also searching for something deeper: peace, closure, and a chance to say goodbye.
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Directed by award-winning filmmaker Cody Sheehy and produced by acclaimed Mark Monroe, The Last Dive is a visually stunning and emotionally resonant documentary that invites viewers to reflect on our connection to the natural world—and the wild, mysterious creatures that help us find our place in it. Learn more about the film here.
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Runtime of this documentary is 90 minutes, with a panel discussion following the film. We'll be joined by Sara Diemer from the Pacific Manta Research Group, and Jonathan Sack and Gina Ramirez from the Natural Resources Defense Council in store as well as the film's director Cody Sheehy virtually. Before and after the film, simulate swimming with these beautiful creatures with a special virtual reality experience supplied by Manta Trust!
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Key Takeaways:
• Doors at 6:15pm for a Community Happy Hour
• Film Screening at 7:15pm
• Panel Discussion at 8:45pm
• Chance to win Patagonia gear and art from the film with a donation to a non-profit partner
• Virtual reality experience, swimming with giant manta rays
As the public outreach coordinator, Sara's role with the Pacific Manta Research Group primarily involves working with all of the group's photographers—collecting photos, procuring names, and updating people when their mantas have been resighted. Her passion for mantas began after seeing a YouTube video of the Kona manta night dive and was solidified the first time she was eye to eye with a manta at the Boiler. Her current primary interests with mantas include public outreach, science communication, migration patterns, and genetics.
Jonathan Sack is the Midwest Government Affairs Director for NRDC, where he works to combat the climate crisis, protect nature and safeguard human health across the region. Prior to joining NRDC he was the chief speechwriter to the mayor of Chicago, managed and consulted on successful electoral and advocacy campaigns from coast to coast, and was a policy advisor in the US Congress. He lives in Chicago with his wife and three children.
Gina Ramirez is the Midwest Director of Environmental Health at Natural Resources Defense Council, where she focuses on promoting sustainable policies and practices to protect our planet. With over a decade of experience in environmental advocacy, Gina works to combat frontline community issues, fight climate change, enhance renewable energy adoption, and safeguard natural resources.
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Cody Sheehy is an award-winning filmmaker whose films intimately tell the stories of characters challenged by our changing world. He has lived on a sailboat for decades and is the founder of Rhumbline Media. As a filmmaker, he is best known for the film Make People Better, which was an official selection of HotDocs and the winner of DocVille.
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