The Dive Club will host its first-ever film festival on Saturday, April 12, bringing together diving enthusiasts and renowned explorers for an evening celebrating the ocean’s wonders.
The event kicks off at 6 p.m. at Hibernian Hall in East Islip, offering a unique opportunity to experience underwater adventures on land, featuring films that highlight the beauty and mystery of the ocean.
“Attendees can expect film makers and renowned divers from all over the country, explorers and expeditionary divers who have done an incredible amount of discovery for the diving community—they will be presenting films to us,” club president Courtney Lyons told South Shore Press.
Lyons anticipates the inaugural festival will draw a strong crowd. “We welcomed people from all over the Northeast diving community to attend.”
The $75 admission includes the film festival, buffet-style dinner, open bar, and a raffle auction with merchandise from various scuba diving brands.
Why host an on-land event? Lyons explained, “It's just about the beginning of our dive season, so we were looking to get everybody together for a nice kickoff event and do something nice for the local diving community.”
From shipwreck discoveries to deep dive records, the presenters have all made major contributions to the underwater world. According to the website, they include Nuno Gomes, known for his world-record sea dive, and Richard Simon, a Connecticut wreck hunter credited with the discovery of the submarine Defender in Long Island Sound.
Jennifer Sellitti, a crew member on the successful hunt for the French passenger steamship Le Lyonnais, found 140 miles east of Nantucket, will also present. John Bricker, who has focused much of his work on the U.S.S. San Diego, the only major warship lost by the U.S. during World War II, is another featured presenter. Amy Giannotti will share the award-winning film Clean Water, Clean Water? Exploring the Floridian Aquifer.
The Dive Club, founded in the '80s with a focus on active diving, now has approximately 450 members, some traveling from New Jersey, Upstate New York, and Connecticut to dive with friends.
“We do a lot of shipwreck diving. We travel with the group, and we also do a lot of environmental advocacy and outreach,” Lyons said, noting beach cleanups (open to the public) and underwater cleanups as part of the club’s outreach.
Lyons, who joined the club shortly after getting certified as a diver, was seeking camaraderie.
“I was looking for a sense of community and some buddies to dive with. I wasn't too familiar with the dive spots in the area.” The area also offers diverse marine life, including small sharks and seahorses.
Personally, Lyons finds relaxation under the waves. “It’s just an exciting way to relax and get together with others who are like-minded,” she said.
To find out more about the club and its film festival, visit https://thediveclub.com.