Unique Experiences

Item Description

Lunch or Dinner with Scott Curatolo-Wagemann - Marine Biologist & Shark Attack Survivor -in Ridge, Long Island, New York.

“Jaws” had a profound impact on Scott. Like most people who saw the movie in the early 70s, Scott developed a fear of what might be lurking in the water - sharks were the things of nightmares and were mindless killing machines.

As Scott grew up, more research was coming to light about the true nature of sharks, and he began to develop a fascination, replacing the fear. That fascination made him decide to pursue a degree in marine biology.

Scott went to college on the east end of Long Island, coincidentally the setting for the novel Jaws. In 1994, he spent his last semester at sea before graduating with his undergraduate degree. The special program took place on board a 125-foot Schooner sailboat, traveling from the Caribbean and up the Atlantic Coast to the eastern end of Long Island.

However, while wading in three feet of water off a small island in the Bahamas, he encountered a lemon shark which bit his leg, slicing into the muscles and tendons that control ankle movement. The incident happened on such a remote island that he lost a large amount of blood before he could reach the mainland for surgery. Although doctors predicted he would be unable to walk without a leg brace, Scott relies on it only to play sports.

For the past 14 years, Scott has been working as a marine biologist on eastern Long Island where he is currently a stormwater specialist and manager of a DNA bacteria tracking lab. Scott has maintained his fascination with sharks, and his incident has only intensified that fascination. He recently completed his master’s degree with a thesis on shark fishing regulations and the health of shark populations along the U.S. East Coast.

Concerned about the declining populations of sharks worldwide, he has worked with the Pew Environment Group’s Shark Attack Survivors for Shark Conservation. He is also the creator and host of an internet podcast dedicated to all things sharks.

Item Special Note

Being auctioned is dinner or lunch with one the world’s foremost shark experts or celebrities. It is a unique opportunity to “talk shark” face-to-face, one-on-one, with a real authority on sharks. 

How it works:

1. Bid on a celebrity, shark scientist or conservationist that lives or works in your area, unless you are willing to drive or fly to meet them in their area.

2. The winning bidder pays for the lunch or dinner and may bring as many guests as he or she wishes.

3. We will introduce the winning bidder to the celebrity, scientist or conservationist. The two of you then set a mutually agreeable  date, time and place to meet within one year of the close of the auction.

All winning bids are charitable contributions deductible from US Federal 2013 income taxes.  Funds raised by the auction will be used to support shark research and conservation programs.