Unique Experiences

Item Description

Meet Matt Potenski, marine biologist and award-winning underwater photographer, for lunch or dinner in Sayreville, New Jersey

After receiving his degree from Rutgers University in Biological Sciences and Marine Sciences, Matt worked with southern stingray, Dasyatis Americana, populations in Grand Cayman, BW, and studied lemon sharks, Negaprion brevirostris, in both the Bahamas at the Bimini Biological Field Station-Sharklab and the Marquesas Keys, FL.

As a Shark Research Institute field researcher, and later as Director of Field Operations, Matt  studied whale sharks, Rhincodon typus, in the Bay Islands (Honduras), Galapagos Islands (Ecuador), Cocos Island (Costa Rica), and Mafia Island (Tanzania) – a joint project with the World Wildlife Fund.

He also led SRI field expeditions and conducted both visual ID and satellite transmitter tagging of whale sharks. An avid photographer, his work can be seen in numerous publications, including Sylvia Earle’s book Defying Ocean’s End.

Matt recently formed MDP Productions, Inc., a commercial photography company.

www.matthewdpotenskiphoto.com/

Item Special Note

The objective of this auction is to spotlight individuals and organizations working effectively for ocean conservation, and raise funds for field research, conservation and outreach projects.

Being auctioned is a dinner or lunch with one of the world's foremost shark experts or celebrities. This is a unique opportunity to "talk shark" face-to-face, one-on-one, with a real authority on sharks.

 How this auction works

1. Bid on a celebrity you would like to get to know personally (shark scientist, educator, explorer filmmaker, shark photographer, television host, conservationist) who works or lives nearby, unless you are willing to drive or fly to meet them in their area.

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

3. The winning bidder pays for lunch or dinner and may bring guests.

NOTE: The winning bid is 100% deductible from US Federal 2018 income taxes as a Charitable Donation. A tax receipt will be issued to the winning bidder.