Directed by Cody Sheehy | Moderated by Michael Carvalho
“The Last Dive,” a documentary exploring the bond between a diver and a manta ray, will be screened on Thursday, May 28, 2026, at 7:00 PM at Patagonia in Cambridge, MA. The free event features a post-film Q&A with the director and a manta ray expert.
Event panelist will be John A. Cigliano, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus of Biology and was Director of Environmental Conservation at Cedar Crest College, Allentown, Pennsylvania, USA, adjunct research faculty at Schoodic Institute at Acadia National Park, Winter Harbor, Maine, USA, and an Earthwatch Institute Principal Investigator. He is also on the board of the Massachusetts Oyster Project, a Marine Science Advisor for Seaside Sustainability, and is the President of the Participatory and Citizen Science Working Group and a Global Board Member of the Society for Conservation Biology.
John’s research interests include the effects of ocean acidification and warming on temperate marine organisms and communities, the effects of microplastics on marine organisms and communities, and the application of citizen science to advance marine conservation.
FILM SYNOPSIS
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.
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.
