Since its inception in 2006, MIDE has remained a cornerstone annual gathering, pivotal in fostering and fortifying the global dive community and associated businesses. Garnering international recognition as an important event, MIDE has drawn over 250,000 attendees in its 17-year history, cementing its status as a premier fixture in the diving industry.

Entering the exhibition hall on Day One at MIDE 2023 gave me a distinct buzz. Squaring my shoulders in anticipation, I walked past the booths and waved hello to old friends. As I made my way deeper into the hall, I felt a raising sense of excitement. MIDE 2023 was my first overseas dive show since the pandemic, and it appeared to be off to a promising start.

Staying true to its theme, “Let’s Meet & Dive Locally,” the show aimed to kickstart the country’s dive industry and welcomed over 7,000 visitors during the three-day event with over 400 exhibitors, resulting in over RM5 (US$1.2) million in sales.

The bold decision to hold the show drew the attention, endorsement and partnership of several government agencies and leaders, including Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob, who addressed the event and said that he saw the dive community playing an important role in the recovery of tourism in Malaysia.

Now housed in a new space on Level 4 of the exhibition center, AIDE has a new setup and ambience over the five-day event, including a dive education program with presentations and forums on scientific diving, ocean rescue, dive medicine and women in underwater photography. With over 60,000 divers and boaters visiting the boat show every year, exhibitors enjoy extensive exposure, with ample opportunities to interact with visitors, making sales and reaching new audiences.

Over the past 15 years, the show has welcomed around 180,000 visitors, with an average of 10,000 visitors each year, of which 90% were divers. Attending industry professionals last year included dive operators, manufacturers, distributors, entrepreneurs and tourism boards, many of whom made use of a new B2B networking platform MIDE created just for them.