The Belgian dive show, Dive Expo in Antwerp, stands out for focusing primarily on equipment and training rather than travel. Here, we were introduced to several brands we were unfamiliar with and saw a range of exciting new developments in the field of equipment.
Lelle Malmström takes a closer look at a dry glove system. Photo by Peter Symes.
It was relatively easy to take a weekend trip there – at least for me, who can get to my local airport, Copenhagen, in half an hour. From there, it's just over an hour's flight to Brussels, where our equipment editor Lelle Malmström joined me from Stockholm. We then took a train directly from the terminal to Antwerp – tickets can be purchased from a vending kiosk in the airport – and soon arrived at the hotel, which was located directly opposite the exhibition halls. The entire trip was hassle-free and took only a few hours.
The event's tagline, ‘from rec to tec’, gave a clear indication that the focus was on equipment and education. The programme also offered around 40 lectures spread across four parallel sessions. I cannot say whether it is primarily the lectures that attract the audience or whether it is the combination of trade fair and professional presentations, but it seems to be the right formula. A pure marketplace with travel operators that you can check out online is hardly enough on its own anymore.
What particularly set this event apart from many others was the large number of smaller manufacturers and, for me, a lot of unknown smaller brands from Belgium, the Netherlands, France and, to some extent, Germany. There were specialised products, alternative solutions and new approaches to familiar challenges. The fair had significantly more technical equipment than most other fairs – double sets, rebreathers, and gadgets for technical diving were everywhere – but also featured well-known major brands such as Mares, Cressi, Shearwater, and Suunto, all of which showcased new products.
A closer look
This provided a great opportunity to see the equipment up close, get your hands on it and ask more in-depth questions about design, concept and delivery. We use this information for our gear news pages and upcoming tests, among other things.
Due to Belgium's division into French- and Flemish-speaking parts, there were also many smaller French manufacturers that you rarely see elsewhere. It was here that we saw some revolutionary inventions, but also a lot of innovative thinking and different approaches to familiar problems.
Just one example of a typical dialogue was our conversation with French company AMX Technology, which showcased a newly developed harness and backplate design in which the cylinder set has the valves facing downward – as with smoke divers and certain commercial divers – making them much easier to reach and operate.
However, this design also presented the problem that the manifold valve could not be reached, which I confirmed myself by trying it. From our conversation, we understood that a solution is being developed in which the valve on the manifold can be operated via a pull rod, pull cord, or other device. It was a little vague and brought back not-so-fond memories of past reserve valve solutions (J-valves), which were not always problem-free.
But it will be interesting to see if they can really find a robust solution to an age-old challenge. Apart from this minor hiccup, the rig otherwise looked well-designed, solid and attractive. There were many such small brands, and we had many good conversations with designers, which made the whole visit interesting, especially if you are something of an equipment nerd.
On the travel front, there was not quite as much to offer. There were a few diving travel agencies serving the local audience and a small number of resorts – including those in Corsica, Sardinia and southern Italy – which looked very appealing. The advantage of southern Europe is the short travel time and the absence of jet lag, combined with good food, exciting culture and attractive diving. For the same reason, I often prefer Southern Europe to distant tropical destinations.
Worth a visit?
So is it worth spending time and money on a trip to Belgium? First and foremost, you should of course support your local diving centre, seek advice and guidance, and do your shopping there. But trade fairs also provide inspiration, new knowledge and the opportunity to make new contacts.
The cost of the trip was around £400 for flights, hotel, food and incidentals for the weekend. Not cheap, but not unreasonable either, and good value for money. And you can combine the trip with a couple of days' city break in Brussels and get a mini-holiday out of it, since you've already paid for the flight.
All in all, Dive Expo was a great event with a good balance between interesting stands and really good lectures. I will surely visit again next year.
