The highlight of the UK diving calendar is back in March and promises to be bigger and better than ever. There are more exhibitors than in previous shows, the event has expanded into a second hall – and the British Isles Experience and the traditional Great British Pub have made a welcome return.
The GO Diving Show, this year partnered with Seiko Prospex, is the only UK consumer and trade event dedicated to scuba diving and dive travel
Coventry, UK
Launched back in 2019, GODS looks to serve the established diving market within the UK, while inspiring new students and non-divers into our beautiful underwater world.
The event will once again be held at the NAEC Stoneleigh, on Stoneleigh Park, which is handily located pretty much slap-bang in the middle of England, within easy reach of the M40, M6 and M1.
There are 11,000 complimentary car parking spaces, so plenty of room for all-comers. If you are coming by train, Stoneleigh Park is approximately five miles from Warwick Parkway and Coventry stations, so a short Uber or taxi ride.
At the core of the show are the interactive and inclusive activities to keep the whole family entertained for the entire day. Throughout the weekend, the three stages will host a plethora of speakers from around the world, talking about a wide range of topics and subjects.
Interactive elements for all the family
The ever-popular virtual-reality diving pod is back, taking you deep on a technical dive on an ancient shipwreck, as is The Cave – whatever your age, if you’ve ever hankered to give caving or cave-diving a try, then prepare to don a helmet and kneepads and venture into the darkness of our 30-metre cave-system.
Bruce the bucking rodeo shark is also back for 2024 and is handily located next door to our rustic Great British Pub (sponsored by the Philippines Department of Tourism), so you can meet up with friends for a beverage or two, and challenge one another as to who can stay on the longest. Or you can just enjoy a drink while watching other people give it a go.
Our massive pool is returning and is the perfect place for people to give diving a go for the very first time, or for experienced divers to try a new discipline, such as sidemount or closed-circuit rebreather diving.
The Exhibition Hall
All of these activities and interactive elements are surrounded by an ever-increasing list of exhibitors, ranging from training agencies, manufacturers and distributors to tourist boards, travel agents, dive centres, liveaboards, resorts and much more.
The British Isles Experience is back in 2024, with dive centres, liveaboards and charter boat companies showcasing some of the best diving hotspots around our coastline.
Food and drink
There will be an expanded range of food options this year – Strollers restaurant will have a selection of meals on offer, and there will be a host of catering vans on site covering a smorgasbord of culinary delights. There will also be several coffee pods scattered around the halls and in Strollers for those all-important cuppas during the day.
There is also the aforementioned Great British Pub that will be serving up refreshing beverages throughout the weekend.
For the trade
GODS will once again have a trade-only element in 2025, in association with the Scuba Industry Trade Association (SITA). Those who meet the criteria will be allowed into the exhibition halls from 8.30am-10am before general admission begins.
It is the perfect time to discuss group trips, check out the latest gear, and see what’s new in dive education – and you are then free to enjoy the rest of the day once the doors open to everyone else. Go to www.godivingshow.com/trade for more information and to register – trade tickets, which are valid for the entire day, are £15 each.
