Malaysia

Now in its 19th edition, MIDE continues to develop and grow as Southeast Asia’s leading dive expo, where “business meets passion and innovation meets preservation.” This year, the organisers are delving even deeper into their shared dedication to the underwater realm with this year’s theme, “Explore, Connect and Conserve the Ocean's Enigma,” featuring a range of topics such as women in diving, cave exploration, technical diving, freediving, adaptive diving, marine conservation and sustainability.

The event welcomed ten hearing-impaired students from Sekolah Kebangsaan Pendidikan Khas Besut, Terengganu, many of whom had never set foot on a boat or an island, despite living near the coast of Besut. The students, accompanied by their teachers, explored the wonders of the underwater world in Terengganu through snorkeling and scuba diving, where they experienced the sensation of weightlessness. Dr Tengku Farah Kamilia, a lecturer in environmental and marine pollution at UMT, conducted a sharing session with the participants, highlighting the importance of marine conservation.

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.

As the organizers put it, Lens Beyond Ocean (LBO) “is more than a competition—it’s an odyssey.” And with that notion in mind, they invite photographers and videographers at all levels, from novice to professional, to take up the challenge, go on a quest to dive the seas, and bring back images of the magic, mystery and magnificence of the underwater world.

With this year’s theme, “Embracing the Ocean’s Majesty,” the organizers are keen to welcome even more divers, businesses and water sports-related professionals from around the globe.

Manila has repeatedly accused the Chinese coastguard of blocking resupply missions to its troops on The Second Thomas Shoal, which lies within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone, as it did on 5 Aug when it sprayed a Philippine vessel with a water cannon.

The South China Sea dispute involves territorial claims by multiple nations, including China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan. It centres around control of islands, reefs, and waters in the South China Sea. 

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.