After two years of disruption because of the pandemic, DEMA Show was back in gear. Well, largely. It was still markedly more compact than the pre-pandemic editions but still a large show with far more booths than one can reasonably manage to visit during its four days. Also importantly, the mood appeared to be upbeat, with businesses being eager to ramp up activities as the industry and travel activities are pulling away from the doldrums.
This long-established and widely respected contest celebrates the splendor of the oceans and the challenging art of underwater photography and video.
The organizers call on underwater shooters of all levels, from novice to professional, to compete in what has become the “World Championship” of international underwater imagery events.
As your dive safety organization, we will raise a glass to all who work tirelessly to promote safe diving. We hope you’ll join us on Tuesday, November 1, 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. at the Rosen Centre Hotel in Ballroom Grand C.
Meet With DAN
If you’re planning to be at the show, make an appointment to learn what DAN can do for your dive business. We have numerous programs you can benefit from, including Student Membership, rewards for new member referrals, and discounts on both retail products and professional liability insurance.
One evening, I told Arlindo Serrao, the organiser of the Diving Talks, that number two, following up on a prior success, was often challenging. I was referring to the fact that most movie sequels, with The Terminator and The Godfather being notable exceptions, often fail to get the same sort of traction as the first one; and that book authors and musicians frequently have less success with their second opus.
My 28 years as a dive industry professional have taken me to 130-140 dive shows, events and conferences. So perhaps it is understandable that I sometimes feel a little jaded or unenthusiastic about heading out for yet another one. Many of the dive shows become same-same-ish and the dealings routine.
There are but a few left that I genuinely look forward to and the upcoming Diving Talks, held in Portugal in October, is one of them.
Born in Portsmouth, England, on June 12, 1931, Bennett studied chemistry and biology at the University of London, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1951.
After university he worked at the Royal Navy Physiological Laboratory and in 1964 earned his doctorate in physiology and biochemistry from the University of Southampton.
We are very excited to return to an in-person event this year and will be hosting the film festival at Hofstra University. After three years of Covid restrictions, it’s time for divers to once again enjoy the pleasures of meeting in person.
You are invited to submit proposals for possible inclusion in this event. The Film Festival is an annual fundraising event for LIDA and traditionally features an exciting slate of world-renowned speakers, filmmakers and photographers.
The rescue mission in Thailand where a group of experienced cave divers miraculously retrieved a group of young boys and their soccer coach which were trapped in the system of underground caves as they became flooded, should be well known to readers of this magazine as we covered it extensively at the time.
While it’s a fun, challenging and tasty experience for most, more than 20 divers have lost their lives during mini season in the last decade.
Through analysis of these tragic deaths, researchers at Divers Alert Network (DAN) have identified the most relevant contributing factors and most important safety practices for divers participating in the annual event.
These tips probably won’t surprise you, but sometimes the most basic precautions are the most likely to save a life.
"Opt to arrive one-week earlier or leave one week later, and chose the stay and dive program for your type of diving and preferences," the organiser of Diving Talks writes in a newsletter.
Make the most of the trips and both attend the event and try out some local diving while you are there.
