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Beneath The Sea Adds Dedicated Day for Professionals

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Beneath The Sea Adds Dealer Day for Professionals

(Dive Travel Business News - January 5, 2012) -- Beneath the Sea Show has set aside a trade-only day for professional buyers for the show's 36th annual event.  The Show's inaugural Dealer Day will be launched on Friday March 23, 2012 as part of the 3-day event hosted at the Meadowlands Convention Center in Secaucus, New Jersey, USA. Registration for Dealer Day is $25 and is valid during Dealer Day show hours (1pm - 6pm) and general public admission from 6pm-9pm on Friday evening.

To register for this trade-only day, visit BTS Dealer Day. read more »

New Leader at the Helm at Caribbean Dive Tours

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New Owner Shawn Exnicious at Caribbean Dive Tours

(Dive Travel Business News - October 14, 2011) -- Shawn Exnicious is taking over the helm at dive travel wholesale company Caribbean Dive Tours. The change comes on the heels of the  announcement that Ron Grzelka, President and owner of Caribbean Dive Tours / Worldwide Dive Tours (CDT) will be retiring.

Former dive store owner of Atlanta Scuba & Swim Academny (now Atlanta Scuba and Swim Centers), Grzelka started Caribbean Dive Tours 23 years ago with the concept of providing dive travel services to the dive center that didn’t compete for his dive store customers. CDT continues with that same business model today, working with dive retailers and not competing against them.  Over the years, this U.S. travel wholesaler, tour operator and agency has grown to represent over 200 dive resorts, hotel & dive operations, and liveaboard vessels in the Caribbean and in the South Pacific. read more »

Pilot Referral Program for Discover Diving Experiences Launched in Cayman.

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Pilot Referral Program for Discover Diving Experiences Launched in Cayman.

(Dive Travel Business News - September 4, 2011) -- A new Discover Diving Referral Program is being pilot tested by Cayman Islands' Dive Operators in conjunction with Dive Center Business magazine and U.S. dive stores.  Each year thousands of vacationers head to warmer climes and try a discover diving experience. But there has been a disconnect between their "Resort Diver" experience and the next obvious step: To find a local dive store back home and become a fully certified diver. 

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DEMA Annual Update at Upcoming DEMA Show 2011

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DEMA Annual Update at Upcoming DEMA Show 2011

(Dive Travel Business News - September 22, 2011) - The Annual Diving Equipment & Marketing Association Member Meeting and Update will be held at the DEMA Show on Thursday November 3, 2011 at the Orange County Convention Center, Room N310E from 8:30 AM - 9:45 AM.

DEMA invites both members and non-members to this event to learn the latest information about the Association's activities during the last year and planned projects for 2012.  A complimentary Continental style breakfast is included. The meeting provides an opportunity for industry professionals to meet current DEMA Board Members, candidates for the 2012 Board of Directors Election and DEMA Staff. read more »

DEMA Invites Industry To Strategic Visioning Session

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DEMA Invites Industry To Strategic Visioning Session

(Dive Travel Business News - May 24, 2011) -- The Diving Equipment and Marketing Association invites industry members to a strategic visioning session in Long Beach on Sunday June 5, 2011 from 8:00 am to 10:00 am at the Long Beach Convention Center in Long Beach, California, in conjunction with Scuba Show 2011.

Held by the DEMA Board of Directors and lead by Tom Ingram, DEMA's Executive Director, "Moving Toward 2020: Developing a Strategic Vision for the Recreational Diving Industry" is series of brainstorming sessions with industry members that began with two sessions held at the Beneath the Sea Dive & Travel Show in March 2011. DEMA has been seeking industry input on the direction of the diving industry for the next 10 years. "Where is the recreational diving industry headed? How do we grow? What challenges lie ahead? What challenges us now?" are just some of the questions requiring the input of Dive Industry professionals. read more »

"Be A Diver" Pool Creates New Customers with its Pool Stops in 2011

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"Be A Diver" Pool Creates New Customers with its Pool Stops in 2011

Dive Travel Business News - March 27, 2011) -- Continuing to demonstrate its value as a new customer acquisition tool and a diving awareness program, DEMA's Be a Diver Pool kicked off 2011 with a big splash at all of its first quarter pool stops. DEMA's Big Wave Dave Reidenbach and DEMA Member retailers who were on-site with the Be A Diver Pool, educated attendees about the ease of learning to dive, and why diving is a fun and family-friendly activity. As a result, thousands of dollars in scuba class signs-up and multiple broadcast coverage spots were generated in the first quarter of 2011. read more »

Annual Florida Dive Show includes Intro to Tech and Solo Diver Seminars.

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Annual Florida Dive Show includes Intro to Tech and Solo Diver Seminars.

(Dive Travel Business News - November 26, 2010) -- The Annual Florida Dive Show will take place December 3 - 4 in West Palm Beach, Florida USA. SDI/TDI/ERDI is inviting ALL its professional members to meet with the various staff members who will be attending, including company president Brian Carney.  This certification agency offers Scuba and technical dive training for divers and instructors through its Scuba Diving International (SDI) and Technical Diving International (TDI) certifications and emergency response training through its Emergency Response Diving International (ERDI) courses. read more »

Leisure Trends RetailTRAK Survey of Dive Retail

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Leisure Trends Group RetailTRAK Dive Retail

(Dive Travel Business News - May 31, 2010) -- Leisure Trends Group reports in its RetailTRAK™ SCUBA Dive Retail Sales Survey that SCUBA Dive Retail Dollar Sales for March 2010 were down 2% compared to last March.  Total dive industry retail dollar sales were down 2% compared to March 2009.

Here are the category changes in dollar sales by channel, compared to March 2009: read more »

DiveCenterTravel.com helps Dive Centers Promote Dive Travel

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(Dive Travel Business News - April 23, 2010) -- Dive centers in the U.S. have a new channel to help promote their dive trips to a larger audience. DiveCenterTravel.com allows local dive stores to list their upcoming dive trips along with trip details to reach divers who may not otherwise know about the dive store or the trips offered.

DiveCenterTravel.com is the largest online database of upcoming dive trips hosted by dive stores across the U.S. The new website allows divers from across the U.S. to quickly and easily search for upcoming dive trips based on departure airport (if airfare is included), dive destination, and/or trip dates in one convenient location on the web. The information is available free of charge to divers who routinely visit DiveCenterTravel.com.

 In addition, divers may sign up for a bi-weekly newsletter of all upcoming trips meeting their departure requirements and dive store promotions.

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Leisure Trends: Signs of Life in the Dive Industry

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(Leisure Trends - August 30, 2009) - According to Leisure Trends RetailTRAK Survey for August 2009, Scuba Dive Retail merchandise sales while dive services (including dive travel) rose compared to a year ago.  

Total dive industry retail dollar sales were flat compared to August 2008. However, dive merchandise sales sank 18%, while services saw double-digit sales increases for the month. 

Compared to August 2008 here are the category changes in dollar sales by channel:

  • Dive Merchandise (Equipment, Suits and Apparel): -18%
  • All Dive Equipment: -18%
  • Advanced Dive Equipment (BC’s, Regulators, Photo Equipment, Dive Computers & Air Cylinders): -16%
  • Entry Level, or Snorkeling, Equipment: -19%
  • Dive Suits: -18%
  • Dive Services: +23%

  read more »