DEMA

THE BAHAMAS—JANUARY 24, 2012— Dive legend and businessman Neal Watson has been re-elected for another two-year term as President of the Bahamas Diving Association.

Stuart Cove, owner of Stuart Cove’s Dive Bahamas in Nassau and Stuart Cove’s Tiger Beach Safaris on Grand Bahama Island, was re-elected vice president.

Watson and celebrated marine artist, scientist and conservationist Dr. Guy Harvey joined forces last year to open Neal Watson’s Dive Bimini at the Bimini Big Game Club in Alice Town. read more »

Dive Travel Business News - December 20, 2011) -- More than 9,000 pre-qualified diving professionals registered for DEMA Show 2011, which was held at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL from November 2nd to 5th.  DEMA Show 2011 encouraged attendees to find new direction by providing hundreds of exhibits, products, services, educational sessions and more.  Opening day commenced at 10:00 am on November 2nd with more than 6,400 opening day attendees, including buyers, travel buyers, instructors and other diving professionals from all over the world. read more »

(Dive Travel Business News - December 1, 2011) -- Scuba Schools International (SSI), the premier education and business support company came to DEMA to reinforce and build on its new business model for the recreational sport diving industry – Swim, Snorkel, Scuba.  SSI advises the industry on some of its strategies for success here:

Swim, Snorkel, Scuba Model – The idea of a swim, snorkel, scuba model is keeping customers involved for life. Start them out young in swim, brand them to your business and the love of water, graduate them to Snorkel or Scuba Rangers, then to Freediving or Open Water Diver, Specialties and Xtended Range diving. Check into the new standards and exciting changes that Mike Ange has brought to SSI TXR and how this well-rounded range of products can extend the time customers stay in diving. read more »

(Dive Travel Business News - October 17, 2011) -- Industry professionals with appropriate credentials can still register for the upcoming DEMA Show 2011 to be held this November 2-5 in Orlando, Florida at the Orange County Convention Center (North Hall) in Orlando, Florida. For a complete list of registration choices, including options as low as US$40 per person for DEMA Members (Non-Member options start at US$60) visit DEMA SHOW.

DEMA SHOW 2011 housing options are still available in the show's Official Hotel Block. Two new housing options, Homewood Suites and Embassy Suites, have been added to accommodate attendees still needing to book a reservation. Complimentary shuttle service to and from the North Hall of the Orange County Convention Center will be offered to all DEMA Show 2011 Official Hotel Block participants.  Visit Official DEMA Show 2011 Housing. read more »

(Dive Travel Business News - September 10, 2011) -- Ready for DEMA 2011, Explorer Ventures is offering specials that dive shops and wholesalers can book now through the end of DEMA Show 2011.  DEMA Specials must be booked and deposited by Nov 5, 2011 in order for the special to apply.

Also available for a limited time only, all Agents who book half-boat charters (50% of the boat capacity) or full boat charters receive free Nitrox and applies to all Explorer Venture destinations. On full-boat charters, Explorer Ventures is offering a free FAM trip on any vessel for the group representative. These incentives can be combined with Explorer Ventures standard group incentive policies such as: 1 free berth for 5 paid (max 2 per charter; alternative group paymentn plans; off peak charter specials with increased commissions and double the free berths; easy group reduction policies. read more »

(Dive Travel Business News - September 29, 2011) -- Aggressor Fleet and Dancer Fleet have released the latest edition of Cruise News, a unique magazine and joint destination guide that offers readers a chance to dive into the world’s premier LiveAboard experience without ever getting wet. The magazine’s colorful 108 pages are filled with dazzling topside and underwater photos shot by the world’s greatest photo pros, like Stephen Frink, Michele Westmorland, Geri Murphy and others. There are articles cover interesting issues like an update on Shark Savers shark conservation program, juvenile frogfish found along the Kona reefs, tasty recipes from our onboard chefs and DAN safety data on LiveAboard diving, just to name a few.

In addition the catalog shares stories from past guests, photo essays, information on special charters, celebrity weeks, and money saving specials are highlighted so that divers can easily join the “LiveAboard Lifestyle” and plan their next adventure. read more »

(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 »

(Dive Travel Business News - May 29, 2011) -- The Diving Equipment & Marketing Association (DEMA) recently released a new in-water game called “DiveCaching.” DiveCaching is an underwater game for snorkelers and certified divers that is designed to keep divers active locally while promoting more diving.

DiveCaching combines basic diving skills with underwater navigation and underwater search techniques to find a hidden DiveCache - a hidden underwater container, or "cache" filled with "goodies." DiveCaches can be hidden in almost any underwater environment, and the visibility, temperature and other diving conditions are part of the challenge of hiding and finding a cache. read more »

(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 »