• DEMA Show 2010 Las Vegas Day 1

    Ah, the first full day in lovely Las Vegas, Nevada. For those of you who don’t know, I’m not a big fan of this city. I don’t gamble, I haven’t been drinking lately (except for very special occasions, sorry, this isn’t it) and I’m fresh out of sin these days. The only reason what happens…

  • Mass Media Exposure for the SCUBA Industry

    Over a year ago, I mentioned how Sea Hunt was available on Hulu. Back then, I lamented: we haven’t seen any type of underwater television series since 1996, almost 15 years. I’ve since had the discussion several times wishing there would be some great exposure for SCUBA in the mass media. Fast forward a year,…

  • Gulf State SCUBA Needs Help

    The Gulf of Mexico has been hit hard by the BP oil spill. However, SCUBA diving remains safe, but we – as an industry – need to get the word out. The attempt by DEMA is a great start, but now it’s time for all of us to do what we can.

  • Getting Hacked Happens

    Being hacked is not fun, but for many is inevitable, even for us web developers. Use strong/unique passwords and always make a backup (or ten).

  • Friday Fun Dive: Underwater Base Jump

    An incredible video of a freediver “BASE Jumping” into a blue hole. Although the video is an artistic work of fiction, it’s incredible to watch.

  • PADI Member Forum 2010 Review

    After attending the 2010 Portland PADI Member Forum, we look back on the content, presenter, PADI and the local crowd. Bottom line: make sure you attend yours.

  • 4 Reasons the iPad Isn’t Ideal for SCUBA Instruction

    Last week, Apple announced their upcoming iPad and Des was first on the scene to discuss the implications of the iPad for the SCUBA professionals among us. Although I am seeing more and more potential uses for the iPad as the days go by, there are 4 reasons why I won’t be using one for…

  • Attracting the next generation of divers

    Our industry is old and getting older. That’s not a good thing. According to DEMA’s Annual Activity Report (PDF link, stats on p. 37), the average age of SCUBA divers in the US is 45 years old. Several people at the DEMA show explained that age actually goes up every year, showing that our industry…

  • Is Underwater Digital Photography a Gateway Drug?

    This is an article as part of our DEMA Expo 2009 round-up. At DEMA, underwater photography was one of the most popular topics. There were more camera-related booths than any other group. Plus, the SCUBA photography seminars were some of the most interactive I attended. Is Underwater Photography SCUBA’s Savior? Some people I spoke with would…

  • DEMA 2009 Attendance Report

    Below is a table showing current and historic attendance data for the DEMA Expo as provided by DEMA. I have chosen to remove a couple of columns that don’t interest me that much, so if you want to see the complete table, please use the link below. Also, feel free to click on any column…