When I was younger, there was a time when I was very afraid of going in the water. It didn’t matter if it was the ocean or a swimming pool. I think it was the movie Jaws that did that to me. But once I got over that, nothing could stop me from going in the water any chance I got.
Scuba diving was something I had wanted to do for a long time. When I finally decided to learn and received my certification in Open Water and Advanced Open Water, it was pretty amazing. There really is a whole other world below the surface of the ocean.
It’s been well over 7 years since I last went scuba diving and had never been to a Scuba Convention before. So I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect at the 28th Annual Scuba Show held at the Long Beach Convention Center.
I knew there would be diving gear, equipment and locations but there were quite a few things about the show that caught my attention at the 2015 Scuba Show:
• Roddenberry Adventures. Star Trek fans would love this. Built on the philosophy embedded in show, they go on diving adventures, camping, hiking and other special events. I love the Starfleet Federation uniform-inspired scuba diving suits.
• Dive Locations. I had never seen so many dive locations being exhibited in one place. From Fiji to the Arctic and liveaboards.
• PADI Women Divers. Huge focus on building awareness and interest in diving for women. On July 18th, they will hold their First Annual PADI Women’s Dive Day in Catalina, California.
• EarShield. You ever get water trapped in your ears, making it uncomfortable or painful? I have had that happen before. This water repellent ear spray is something I really need when going swimming or diving.
• Kids Sea Camp/Family Dive Adventures. Family vacations with programs for kids and teens in St. Lucia, Palau, Cayman Islands, Bonaire and other destinations. Kids can earn their Open Water Certification while on vacation.
• Scuba Chef Trevor Cook. Live cooking demos and his menu of sustainable seafood recipes.
• Cameras. So many camera housings for underwater photography. Even some made for the ever popular GoPro.
• Prescription Masks. This is something I would need to seriously get since I wear glasses and contact lenses.
• Clothing/Dive Wear. From tees to casual printed shirts and dive wear. It’s all here.
• Dive 1st Aid. First aid kits for divers. A diver always needs to be prepared for any emergency.
I spent so much time on the show floor, that I didn’t make it to the seminars or panels. The other thing I missed was the annual Saturday Night Party held at the Aquarium of the Pacific’s Shark Lagoon. I really would have liked to have gone, but I was getting a bit tired!
After seeing this show, I feel like going diving again. Guess I need to take a refresher course.
For more information about the Scuba Show, please visit www.scubashow.com.
1 comment
I absolutely love the water, scuba diving is incredible in the Carribean. However not so great for me on Long Island. I can’t believe it’s the 40th anniversary of Jaws, I really try not to think about sharks while enjoying the water.