Amidst the gloomy chill of a March weekend, raindrops rhythmically tapped against the windows of the Meadowland Exposition Center. Undeterred by the dreary weather, I made my way into the bustling venue, eager to immerse myself in the annual Beneath The Sea – Dive, Travel, and Ocean Exploration show.
Events like these excite me, as they present an invaluable opportunity to connect with dive operators worldwide and discover prospective destinations to satiate my passion for underwater exploration. And of course, hangout with my local dive buddies.
Prioritizing clear vision, especially in the underwater realm, my first stop was the Prescription Dive Mask booth. Engaging with the knowledgeable representatives, they emphasized the importance of an up-to-date eye examination before placing an order. Their expertise guided me through the process, explaining that the turnaround time for a customized prescription dive mask typically spans three to four weeks, ensuring optimal visual clarity during my aquatic explorations.
I made my way to the Sealife booth, a brand that holds a special place. It was with one of their cameras that I first captured the wonders of the underwater world, and their reliable dive lights continue to illuminate my explorations to this day.
I also shoot with Big Blue Lights. Their light produce a nice cool white color underwater. I talked to the rep about an accessory (snoot) for the light.
I chatted with these nice ladies about diving in the Seychelles. The Seychelles is an archipelago consisting of 115 islands, is located in the Indian Ocean off the eastern coast of Africa. This destination boasts a plethora of beaches, coral reefs, and nature reserves, and is renowned for its population of giant Aldabra tortoises.
I purchased a pair of dive socks for $20. Dive socks, designed to provide insulation, traction, and comfortable protection underwater.
And they look cool!
Stopped by the St. Vincent and the Grenadines booth to talk about diving the islands south of the main island. I was specifically interested in diving the islands in between St. Vincent and Grenada. I spoke with Glenroy at Grenadines Dive about diving this area.
It’s been over 7 years since I visited Curaçao. And maybe 10 years since I dived with Go West Diving.
We discussed improvements to the dive shop, nearby lodging and restaurants.
I think a return visit is in order.
I have never been to Placencia in Belize. I talked to the team at Captain Jak’s about their resident Manatee and Shark populations.
I’ve had the incredible experience of diving with Dugongs in Egypt, but I would also like to get in the water with their distant North American Manatee cousins.
I also had a nice chat with the team at Carey Dive Center base in La Paz, Mexico. I’ve been to La Paz several times to dive with their resident population of Sea Lions. This is alway a fun trip. We talked about their high speed boats and nearby accoomodations.
Next, I spoke with the team at Buceo Anilao in the Philippines. We discuss best times of the year to dive, the property’s location in the bay and key dive sites. I’m looking forward to visiting this property and diving with the team.
Last November, I dived with the team at Aquanauts in Grenada. Good to chat with the team for a few moments. They also brought up a few bars of rich nutmeg chocolate which is alway delicious.
Fiji Airlines had a booth and were offering flight deals that are good for the next year.
I need to make more money. LOL!
Tusa had well displayed booth. I talked the rep about Tusa’s sister brand Osprey about their Sojourn Luggage bag collection.
Of course, I didn’t take a picture of the bag I found most interesting.
I stopped by the Reef Photo booth to discuss the buoyancy of my current camera rig. The rep provided several suggestions and hopefully, I’ll be able to obtain more stable images in the future.
The images showcased are merely my highlights of the day. I interacted with numerous vendors throughout the event. Additionally, there was an aisle dedicated to local dive clubs, including Big Apple Divers and The Scuba Sports Club, I am a member of both clubs.
There were also a seminars throughout the day. They ranged from technical diving to remote dive travel. I didn’t have enough time to make my way through the floor and attend the seminars. Maybe next year, I’ll spend two days there.
I can’t forget about the silent auction. There were a ton of trips, book and art to bid. I focused on two destinations. Golden Rock in St. Eustatius and Atmosphere in the Philippines. Wish me luck!
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Cool!
It was great and I think my bids came through for the silent auctions.
I’ve never seen one of those in our area. I could easily spend a lot of $$$.
Yeah, it not that hard spend a lot. I try not to book too far out in the future. But it definitely make it easier to start the planning process.
Wishing you luck!
Thanks!!!