The 22nd annual SCUBA Show was host to 10,202 attendees May 30-31. Aisles were crowded with enthusiastic, energized divers, as well as wanna-be divers, throughout the weekend. “This will go down in our books as one of the most successful SCUBA Shows ever,” stated show producer Dale Sheckler. “Seminars were well attended and our unique continuous film festival was a big hit with standing room only.”
Special visitor to the show was the world famous marine life artist Wyland. The public was moved with his live painting of California gray whales in a kelp forest. He was very personable, interacting with fans and personally autographing the official show shirt that he personally designed.
Other special exhibits included shipwreck artifacts from the California Wreck Divers and antique diving equipment from National Underwater Museum as displayed by diving historian extraordinaire Nick Icorn.
Show attendees fully immersed themselves in over 300 exhibit spaces of new and revolutionary dive gear, dive travel professionals, and top scuba experts. Most of the exhibitors were offering special show specials and drawings. “Everyone came away a winner at this year’s SCUBA Show,” stated Executive Director Kim Sheckler.
Saturday evening at the bar across from the exhibit hall became a “casino” for gaming to benefit the California Ships To Reefs non-profit group working to sink surplus ships. Highlight of the evening was the presentation of the California Scuba Service award to California diving pioneer Sal Zammitti.
The annual SCUBA Show is America’s largest dive expo with 76,000 square feet of exhibit space and an annual attendance of over 10,000. Plans are already underway for the 2010 show, May 15-16 at the Long Beach Convention Center. For more information, visit www.scubashow.com or call 310-792-2333.
