GEAR, TRAVEL AND BIG NAMES AT DIVE 2011!

It’s time to get into training for your annual day trip to Birmingham for the diving spectacular of the year – DIVE 2011. Taking place at the NEC on 22 and 23 October, this year’s event will feature around 300 exhibitors, some of the sport’s biggest names, the very latest kit to hit the market and many of the world’s top dive destinations, so there’ll be oceans to see and do.

You’ll find big brands on the exhibition floor including Apollo, APD, AP Valves, Beaver Sports, Beuchat, Bodyglove, Deep Outdoors, DUI, Fourth Element, Intova, Mares, Metalsub, O’Three, Otter Watersports, VR Technology, SEAC Sub, Scubapro, Sea & Sea, Suunto, TUSA, Typhoon and Waterproof. And there’ll also be a number of leading kit and clothing retailers, top training agencies, holiday destinations and dive accessory specialists where a whole lot more can be found.

Tickets are on sale at www.diveshows.co.uk or via the ticket hotline 0208 977 1963, and if you book six or more in advance, you’ll get them at the bargain price of £6.50 each, instead of the on-the-door price of £10.50 (£7.50 for individual, advance tickets). Fantastic value in these hard times!

GET IN THE ZONE

The special feature areas at the show are always popular and this year there’s even one for underwater photography nuts. The DIVE 2011 Photo Zone will not only feature leading photographic equipment suppliers, but there’ll also be the chance to chat to experts from the British Society of Underwater Photographers (BSouP) and attend free, 45-minute photographic workshops.

However, if it’s a holiday you’re looking for then you can travel the world by doing just one lap of the show. There’s the Red Sea Zone, the Caribbean Village and the Asia Pacific Showcase plus many other travel specialists and dive centres all keen to show you what’s on offer.

For equipment enthusiasts the New Produce Showcase should be the first port of call. Featuring the latest equipment to hit the market, you’ll be able to see what’s hot and where to find it on the exhibition floor. And if you want to sample a rebreather, then the Technical Pool should also be at the top of your list.

The PADI Village is always popular, and back by popular demand is the free seminar area at the heart of the stand. This year, however, there’ll also be the PADI campervan and the opportunity to get a very smart PADI T-shirt when you book a course at the show.

ALL THIS … AND SOME OF THE SPORT’S BIGGEST NAMES

It wouldn’t be a Dive Show if there wasn’t also an impressive line-up of speakers for you to see after the hustle and bustle of the exhibition halls.

Monty Halls is guaranteed to be in fine form and will entertain with tales from his latest TV programme (and no-doubt with ‘tails’ about Ruben the dog as well). Ever popular Paul Rose will be talking about Britain’s Secret Seas, and Dr Andrea ‘Queen of the Mantas’ Marshall will be unveiling her latest project, as will film-maker John Boyle.

Kit and wreck experts on the programme include Mark Powell, Paul Toomer, Jack Ingle and Kevin Gurr. So with interactive, 3D freediving being covered by Marcus Greatwood and his team from NoTanx, and an extensive list of free exhibitor seminars covering everything from holidays to training, there’ll be so much to see and do.

And for CSI fans there’ll also be a riveting underwater forensics presentation by US crime scene investigator Mack House (no relation to CSI:NY’s Mack Taylor I’m afraid). Mack will be looking at the tools used by investigators, but because of the graphic nature of some of his images these sessions will be limited to over-18s.

WIN AN £8000 DIVE SAFARI IN THE PHILIPPINES!

Every visitor to DIVE 2011 could win this fantastic trip to the Philippines worth in excess of £8000 in the free-to-enter show draw. Offered by Worldwide Dive & Sail, with return flights from the UK provided by the Philippines Department of Tourism, this luxury liveaboard dive safari on Philippine Siren, features a choice of two seasonal itineraries.

For an up-to-date speaker programme, a full list of show features, exhibitors and competitions, the very latest news about what will be on show and to book your advance tickets go to www.diveshows.co.uk.

See you at the show!