Exhibitor Presentations feature exotic dive locales as does the Continuous Film Festival. Also take in several of the educational photo seminars.

THE Diving Event of the Year!
SCUBA Show 2004
Event Preview, Part 1

The SCUBA Show touts itself as THE Diving Event of the Year!™ with good reason. It is the largest event of its kind in the Americas. A consumer dive expo of enormous proportions, the SCUBA Show is inspirational, educational, money-saving and social all wrapped up in one weekend event. You can get wet in the demo tank, see the latest releases of new and innovative dive gear, talk directly to the equipment makers, book your next dive vacation from experts (often with considerable savings), plan your equipment purchases for the summer, take in an educational seminar or film, or just meet with old friends and dive buddies.

SEMINARS
The SCUBA Show has put together a truly special program of informative, entertaining and inspirational topics and speakers. All topics have to do with exploring the underwater world but vary considerably including photography, video, marine life, dive techniques, travel, and more.

Wreck diving expert Bill Wilson (left) and diving humorus Dick Anderson (right) are just a few of the speakers giving seminars.

Headlining the 18 dive experts giving 30 seminars is the husband and wife team, Jack and Sue Drafahl. Professional underwater photographers, the Drafahls will be lending the expertise in four seminars with heavy emphasis on demystifying digital.

Another married team of professional nature photographers and videographers is Larry and Denise Tackett. In addition to giving seminars on underwater photography, they will also be giving a talk on video.

Also adding expertise on video is long time pro, Josh Kaye-Carr.

The list of experts goes on—travel pro, Ken Knezick will share his experience on travel and digital photography. A popular author, Bruce Watkins will give talks on marine life and Central/Northern California diving. Another expert on California diving is speaker Dale Sheckler, editor of California Diving News. He will give his popular talk, “Stupid Underwater Animal Tricks,” as well as photo seminar specific to techniques for California waters.

Filling out the schedule is author Steve Barsky, wreck expert Bill Wilson, Dr. Tabby Stone offering his medical expertise, dive historian and general funny guy Dick Anderson, tech dive expert Jeff Bozanic, and lauded educators Lorraine Sadler, Erin O’Neill and Ella Jean Morgan.

And finally, a real treat, famed treasure hunter Bob Marx will be giving two seminars.

Each seminar is approximately 45 minutes in length with plenty of time for questions and discussion.

EXHIBITOR PRESENTATIONS
In addition to the seminars, a number of exhibitors are sponsoring presentations. The majority of these are dazzling multi-media shows about various exotic dive destinations from around the world. Most important, they are given by those who know these spots best.

DOOR PRIZES
This year’s SCUBA Show has some especially exciting door prizes. All paid general admission attendees are eligible.

Saturday’s prize includes 7 nights at the dive resort Manta Ray Bay on Yap Island (www.mantaray.com).

A special early bird drawing will be held at Noon on Sunday for early attendees. Those who come from 10 a.m. to Noon on Sunday will be eligible for a drawing for a Hartenberger Mini-Compact dive light donated by Kararu Dive Voyages.

Prize drawing for all Sunday attendees will be for a Buddy Boat with backpack harness from Buddy Boats.

The Grand Prize will be drawn at the close of the show Sunday with all those who have deposited door prize slips during the weekend eligible. The grand prize is a seven-night trip aboard Sun Dancer II in Belize from Peter Hughes Diving, Inc. (www.peterhughes.com).

In addition, many exhibitors will hold drawings for various prizes through their booths at SCUBA Show 2004. Various restrictions apply to each drawing.

SPECIAL EXHIBITS
Nick Icorn’s Museum of Diving History is the largest collection of antique dive gear in the country, perhaps the world. Nick will bring a large portion of his collection to the SCUBA Show and will be on hand to regale you with his many stories, many humorous, some tragic, on how diving and dive gear has evolved over the decades. For 2004, the museum area has been expanded.

Recognized as the authorities in shipwreck diving along the California coastline, the California Wreck Divers will be displaying some of their most prize-restored shipwreck artifacts from around the world. Their members will be on hand to offer their expertise.

And finally, dazzling displays of underwater photography will be provided by the Orange County and Los Angeles Underwater Photographic Society. These underwater photo displays feature images from around the world, many award winning.

HOTEL
Seminars, exhibit hall, film festival—it’s difficult to take in the entire show in just one day! Why not make a weekend of it, or longer? Nearby is the Aquarium of the Pacific and dive-charter boats. Official Host Hotel for SCUBA Show 2004 is the luxurious Hyatt Regency Long Beach Hotel, attached to the Long Beach Convention Center and overlooking the Queen Mary, Long Beach Harbor, dive charter boats, and the Aquarium of the Pacific (only one block away). Also, just across the street from the Convention Center and hotel is a brand new entertainment complex. Show participants receive a special low convention rate at the hotel. Reservations are to be made directly with the Hyatt Hotel at (562) 491-1234 or through Hyatt’s Central Reservation System at 1-800-233-1234. Reservations should be made no later than April 30, 2004 as the special rates cannot be guaranteed after that time. Identify yourself as a SCUBA Show 2004 participant to obtain special convention rate. Book early as space is limited.

Part II of this preview article will appear in the May issue of California Diving News and cover information on the preview continuous underwater film festival, exhibits, demo pool, and Saturday Night Casino Party benefit with the California Scuba Service Award. Full information, including advanced registration (recommended to save money and time) is available on the insert at the center of this issue or on-line at www.saintbrendan.com.