In response to requests made by DEMA members for DEMA to reach a wider audience and to help grow the diving industry, DEMA has announced the first consumer Be A Diver Adventure Sports Festival. The Festival will take place April 26–28, 2013, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and includes an event open to consumers to be held at the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention Center. A celebration of diving, adventure sports, water sports and outdoor lifestyles, the Festival will include events, music, exhibits, seminars and other activities to promote diving and to attract the attention of lifestyle sports enthusiasts.

“We are excited to introduce this new consumer event to help grow the dive industry,” commented Tom Ingram, Executive Director of DEMA. “This Festival will create an opportunity for potential new customers from other crossover activities and industries to try diving, while simultaneously allowing current customers to take advantage of the diving experiences found in South Florida, the Caribbean and beyond.”

This is not another consumer dive show; this is a citywide festival that will partner with Ft. Lauderdale to create buzz and celebrate the fun of diving, being active, and being outdoors. From block parties and bands to contests, DiveCaching and non-diving events, the Festival will be structured to engage a wide cross-section of potential new customers and current divers, and to attract inactive divers back to the sport.

Within the Festival, a convention center-based show will also take place where diving equipment, diver training and exotic travel may be sold on the Show floor. DEMA is working directly with manufacturers so they can help create sales-friendly event policies that encourage retailers from around the world and their customers to exhibit and attend.

Attending and exhibiting at the Be A Diver Adventure Sports Festival benefits the tourism professional and the diving industry. As with all monies raised by participation in a DEMA event, the profits are put directly back into the industry. The Be A Diver Adventure Sports Festival will be held annually.

DEMA Show 2012 is slated for November 14–17 in Las Vegas.

DEMA (Diving Equipment & Marketing Association), www.demashow.com, www.beadiver.com, www.dema.org