Trip report; Scuba Show, Long Beach

I hadn't been to the show for several years. One of the factors of scuba that I have the least amount of interest in is dive travel. I feel fortunate to have some of the best diving in the world here in my backyard. The last time I went to the Scuba Show, it seemed to be more or less a travel trade show. This year I decided to go again, mainly to visit with people I don't get to see often enough. There was a lot to offer as far as gear, training, cameras as well as travel. I ran into several people I know, some new friends, some old. All in all, I had a good time. I hung out at the California Wreck Divers Booth, Deep Sea Supply and DiveIn TV mainly.

Bob and Debbie Titus have a scuba production company, DiveIn TV
http://www.divein.tv/index.html
and were taping divers talking about their dive experiences.

Bob Titus


Debbie Titus in the background, with Elaine Jobin in the foreground. Elaine usually captures me blinking or squinting, so this is paybacks.


Elaine discusses Photoshop with Jeff Shaw.


Jeff and Sue Shaw were working at the Cabrillo Aquarium booth. Here's Sue signing autographs.



Among the exhibits at the CWD boots were Kevin Rottner's latest find and a porthole from the Olympic II

Well, while I didn't take any shots, I was there when Kelphelper was a winner at the SC booth. (I won a mask, and caught a flung mini dive light.) Pretty good time, and I will spend the next week going through my travel and merchandise info.

I went to the show on Saturday and I was dissapointed. This is my third year in a row that I attend, and it will probably be my last.

In the past you were able to go to the show and buy gear, try things out, look at new stuff, plus there used to be plenty of freebies and games. This year, most vendors seemed to only take one item of each for everyone to look at. Sport Chalet was the only vendor giving things away (good things too), and the rest of the show seemed like it was a travel agency show.

I don't think it was worth the $9. That could have been an airfill and a subway.

diverdann:

I went to the show on Saturday and I was dissapointed. This is my third year in a row that I attend, and it will probably be my last.

In the past you were able to go to the show and buy gear, try things out, look at new stuff, plus there used to be plenty of freebies and games. This year, most vendors seemed to only take one item of each for everyone to look at. Sport Chalet was the only vendor giving things away (good things too), and the rest of the show seemed like it was a travel agency show.

I don't think it was worth the $9. That could have been an airfill and a subway.

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This is EXACTLY why I didn't go. Plus I already get too damn much junk mail so sighing up for "raffles" seemed ludicrous.

Some images from the show are posted below.

Jaye and I haven't been to the show together for about 4 or 5 years - whenever it moved from the QM to LB - that was the last time she was there.

I'm with Max - dive travel doesn't interest me in the least. Plus, my gear is dialed in, and I'm not looking for a new BC or mask, or plastic fins or wacky floating O2 sachel with dangling Man-o-war second stages whatzis thing. So I was pretty focused on what I wanted to see, and was really there to see some friends.

For me, this show was hooking up with Ryan at Reef Photo to see D70 Housings, and see if I can get it together before I go to Belize, go to Ike to see the D70 TTL proto, trying on a couple of DUI suits (I can't believe I fit into a stock medium now... woo hoo), looking and trying on Wetsuits (need a wetsuit for some of the diving I'm going to be doing), getting Jaye over to the bead lady (thanks, Jlyle) and getting her back to the book people (Jaye's a teacher... buys ocean books for her class) as well as seeing lots of friends: the Catalina people, my guys at Halcyon, Susan and Kathy at DUI, my friends at SSA and more.

PLUS: hooking up with some of the SoCals - Lexy, Thomas, Christian, Reeveseye, Theodocious (Tech Admin... I can't believe I finally got to meet this guy!), big wave Dave (Dazedone) and his cool wife, and a few others. Said hi to some, took pics with some, had drinks and grubbed with some others.

After 4 or 5 years of more of the same, I was ready to blow this year off. I'm glad I went this year. Had fun.

Ted - how'd you do at Casino night?

Good to see you guys on Sat.

---
Ken

Pic #1 - Dave, Ted, Thomas, Christian, me

Pic #2 - Dave's Wife (space cadet Ken misplaced her name. She's a total sweetie... I'm an idiot), Dave, Ted, Thomas, Christian, Jaye (space cadet Ken's wife...)

I had to work at the Hyatt right next to the center. I got off work at 4 and went over to the show, they wanted to charge me the full price for just the hour that was left so I blew it off.

From what I saw in the Diving News I really wasn't going to miss much. Would have liked to have gone in to say "hi" to a few people that I knew were in there but wasn't interested in a lot of the vendors on display.

Still hoping to finally get a day off on a weekend when everyone will be together for a dive outing.

diverdann:

I went to the show on Saturday and I was dissapointed. .

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Likewise.. I saw a reg bag that I wanted, but when I tried to buy it the store said "oh we aren't selling things here, but here are directions to our store". Oh well, went to their store afterwards and bought it

Came home with lots of ink pens though. :froze:

Anyone want an "i'd rather be diving" license plate frame from sports chalet? They gave me 4 of them :frlol:

MissyP:

Likewise.. I saw a reg bag that I wanted, but when I tried to buy it the store said "oh we aren't selling things here, but here are directions to our store". :icorolley

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Missy,

The show operators, SaintBrendan.com, expressly forbids the exhibitors from selling dive gear. The sale of T shirts, travel, etc., but not dive gear. The language in the contract is quite specific.


Let me tell you, as an exhibitor, it's no fun to tell a customer with cash in their hand that you can't sell 'em what they want.....


Regards,



Tobin George

cool_hardware52:

Missy,

The show operators, SaintBrendan.com, expressly forbids the exhibitors from selling dive gear. The sale of T shirts, travel, etc., but not dive gear. The language in the contract is quite specific.

Let me tell you, as an exhibitor, it's no fun to tell a customer with cash in their hand that you can't sell 'em what they want.....

Regards,

Tobin George

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I would have gladly taken another Sk7 mount. Now I need to send you a paypal, blah blah blah. Its costing you more that way, and I gotta wait.

Stinks - but I get it. Most trade shows don't sell gear. Even though this isn't a trade-only show, it still blows.

It was great to finally meet you on Sat, Tobin!

---
Ken

Mo2vation:

I would have gladly taken another Sk7 mount. Now I need to send you a paypal, blah blah blah. Its costing you more that way, and I gotta wait.

Stinks - but I get it. Most trade shows don't sell gear. Even though this isn't a trade-only show, it still blows.

It was great to finally meet you on Sat, Tobin!

---
Ken

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Ken,

It was great to meet you and many other folks from "cyber space". It was like a class reunion for a High school I never attended....



Tobin