FINS online blog has posted a trip report to the Tioman Mega Dive, July 11-15. It’s an annual event started last year by the local tourism ministry. There was an underwater photography competition, an underwater photography clinic (details not listed on the website) and a treasure hunt where 20 little chests were hidden in reefs around the island.
On the website, the winners and their photographs were not listed. But I’m not holding my breath. That weekend was a new moon weekend. That usually means poor visibility.
In case you’re interested, Virtual Malaysia, the organiser of MIDE 2007 (Malaysia International Dive Expo) posted this 5 minute video of the opening ceremony on Youtube.
If you had a booth at MIDE 2007, you’ll be interested in the first two minutes of the video. It features cut shots of several participant booths. You might be in it!
The last three minutes feature part of the opening ceremony speech by Malaysia’s deputy minister of tourism (with a very unfortunate backdrop behind him!). As well as the some local scuba rangers making a pledge and some prize giving ceremony for the tikes.
Musicians perform underwater? I’m not sure how that works, but more than 500 scuba divers and snorklers went to see them at thr 23rd Underwater Music Festival in Florida last week.
The 4-hour sub-sea songfest took place at Looe Key Reef, an area of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary located approximately six miles south of Big Pine Key. Staged by local radio station WWUS 104.1 FM, it featured the station’s selections broadcast underwater via Lubell Laboratory speakers suspended beneath boats positioned at the reef.
Musical selections at the annual Underwater Music Festival included the Beatles’ “Yellow Submarine” and Jimmy Buffett’s “Fins.”
This year, two local musicians, singing in the station’s studio, premiered songs, and opera was added to the program for the first time. “We even played ‘Songs of the Humpback Whale,”‘ said festival organizer Bill Becker. “But thankfully, no whales came.”
I was at MIDE (Malaysia International Dive Expo) 2007 over the weekend. It was quite a busy affair. A lot of newbie divers checking out gear, a lot of expats hoping for cheap deals to Bali and Thailand and a lot of locals like me just looking.
Overall, I was disappointed. There weren’t as many exhibitors as the website says there are. Some had pulled out. There weren’t any exhibitors displaying new gear that I hadn’t already seen in their shops (they were just getting rid of old stock). The seminars were set far away from the exhibition area so many visitors (including myself) forgot about them and never made it to any. And there weren’t any great deals. A lot of island based dive centres and resorts made offerings, but they weren’t any I couldn’t get on my own on any given day.
I managed to catch up with my buddies from Malaysianunderwater.com, the local diver forum. And I did get to talk to the representative of Reef Check Malaysia (no website!) and get myself on their email list. They have a small presence in Malaysia. And while most divers have heard of them, few people know when their training and events are held.
I also chatted with the exhibitor at the Beuchat booth. Beuchat (ugly logo) didn’t have an active representation in Malaysia until recently. They still don’t have a shop. But it looks like they’ll be getting one soon.
Eric Cheng has posted the winners of the Bonaire Shootout. The winners all received dive trips to Indonesia. None of the ones I liked were selected. Too bad. (IMHO: The winners showed technical proficiency. But that’s about it. See for yourself.)
FINS online blog has posted a trip report to the Tioman Mega Dive, July 11-15. It’s an annual event started last year by the local tourism ministry. There was an underwater photography competition, an underwater photography clinic (details not listed on the website) and a treasure hunt where 20 little chests were hidden in reefs around the island.
