Scubaism

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.

Here are some photos from MIDE 2007: