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Articles from ScubaDiver Australia website
MIDE Show, Day 1 July 4, 2008 – It’s becoming evident that the Malaysia International Dive Expo (MIDE), now in its third year here in Kuala Lumpur, has quickly become one of the leading dive shows not just in the region, but in the world. It isn’t simply the sheer number of visitors that come through or the increasing participation of dive schools, equipment manufacturers, and operators, but the energy everyone brings to this annual event. It’s gotten so big that even renowned marine biologist (and subject of the Issue 3/2008 Icons profile) Neville Coleman made a surprise entrance, much to the delight of the assembled crowd who happily bought his books and had autographs and pictures taken with him. If you’re in town this weekend, make a note to stop by. (Neville Coleman is in town through the weekend.) The crowds are expected to pour in on Saturday and Sunday, but if you make it down tomorrow (the 5th) you can still sign up and take home awesome prizes as well as a free ticket to the Diver’s Party @ MIDE tomorrow night at Modesto’s, from 7:30–9:30 p.m. Before we forget, anyone who signs up for a PADI Diving Society membership at the show – be it a one- or two-year membership – is entered into the lucky draw on Sunday evening, 6:00 p.m., for the SeaDoo VS Supercharged (worth US$599). It’s the latest scooter from SeaDoo, and an awesome prize you get just for joining the PADI Diving Society. Hope to see you here! (Clockwise from left: Planet Scuba; Panasonic showing of its new line of Lumix cameras;Neville Coleman and Scuba Diver AustralAsia Editor-in-Chief David Espinosa; Malaysia’s Pinnacle wetsuit distributor, Sea Monkeys)
MIDE Show, Day 1 (Part 2) July 4, 2008 – For the first year, MIDE and Scuba Diver AustralAsia teamed up to “host” the Through the Lens photo competition. It turned out to be an awesome partnership, with nearly double the entries from the first TTL competition in 2007. Because the winners were notified two weeks ago, a few were able to confirm their presence for the official announcement and award ceremony tomorrow night at the Diver’s Party @ MIDE. (The winners’ images are on display now at the MIDE show.) What’s more, three winners even showed up at the booth today: Malaysian Ooi Aik Lim, who won first prize in the Underwater: Malaysia category; and Singaporeans Lam Wee Chee, who won second in the Underwater: Malaysia, and 16-year-old Miles Teo, who won an Encouragement Award in the Young Underwater Photographer category. (Clockwise from top left: the 2008 TTL winners’ gallery at the MIDE show; Ooi Aik Lim, 1st place, Underwater: Malaysia; Lam Wee Chee, 2nd place, Underwater: Malaysia; Miles Teo, Encouragement Award, Young Underwater Photographer)
MIDE Show, Day 2 July 5, 2008 – More photos from day two of the Malaysia International Dive Expo (MIDE). (Left to right, from top row: Entrance to the show minutes before it opens; bird’s eye view of the show; close up of the crowded aisles; Scuba Diver AustralAsia sales manager Jonathan Lin, Art Director Jasmine Tan, and photographer/radio host/TTL judge/good friend Richard Ng; Tourism Malaysia booth; the hardworking men and women of Odyssea Divers; a traditional dance performed on the main stage; Ketut and Annabel of Aquamarine – Bali; party banner at the Scuba Diver AustralAsia booth; Beuchat; Jed and Matt of DivePhotoGuide.com; Neville Coleman and Tim Hochgrebe, of underwater.com.au)
MIDE Show, Day 3 July 6, 2008 – Day three of the MIDE show definitely saw the most foot traffic, with people spilling in up until the final minutes. For Scuba Diver AustralAsia, the highlight was the lucky draw at the end of the show. As 6:00 p.m. neared, dozens of new and existing PADI Diving Society members gathered at the booth to see if their names would be drawn to win copies of the Asian Geographic Journal, the Scuba Diver AustralAsia Passport to Diving the World, Nadine books, and the grand prize: a Sea-Doo Supercharged sea scooter, worth US$599. Emcee Richard Ng announced the winners’ names, and with each drawn name the crowd’s anticipation grew. Ten minutes after the draw began, Malaysian Ooi Teik Mun – a new PADI Diving Society member who’d signed up at the show – was announced as the winner of the Sea-Doo Supercharged. He and his group of friends, several of whom had also joined the PADI Diving Society, nearly burst with excitement, startling the onlookers at surrounding booths. Stay tuned for more lucky draws in a city near you, and for those who stopped by the booth – whether to sign up or not – we appreciated your company and look forward to seeing you next year.
Diver’s Party @ MIDE July 6, 2008 – Last night, Scuba Diver AustralAsia/PADI Diving Society and MIDE hosted a party for exhibitors and Diving Society members at the Sin Bar at Grand Modesto’s in Kuala Lumpur’s hip party district. Hundreds were treated to free drinks, finger foods, and a vibrant party atmosphere. (See if you can find the photo of marine biologist Neville Coleman – sans his iconic hat – boogeying down.) The Diver’s Party @ MIDE was emceed by local deejay Richard Ng, who took guests through a slide show of the winners for this year’s TTL photo competition. Malaysian photographer Ooi Aik Lim (1st place, Underwater: Malaysia) and Singaporean Lam Wee Chee (2nd place, Underwater: Malaysia) were also on hand to receive their prizes. |
