ADEX 2014 POST REPORT THE ADEX PHENOMENON

Local: Foreign: Visitor Count: 39,687 22,842 16,845 64 countries

ADEX 2014 has again broken its past records in terms of visitors, sales, business participation, partnerships and mileage in branding, diving-related benefits and campaigns in every commercial/corporate aspect. The amount of trade, as well as consumer, opportunites has reinforced the importance of ADEX. Taking into account the various other dive shows around the world, ADEX has set itself apart with a multi-tiered purpose that truly encompass every component, issue and value of the diving world. ADEX 2014 POST REPORT

Kids have a ball painting with world-renouned Ocean Artist, Wyland APRIL 11, 2014 Visitor Count: DAY 1 9,384

DESPITE THE OPENING DAY being on a Friday, where partnerships were signed and new elements of Asian drones of veteran ADEX visitors swooped in as a strategy Diver was launched. As well, the OC was also when some to avoid the weekend madness and have a better time longtime supporters of ADEX were celebrated and awarded shopping for new gear. with plaques to commemorate relationships that have even The magical ADEX hour was at 3pm, when the Opening lasted for 21 years. Ceremony got on the way. Master of Ceremony Richard Ng It was also a time when the ADEX Ambassadors were returned to the ADEX family and graced the show with his announced and received their sponsored prizes from ORIS famous voice. The OC itself was a significant micro event, (for the ADEX Ocean Ambassador 2014–2015), and

Members of the Historical Diving Society Asia meet at ADEX 2014 The reveal: HDSA launched its second volume of Dive the Big Blue: A Historical Affair

Sealife (for the ADEX Ambassador 2014–2015) In conjunction with the ADEX 2014 theme on protecting and the uw3some expedition to the Maldives (for the ADEX the coral reefs this year, the children also participated in a Ambassador of Photography). colouring competition. The Wyland Foundation gave away The Kids Zone, under Asian Geographic JUNIOR, was a 12 medals to the winners. Also keeping the children on their popular stopover for kids and adults alike. Our very attractive toes and their minds sharp were the people from Logic Mills, balloons were a draw until they realised they could actually a centre that enhances analytical thinking skills through witness world-renowned ocean artist Wyland paint a huge experiential learning. mural spanning 12 by four metres! While filling the canvas Ocean Artist and the chosen ADEX with a variety of undersea creatures, the very amiable Wyland Ambassador 2014–2015, Anuar Abdullah gave a demonstration also welcomed photographs and autographs. More than 120 of his creative talents and started work on canvas, where the children even had the privilege of painting with him. finished work would be donated to a children’s hospital. A new partnership: Asian Geographic Magazines Pte Ltd tangos with Raffles Marina and the Nature Society Singapore to form the Blue Green Alliance Asian_Diver_03_56x252mm_Layout 1 01.04.14 14:10 Seite 1

ADEX 2014 POST REPORT BASELAYER THE INGENIOUS WARM UNDERWEAR FOR WATERSPORTS

The ADEX Coral Reef Ambassador, The ADEX Ocean Ambassador, The ADEX Ambassador of Photography, Anuar Abdullah Nadine Chandrawinata Aaron Wong

In the afternoon, the Photo/Video seminar began. Lia Barrett then gave a glimpse into the world of shooting ADEX awarded the following for outstanding contribution and support of ADEX and the dive Jason Isley opened the zone with his session, revealing freedivers and recording their extraordinary ability. industry in general: how much more there is to than through Day 1 at the Marina Bay Sands Halls B & C ended on a his fish-packed images. high with the ever- delightful lucky draw, where prize sponsors LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD included B&J Tioman, Beuchat, , Oceanic Quest Travel and Clement Lee Tour Company, Papua Explorers Dive Resort, Silkair and Zgear. Anuar hand-paints tees to raise funds for his coral preservation projects David Strike The celebration continued, however, at IndoChine’s Peter Schmitt Forbiden City at Clarke Quay, exclusive for speakers and sponsors, along with media. It was a welcomed session, where APPRECIATION AWARD overseas guests could finally relax over drinks after a hectic first Will Goodman day of ADEX 2014. Smart Pricing ScubaPro Asia Pacific SSI PH Balancer Taiwan Beer Pioneer IndoChine WOWtv and Dive Channel Pangaea Sabah Tourism Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, Republic of Singapore Tourism Board Philippine Department of Tourism Tourism Christmas Tourism Association SHAKE IT AND IT’S DRY Seychelles Tourism Board FITS LIKE A SECOND SKIN SilkAir (S) Pte Ltd NO ZIP - NO STICHING Singapore Underwater Federation NO MARKS Ren Scubaworx

Wyland Lucky winner on Day 1’s Lucky Draw More information on: www.camaro.at ADEX 2014 POST REPORT

APRIL 12, 2014 Visitor Count: DAY 2 17,946

World record holder, Will Goodman (left) with Simon Liddiard Christian Vizl speaking at the Photo/Video Seminar during ADEX 2014

Master of monochrome, Christian Vizl, was another At noon, a steady stream of people headed to the third crowd-pleaser, with the audience packing the seats and floor to make sure they had a seat for the talk on the world blocking the aisles to hear him talk about the poetry of record achievement of the deepest dive on CCR by Will and the use of light and black and Goodman, supported by Simon Liddiard. Will saved this white that has made him famous. remarkable world record talk just for ADEX 2014. To say the Scott “Gutsy” Tuason blew the crowd away with daring least, the room was packed; tek dive enthusiasts and experts tales of “black water” diving – drifting through the open piled in as Will dissected the journey by depth. ocean at night and shooting the macro critters that migrate Read the final saga on page 88 or get past issues of Asian Diver to read the entire up from the depths. journey leading to this final record-breaking descent. Standing (From left): Arthur Lee (V-Chairman Tech, SSA), Desmond Ho (Member, Fin Swimming Com), Jimmy Choo (V-President, Tech, SUF), Merari Nainggolan (Sec Gen, POSSI), Michael Lim (V-Chairman Tech Com, CUA), Gao Qiang (V-Chairman Tech, CUA), Yip Kwan Guan (Sec Gen, SUF), Sanny Liorlunan (Sports President, POSSI), Philip Alex Santos takes to the stage at the TekDive Conference Lee Kok Hon (V-President, Sports, SUF), Michael Yu Jingyang (Dy Sec Gen, SUF); Seated (From left): Tzeng Ing Jiuh (President, CTUF), Dr June Luhulima (Chairperson, Research & , POSSI), Freddy Numberi (President, POSSI), Anna Arzhanova (President, CMAS), Hassan Baccouche (Sec Gen, CMAS), Byungdoo Lee (President, KUA; Sec Gen, AUF; Board Member, CMAS), Karen A. Chan (V-President, PAUA), Song Shing Hae (President, SUF)

THE SECOND DAY of ADEX 2014 opened early with heightened excitement as the weekend was upon Marina Bay Sands and the island nation received an influx of visitors, all prepared to spend the day at the biggest and longest-running dive expo in Asia. The earliest event took place on the third floor of Marina Bay Sands, where the exciting TekDive Conference took place. Early birds got a glimpse of a private session as members of the Asian Underwater Federation (AUF) gathered to meet and have a discourse with the President of the World Underwater Federation (CMAS), Anna Arzhanova, as well as the Secretary General, Hassan Baccouche. At the Photo/Video Zone, Lia Barrett spoke again with a hard hitting talk dealing with the questions of ethics in photojournalism that were raised by her controversial pictures of Nick Mavoli, freediver and friend, who died during a competition she was covering. Tim Ho was a standout star of the seminar, with his brilliantly accessible talks on compact cameras and torchlight pulling in huge crowds and generating buzz and excitement over the possibilities available to photographers without SLRs. ADEX 2014 POST REPORT

Authors of Dive the Big Blue: A Historical Affair Vol II give a fantastic Meet & Greet session

The TekDive Conference also brought in the enthralling David Strike. In the end hundreads of books were sold, making Alex Santos, a new face from the . With over 20 this project of the Hstorical Diving Society Asia a huge success. years in the tek realm, Alex gripped the room with one of the Day 2 at the Marina Bay Sands Halls B & C ended on most riveting talks on application in maritime a high with the ever-delightful lucky draw, where prize disasters and victim recovery. sponsors included Aiyanar Beach Resort, The ADEX magical hour at 3pm on the second day saw a Alam Asmara Dive Resort, B&J Tioman, Beuchat, Mares, The party begins at Pangaea very successful micro even at the main stage, where the public Oceanic Quest Travel and Tour Company, Papua Explorers Dive could meet and greet the authors of Dive the Big Blue: Resort, Sam's Tours (Palau Royal Resort), Silkair and Zgear. sponsor, IndoChine. The evening held many firsts, starting Never has Pangaea been so packed, with speakers and A Historical Affair Vol II. ADEX visitors queued to buy the The celebration continued, needless to say, at the famous with the world premiere of Blues Planet: Sounds that was exibitors mixing and mingling over too much a tipple. book and get autographs from Leslie Leaney, Bob Ramsay and official ADEX party, this time at Pangaea, with alcohol screened even before the official world premiere during the The night closed with some great lucky draw prizes Newport Beach Film Festival. including KLM Air France Bali air ticket for one, KLM Air Romance also graced the festivity as ADEX’s Senior France Amsterdam air ticket for two and Underwater3some Events and Marketing Executive, Karter Lee, proposed to his Maldives Expedition for two. Lucky winners future bride-to-be on stage, receiving cheers and felicitations included Andrew Lok of Solitude Liveaboard, Paul Brown from colleagues and the crowd. and JC Cergneux. ADEX 2014 POST REPORT

APRIL 13, 2014 Visitor Count: DAY 3 12,357

Mark Erdmann holds the spotlight on centrestage as he promotes the message The great Thomas J Goreau on the main stage as he takes us on a journey of the first of conservation coral reef diving scientists and photographers

THE FINAL DAY of ADEX is usually a day where divers At the Photo/Video Zone, the exceptional Steve Jones Video Competition. This year, a star-studded judging panel of go berserk with last minute gear grabs, attending as many inspired and educated us with talks on wide-angle image capture judges were brought in, consisting of celebrated personalities: talks as possible and doing the final networking and meetings and shooting wrecks in natural light at depth. The crowd then Marine Biologist Tom Goreau, Ocean Artist Wyland, before the year’s biggest dive event ended. heard from the charismatic Imran Ahmad about his successful renowned underwater photographers Christian Vizl, Stephen Day 3 was a good day to be at ADEX, as the main stage development of the highly contentious reverse ring macro Frink, Yorko Summer and Scott Tuason, as well as the newly made was graced with the eminent presence of marine technique, and the incredible underwater world of the Seychelles. crowned ADEX Ambassador of Photography Aaron Wong. conservationists Thomas J Goreau and Mark Erdmann. At the Kids’ Zone, in conjunction with the ADEX 2014 While the professionals were invited to judge based on The TekDive Conference also had a marvellous, early theme on protecting the coral reefs this year, the children open criteria, they shared a common consensus on several start with Barry Coleman opening the sessions. Later on, Alex participated in a colouring competition, where 12 winners works. Attesting to the importance of angle precision and Santos’ in-water recompression discourse brought about some received medals from the Wyland Foundation. stunning composition, they were unanimous in their scoring new device offerings, as well as revisited approaches once At the ADEX witching hour at 3pm, the final saw the of Giordano Cipriani’s masterpiece, ultimately crowning it thought unfitting. always thrilling live judging of the Voice of the Ocean Photo/ with the title of ADEX Photo of the Year. ADEX 2014 POST REPORT HYBRID PURE

During the live judging session, spoke at length of how Adil Schindler expertly wove an element of storytelling into his winning video, fusing together lighting and movement aspects to create elements of surprise. Last, but definitely not least, both Aaron Wong and Yorko Summer agreed that the finalists’ conservation artworks were highly evocative, exhibiting originality, flow and imagery, however, Eugene Soh’s work stood out in terms of impeccable visual perspective, brought about by bold colouring and a conceptual thought process. Day 3 at the Marina Bay Sands Halls B & C ended on a high with the ever-delightful lucky draw, where prize sponsors included Alam Asmara Dive Resort, Beuchat, Mares, Papua Explorers Dive Resort, Silkair and Zgear. Voice of the Ocean live judges from left: Aaron Wong, Yorkoo Summer, Christian Vizl and Thomas J Goreau

Voice of the Ocean live judges from left: Wyland, Stephen Frink and Scott Tuason

WHILE EVERY YEAR, the substance of ADEX is reflected in world-renowned names that willingly attend on official grounds, this year has had an amplified gain in the attendance of the world’s best ocean artist, the choice of various partnerships made, the gathering of the world’s CENTER OF TRAVEL. underwater federations (CMAS) and the micro seminars by PADI, SUF and JJ-CCR with its distributors. It is a testimony to the purpose of ADEX in an enterprise EDGE OF PERFORMANCE. that needs a pulling purpose and gathering point to ensure the continuity of a billion-dollar industry. That ADEX never forgets the source of such an industry is also a chief reason that maintains its influence and drive. Conservation/preservation tenacity gives ADEX an Don’t let travel compromise your comfort. Hybrid Pure is the quintessential light- travel friendly BCD. Hybrid Pure offers performance and com- entitlement that's hard to ignore or beat. fort only expected from a luxury BCD. Integrated-weight, plush padding, and lumbar support, elevate this BC from the others. Be a traveller. Take the edge of performance.

mares.com www.uw3some.com/ADEX ADEX 2014 POST REPORT April10–12 SUNTEC CITY SINGAPORE

WORLD-RENOWNED OCEAN ARTIST REEF LIFE GIVES THUMBS UP TO ADEX 2014 Original Painting/Acrylic Elevating the world status of ADEX yet again, 2014 saw 12 x 40 ft long the presence of world-renouned Ocean Artist, Wyland, as Features a living coral reef, a great hammerhead the year’s Guest of Honour. Famous for his larger-than-life shark, a giant , a , a giant murals, Wyland completed a rare acrylic painting on a 12 octopus and reef fish. by 40 feet long canvas over the three days. ADEX also saw a Wyland gallery that showcased his world-famous works on canvas, as well as sculpture forms. The finish work now As a diver, one has the sits in a gallery and is open for auction, where a quarter immediate connection to the of the proceeds will go to the Wyland Foundation (www. ocean realm. I try to create, wylandfoundation.org) and another 25 percent to the Historical Diving Society Asia, which is a division of the non- most of all, the feeling that profit Asian Geographic Society. Auction starts at US$100,000 we divers get when we enter and bidding can be made at www.AsianGeographic.org. this world of amazing life both large and small that depend on a healthy environment.

I believe art can play one of the most important roles today in encouraging the public to take action to ensure a healthy, sustainable planet.

– Wyland

WYLAND FOUNDATION AND FILM FESTIVAL In association with Founded by renowned environmental artist Wyland, the Wyland Foundation has helped children and families around the nation to rediscover the importance of healthy oceans and waterways through public art programs, classroom science education, and live events. The A non-profit, scientific and educational society foundation is a non-profit organisation and has worked directly with dedicated to the promotion and conservation more than one million children since its inception in 1993. of Asia’s environment, culture and wildlife.