“VH1 You Oughta Know” Band ‘Rocks’ DEMA’s Upcoming Shark Finning Public Service Announcement (PSA)

Youngblood Hawke Delivers Shark Preservation Message

DEMA and Youngblood Hawke, a Los Angeles based band, are teaming up to film a Public Service Announcement (PSA) aimed at boosting awareness of the increased demand for shark fins and the devastating effect it is having on the global shark population.

Youngblood Hawke’s break-out single “We Come Running,” features the band underwater, playing music and scuba diving with sharks in the Bahamas diving with DEMA-Member operator Stuart Cove's Dive Bahamas. Despite the playful feel of the video, the band delivers a deeper message of the importance of environmental conservation in the soon-to-be-released PSA.

“DEMA and the dive industry are committed to putting an end to shark finning in the U.S. and everywhere,” commented Tom Ingram, Executive Director of DEMA. The industry has already taken initiatives to assist several activist organizations in the U.S. in their effort to ban shark finning. Since Youngblood Hawke is known for using their celebrity status to advocate worthwhile causes, DEMA feels privileged to work with the band on this important endeavor. It is intended to reach all generations and make a lasting impression while reinforcing the value that sharks have and the vital role they play in our ecosystem.”

The 30-second PSA will inform consumers about this issue and emphasize the drastic effects that killing one of the top ocean predators for frivolous items, such as shark fin soup, has on the marine environment and beyond. It will encourage consumers to join the diving industry in their commitment to ban shark finning. The PSA was filmed Monday, September 16 in Los Angeles and will be launched later this fall.

More than 70 million sharks are killed each year, many simply so their fins can be taken for consumption. Primarily the fins are used to make shark fin soup and after the fins are removed the remainder of the animal is often discarded into the sea to die. Without the presence of this apex ocean predator, the entire ocean ecosystem is thrown out of balance. Taken to the extreme, this out-of-balance situation endangers the health of the oceans and everyone on earth. For more information on DEMA’s public service announcements visit www.dema.org.  

2014 DEMA Board of Directors Election Slate Announced

DEMA Member Write-In Petitions Must Be Submitted by October 11, 2013

DEMA has announced that its 2014 Board of Directors election will take place from December 13, 2013 to January 31, 2014. All 2014 DEMA Members are eligible to vote. DEMA's 2014 Board of Directors Election candidates are:

Category A1 – Manufacturers, Distributors and Affiliated Field/Sales Representatives:

• Scott Daley, Body Glove International
• Rick Hill, Catalina Cylinders

Category A2 – Diver Certification and Training Agencies, and Affiliated Field/Sales Representatives:

• Tom Leaird, Scuba Educators/PDIC International
• Jeff Seckendorf, Unified Team Diving

Category A3 – Dive Publishing, Media, Dive Industry Consulting, Associations & Non-Retail Service Providers:

• Bonnie Borkin, Bonnier
• Matt Weiss, Divephotoguide.com

Category A4 – Retail Distribution of Diving Goods & Services:

• Werner Kurn, Ocean Enterprises

Category A5 – Dive Travel Provider or Resort:

• Stuart Cove, Stuart Cove's
• Ronny Roskosch, Active Scuba Divers.com

Write in nominations for the 2014 Board of Directors election slate are currently being accepted by DEMA and to be valid must be received by 5:00 pm Pacific Time on October 11, 2013. There are two options for a write-in candidate to be included on the final election slate:

1. The nomination can be proposed by a petition of Members (renewed for 2014) holding two percent (2%) or more of the voting power of the Association; or
2. The candidate may be written in by a petition of at least ten (10) A-class Members (renewed for 2014). 

The write-in candidate may choose the petition option that best fits their circumstances. Those primary DEMA Member Voting Delegates interested in becoming a write-in candidate should contact DEMA at secretary@dema.org to request a write-in petition form.

All A-category DEMA Members who pay their 2014 dues by 5:00 pm Pacific Time on January 10, 2014 will be eligible to vote in this election. DEMA encourages Members to consider each candidate carefully and to vote for the candidate in each category that meets industry needs as perceived by the individual Member. There is neither a requirement in the DEMA Bylaws nor any obligation in the voting procedures which compels DEMA Members to conform to a “voting bloc.” For membership information please contact membership@dema.org or (858) 616-6408.

In accordance with the DEMA Bylaws, Directors serve three-year terms. For more information on DEMA's Board of Directors and Bylaws visit www.dema.org.

DEMA Submits Comments on Re-Establishing the National Marine Sanctuary Nomination and Designation Process

Association Supports Sanctuaries and Suggests Criteria for Nominations and Designations of these Important Environmental Areas 

The Diving Equipment and Marketing Association (DEMA) recently submitted comments in support of re-establishing the nomination process for National Marine Sanctuaries and for determining how sanctuaries are selected. The comments were submitted by Tom Ingram, Executive Director of DEMA, on behalf of the Association.

Sanctuary officials solicited comments in the Federal Register, Volume 78, No. 125, asking for comments on the proposed amendments to the rules for nominations and for evaluating sites to be designated as National Marine Sanctuaries.

“As an Industry, the diving community supports the concept of having criteria-driven proposals and designation procedures which ensure that local communities and interested parties are a part of the overall process for these environmentally important areas,” commented Ingram. “The Diving Industry depends on sustainable interaction with the marine environment as well as with certain submerged cultural resources for its very existence, and is aware of the need for long term sustainability of these resources for all citizens of the U.S.”

DEMA’s comments emphasized:

• Having a clean and healthy environment in which divers can easily participate in the recreation contributes to the economy of the community which is local to the Sanctuary.   By some estimates recreational diving contributes more than $11 billion to the US GDP overall.
• The interest of snorkeling and scuba diving participants in protecting and respectfully using the marine environment while keeping it clean and healthy.
• The interest of snorkelers and scuba divers in protecting and observing historical and cultural resources.
• Suggestions for criteria to be used in the Sanctuary nomination and designation process, to include; the need for input from all user groups, the need for a clear balance between access and use by interested parties, and the health of the resource, recognizing that diving and snorkeling are NOT inherently consumptive activities, and the need to avoid unnecessarily restricting non-consumptive activities.
• DEMA’s continuing interest in participating with the nomination re-establishment and designation processes.

Ingram concluded, “DEMA and the Dive Industry look forward to working with the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Department of Commerce (DOC) to provide data and input from the recreational diving community so that decisions can be better made regarding sanctuary area nominations and designations.”

For more information, see National Marine Sanctuaries and the official comments submitted by DEMA.

Wounded Warriors Complete Scuba Certification With Help From DEMA & DEMA Members

Veterans and Their Families Hosted for a Week-long Dive Trip to Bonaire

From August 17-24, a group of twelve “Wounded Warriors” completed their scuba certifications during a fully-sponsored trip to the Caribbean island of Bonaire. Now in its 8^th year, DEMA first reached out to Disabled Sports USA (DSUSA) and the Wounded Warrior Project in 2006 to bring the therapeutic use of recreational diving to these veterans of the U.S. military who sustained severe injuries while serving their call of duty. DEMA Members and many others sponsored this event.

“The fact that DEMA and various DEMA members could unite to positively impact these brave men, women and their families through learning to Be A Diver is both inspiring and a significant accomplishment in our mission to raise awareness for the sport of diving and the health benefits it provides,” said Tom Ingram, Executive Director of DEMA. “The unifying and empowering effect that diving together had on the Warriors and their families clearly illustrates the equalizing power and three-dimensional freedom that the underwater environment offers.”

These Wounded Warriors sustained life-altering injuries while serving in the military. The Warriors and their family members kicked off their week-long trip by completing their open water dives to earn their PADI and Handicapped Scuba Association (HSA) sponsored certifications. After becoming certified, they continued diving throughout the week with several shore and boat dives, sightseeing excursions, shopping, dining and participating in a multitude of activities arranged especially for them. A highlight of the trip took place when these extraordinary individuals and their travel companions took part in a parade where they were greeted warmly by the island citizens and later treated to a reception held in their honor.

The certification trip was the culmination of the efforts of a number of DEMA Members including local dive centers, manufacturers and travel providers.

Sponsors of this year’s 8^th Annual Be A Diver-Bonaire Wounded Warrior Scuba Certification Trip included: 9Line LLC, Air Hogs SCUBA, Adams Unlimited Public Relations & Marketing, Bistro de Paris, Bonaire KFC, BonPhoto, BonaireTalk.com, Bonaire Quad Tours, Bonaire Guided Motorcycle Tours, Bonaire Tours & Vacations, Budget Rent A Car Bonaire, Captain Don's Habitat Bonaire, Caradonna Dive Adventures, Care Coalition, Chat & Browse Bonaire, Chesapeake Bay Diving Center, CIEE Bonaire, Destinations Weddings & Honeymoons Magazine, Disabled Sports USA, DEMA/Be A Diver, DiveNewswire, Dive Training Magazine, Elements Bonaire, Enchanted Florist, Femme Fatales Women Motorcycle Club (Ffwmc), Henderson, H.S.A. International Training Center of New Jersey, Innovative Scuba Concepts, Inc, Iron Order Motorcycle Club Bonaire (Caribbean Pirates Crew), Islands Magazine, Jack Chalk, Jewel of Bonaire, Joe’s Grill House, LeisurePro, Maspeth Lion’s Club, Mountain Bay Scuba, Inc., NetTech, N.V., OCEANIC, Ocean Enterprises, Omnicomm Media Group, PADI, Paradise Moon Bar & Restaurant, Patriot Dive Center, Princeton Tec, Rum Runners, Scuba Diving Magazine, Scuba Toys, Sport Diver Magazine, Tourism Corporation Bonaire, and the Wounded Warrior Project.

Saturday-Only “Immersion” Pass Available for New, Part-Time and Busy Dive Professionals Interested in Attending DEMA Show 2013

Qualified dive professionals can register for a one-day experience at DEMA Show 2013 using the Saturday-Only Immersion Pass. Available for as little as $20 for DEMA Members and $60 for non-Members, The Saturday-Only Immersion pass was created to help Divemasters, Dive Control Specialists, Assistant Instructors and Instructors attend the Show and can be purchased by visiting www.demashow.com and clicking on Register Now. Those registering for the Immersion Pass will be required to provide credentials as outlined on the DEMA Show website.

Although any diving professional may register for the Saturday-Only Pass, the Immersion Pass program specifically recognizes the need for local or regionally-located dive professionals to attend DEMA Show, even though time may not allow them or they feel they are too “new” to the Industry to attend the entire Show. Now they can attend DEMA Show without paying full attendance prices and acquire the information needed to remain active in the Industry.

According to Tom Ingram, Executive Director of DEMA, “The Immersion Pass is designed to encourage these upcoming professionals and important diver influencers to explore new products and services, attend seminars and meet face-to-face with Industry colleagues.” As with everyone attending DEMA Show, professionals obtaining the Saturday-only Immersion Pass are required to provide professional credentials in order to receive a DEMA Show badge and are NOT automatically qualified to receive a “Buyer” designation.

The Immersion Pass provides attendees with Saturday-only access to DEMA Show Exhibits, Exhibitor Sponsored Seminars, IRC Seminars, TDRC Seminars and Espresso Education Sessions. Those attending the Show on Saturday are encouraged to join us for two important sessions to help guide the future of our Industry:

Starting off the Show’s Saturday morning from 8:30 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. will be the Espresso Education Session:  How to Ban the Sale of Shark Fins in Your Area. Presented by Bob Harris, DEMA Legislative Consultant of Messer Caparello Law Firm, this session will outline how to introduce legislation in your state or community that would make the sale of shark fins illegal.

On Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. all attendees are encouraged to join Tom Ingram, DEMA Executive Director for Saturday’s session: Moving Toward 2020: Developing a Strategic Vision for the Recreational Diving Industry. Come brainstorm with your colleagues to guide the direction of the Diving Industry over the next few years and help DEMA implement new ideas, such as those generated during 2020 Sessions in 2011 and 2012:

• Access to workers compensation and health insurance for DEMA Members, including business owners and their employees.
• Increased use of social media with the diving community.
• Implementation of programs to reach a younger audience and bring them into diving.
• Creation and promotion of programs which encourage “local diving”. 

Visit the DEMA Show website for additional information on these sessions and DEMA Show registration.

DEMA Board of Directors Enhances the Trade Show Business Experience for DEMA Show 2014

In May of 2013, the DEMA Show Committee met to discuss changes that could be implemented to enhance business for DEMA Members at the trade-only DEMA Show 2014. The Committee discussed how a number of different policy changes could help Members increase their own business transactions and improve the time they spend at the Show as dive industry buyers and influencers. The changes agreed upon are expected to create an improved Show experience for Exhibitors and Attendees alike. Confirmed changes for DEMA Show 2014 include:

• Recognition of DEMA Membership level in determining the number of Exhibitor Badges allotted per 10x10 Exhibit space.
  To make sure that legitimate and qualified Attendees are served during the limited Show schedule the Board has voted to tightly manage the number of badges allotted for each exhibit space and create a sliding scale based upon DEMA Member Level.
   
• Exhibitor and Attendee Badge Reprints
  Members have asked DEMA to continue to improve the registration process to prevent unqualified consumers (non-trade) from obtaining badges which allow them to slip on to the trade show floor. To improve this process, the Board has voted to implement a badge reprint fee and tighten the badge distribution process to be certain that fewer badges are being lost, distributed to those other than the person indicated on the badge or never being distributed to all registered staff members, thus leaving some registered individuals needing a reprint of a badge they were never given. The Board has voted to implement a $25 reprint fee for DEMA Show badges. DEMA staff has developed a method of properly recording badge distribution to determine if a badge has actually been picked up to avoid unfairly charging for reprints. DEMA will continue to check ID’s in order to distribute a reprinted badge.
   
• Manufacturers Representatives will become a part of the attendee registration system in 2014.
  In consideration of paying DEMA Show Attendees, the DEMA Board has discussed and acknowledged that in general, legitimate Manufacturers Reps are able to obtain an Exhibitor’s badge from at least one of the companies they are representing. The Board has voted to include Manufacturers Reps in the normal diving professional registration process, requiring registration in the same manner as other business Attendees for DEMA Show beginning in 2014. Manufacturers Reps can elect to receive a badge from one of their affiliated Exhibitors or register and pay as all professional Attendees.

More information on DEMA’s Board of Directors and Committees is available on the DEMA website. Complete minutes from past Board of Directors Meetings are available to current DEMA Members from the Member Dashboard of www.dema.org.

Media Participates in Hiding DiveCaches in the Caribbean

Diving for treasure in the Caribbean just became an activity for any certified diver!  DEMA is launching a pilot underwater “treasure hunt” in Bonaire, promoting DiveCaching through DEMA”s “Treasure Challenge” and daring divers to find a series of underwater geocaches throughout the Dutch Caribbean island.

Mirrored after the Diving for Texas Treasure Challenge, the Diving for Bonaire Treasure Challenge will be launched this year at DEMA Show in Orlando, FL. The contest will run for six months, and the winners will be announced the first week of May 2014.

In order to promote the Diving for Bonaire Treasure Challenge, Bonaire sponsored a press trip last month that focused on hiding several of the DiveCaches that will be part of the Challenge. Four top U.S. media professionals were on the island for a week of DiveCaching and diving. All journalists are certified divers and on assignment for the following publications; Ashley Castle writing for AFAR magazine, Ted Stedman for Global Traveler magazine, Cynthia Barnes for Montage magazine and Abi Smigel Mullens for Wetpixel. For more information about their outlets and audiences, visit: AFAR, Global Traveler, Montage and Wetpixel.