DEMA Opens Official Hotel Block for DEMA Show 2013 in Orlando, FL

DEMA Show 2013 will be here before you know it and DEMA wants to help Dive Industry professionals keep their planning efforts on track for this year’s annual trade-only event for the Diving Industry.  Start your planning for the Show, taking place November 6-9 in Orlando, FL, by booking your room reservation in the DEMA Show Hotel Block, featuring exclusive exhibitor and attendee rates and benefits.
 

Once again, DEMA Show will feature the Rosen Centre Hotel as this year’s Host Hotel.  The Rosen Centre is conveniently located directly across from the South Hall of the Orange County Convention Center – home to DEMA Show 2013.  Those booking in DEMA’s block at the Rosen Centre will receive complimentary internet, complimentary access to the Fitness Center, free parking and special hotel restaurant discounts all at the special DEMA Show rate of $165 per night* (weekday and weekend).  For those looking to benefit from even bigger savings, specially-priced DEMA hotel block rooms will also be offered at the Hilton Orlando for $159/night*, the Days Inn for $89/night* and the Rosen Inn at Pointe Orlando for $89/night* (*plus state and local taxes).

Complimentary shuttle bus service for those booking within the DEMA Show Hotel Block will be provided to and from the South Hall for those booking rooms at the Days Inn and Rosen Inn at Pointe Orlando during Show dates.  Due to the close walking proximity to the South Hall, shuttle bus service is not necessary from the Rosen Centre nor the Hilton Orlando.

DEMA would like to caution attendees and exhibitors to be wary when booking accommodations through unauthorized third party vendors claiming to work with DEMA Show.  While these room “pirates” typically offer what appears to be a lower rate than the official block rate, room reservations may be offered at significantly lower quality and may not be available for the duration of your planned stay.  In addition, cancellation polices are often harsh and unforgiving. Booking within the official DEMA Hotel Block also allows DEMA to negotiate exclusive rates for DEMA Show attendees and exhibitors.  Help DEMA help the Industry by supporting the Industry’s annual trade-only Show and trade association – book within DEMA’s official hotel block.

New Underwater Simulation Game - Infinite Scuba – Available NOW

Cascade Game Foundry (CGF^®) launches Infinite Scuba™, the first product in their portfolio of next-generation simulation games. Infinite Scuba helps players of all ages experience the beauty, mystery and serenity of scuba diving in breathtakingly recreated dive sites from around the world.

 

“We are thrilled to collaborate with world authorities on scuba diving and environmentalism to create Infinite Scuba,” says Kathie Flood, Managing Director at CGF and a 17-year veteran of the video game industry. Partners include DEMA (The Diving Equipment and Marketing Association),  PADI^® (Professional Association of Diving Instructors), Mission Blue (the Sylvia Earle Alliance) and 20 scuba equipment manufacturers, including SCUBAPRO, Body Glove, Oceanic and BARE. “Our partners,” says Flood, “helped us create an incredibly immersive experience, one that delivers the real adventure of scuba diving to our players.”

 

"DEMA is extremely excited to be part of the launch of Infinite Scuba," commented Tom Ingram, Executive Director of DEMA. "The game is a positive fit with DEMA's mission of promoting sustainable growth in recreational diving and activities such as DiveCaching. Having the diver search for DiveCaches while diving in Infinite Scuba will showcase the adventure and excitement of discovering 'real treasure' underwater."

 

In the initial release of the downloadable game, players explore a shipwreck in Chuuk Lagoon, the site of a pivotal World War II battle that is now a renowned South Pacific dive destination. In the years since that battle, the Chuuk shipwrecks have transformed into thriving reefs. Players search for fish and coral, as well as artifacts from the war, each of which unlocks a page of local history or dive science. Players exploring the wrecks can take photos to share with friends and earn dive certifications which unlock additional content. Players can also purchase and download new equipment, challenges, and dive sites from inside the game.

 

“As a featured gear manufacturer, we are very excited for the release of Infinite Scuba. It is very thorough and well thought-through, with excellent attention to details that will make a noticeable difference for real-life divers who play the game,” says Kate Booth, Marketing Manager for the Americas - Johnson Outdoors Diving LLC, which includes the SCUBAPRO^® and SUBGEAR^® brands.

 

“Scuba diving is an exciting, life-changing activity that can be enjoyed by people of all ages,” says Kristin Valette, PADI Americas’ Vice President of Marketing and Communications. “The PADI organization’s goal is to help people learn to dive and appreciate the wonder of the underwater world. Through our partnership with Cascade Game Foundry, PADI and Infinite Scuba will introduce an even broader audience to the excitement of diving and encourage them to dive into the real thing.”

 

Cascade Game Foundry is hard at work creating additional dive sites and adventures for Infinite Scuba to be released in the second quarter 2013. The game is available now for Windows PC and MacOS. To download and play Infinite Scuba visit InfiniteScuba.com.

 

Copyright © 2013 Cascade Game Foundry

DEMA Programs Help Dive Retailers Spring into Dive Season

The Be A Diver Pool Tour, DiveCaching and Aquatic Career Fairs Provide DEMA Members with Opportunities to Obtain New Customers

The seasons are changing and with Spring right around the corner, dive center businesses are searching for fresh ideas to reach new clients for the upcoming dive season. This spring, a variety of programs are available to DEMA Member Retailers to help them take control of their businesses just in time for dive season. 

“Our Member Retailers are always looking for ways to acquire more customers for the upcoming dive season,” commented Nicole Russell, DEMA Managing Director. “Launching a series of DiveCaches to encourage local diving, hosting their own Aquatic Career Fair to attract younger customers and participating in the Be A Diver Pool Tour, are some of the tactics dive centers can employ to get their business in front of a new or different audience. DEMA is excited to be able to offer programs and support to our Members and encourage everyone to take advantage of them,” concluded Russell.

Below are some of the programs and support DEMA is offering to Members:

Deep Ambitions Aquatic Career Fair

Children of all ages thrive on activity and new experiences. Realizing that inspiring today’s youth to become involved in diving is vital to the future of the Industry, its business and the marine environment, DEMA has produced a series of “Deep Ambitions” Aquatic Career Fairs in partnership with DEMA Members throughout the years. DEMA is encouraging Industry stakeholders to hold similar events on their own to motivate youth in their geographic areas to get involved with the aquatic realm and the sport of scuba diving. A Career Fair provides wonderful ways to energize teachers, expose students to a host of positive career role models, tie academic skills to people who actually use them and involve parents and the community in recreational diving and in their child’s school. Current Members can access DEMA’s Career Fair How-To Guide by logging in to the Members-Only area of dema.org and scrolling down to the Research and Educational Guides section.

Participate in the Be A Diver Pool Tour

Every year the Be A Diver Pool Tour travels across the U.S. enabling potential new diving customers to try scuba diving in the warm, safe confines of a four-feet deep swimming pool. Making stops throughout the year at various consumer-oriented travel, outdoor activity and adventure shows, the Pool gives anyone 10-years-old and up the opportunity to discover the sport of scuba diving for free. The Pool is staffed by diving professionals from local DEMA Member retail stores, giving dive centers the prime opportunity to provide a memorable first-time experience to potential new divers and customers and to make contact with people drawn to diving. Retailers who are interested in participating in a scheduled Pool stop in their area can email “Big Wave” Dave Reidenbach for details.

Keep Divers Active Locally with DiveCaching

Keep customers involved and excited about diving locally by promoting activities affiliated with DiveCaching. DiveCaching is a real-life underwater treasure hunt that, when combined with on-land geocaching activities, can involve the entire family. Geocaching is a game that has been played around the world for more than a dozen years by adventure seekers and outdoor enthusiasts. Retailers can organize underwater DiveCaching scavenger hunts, or create holiday-related DiveCaching/Geocaching events that can help promote local diving and family recreation. For more information on DiveCaching visit www.divecaching.org.

DEMA Requests Your Input and Engagement at 2020 Vision Session During the Beneath The Sea Show on Sunday, March 24th at 10:00 A.M.

Join Tom Ingram, Executive Director of DEMA, for a brainstorming session at Beneath The Sea in Secaucus, NJ on March 24^th. It is an opportunity for you to provide input on the direction of the Diving Industry over the next few years. DEMA has already implemented many of the ideas generated in similar brainstorming sessions throughout 2011 and 2012, including:

• Access to health insurance for DEMA Members, including business owners and their employees.
• Access to Worker’s Compensation Insurance for DEMA Members.
• Increased use of social media as well as examples of how social media can be beneficial to diving businesses,  including the use of a DEMA Blog and increased interaction with the professional and recreational diving community on Facebook, Google+, Instagram, Pinterest and Twitter.
• Implementation of programs to reach a younger audience and bring them into diving.
• Creation and promotion of programs which encourage “local diving” to keep divers more active year-round.

All of these ideas came directly from previous 2020 Vision Sessions and members of the Industry just like YOU!

 

DEMA’s Board of Directors is looking for your ideas to help you take control of your business. Please plan to attend this important brainstorming session at BTS! DEMA encourages all Industry Professionals to register in advance and join us on Sunday, March 24 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. to continue the discussion. Those registering for the Session in advance can request a free ticket to the Show during the registration process, compliments of Beneath The Sea.

• When? Sunday, March 24, 2013 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
• Where? 2nd Floor, Press Room at Beneath The Sea
• Who? All Dive Industry Professionals are welcome

If you have any questions please contact DEMA at (858) 616-6408 or 2020@dema.org. DEMA extends its appreciation to Beneath The Sea for co-sponsoring this session.

2013 Brings NEW Benefits and Members to DEMA

2013 is underway and the Diving Equipment & Marketing Association is on the move. With the addition of over 30 new Members in the first 2 months of 2013 alone, DEMA is looking forward to continuing to helping DEMA Members take control of their own businesses by providing them with services, research data and more.

“We were pleased to share DEMA’s Member retention and Member acquisition statistics with the DEMA Board this past week,” commented Nicole Russell, DEMA Managing Director. “Helping new Members understand what services and data are available and keeping returning Members involved is crucial to our Association. We welcome those new DEMA Members who have joined in 2013 and encourage all Industry stakeholders to use the information and provide feedback whenever possible. DEMA is here to serve our Members and help strengthen our Industry and community.”

In addition to welcoming new Members and increasing early renewals DEMA has added benefits and information for all 2013 Members:

• As a result of DEMA’s new partnership with Constant Contact, Members are eligible for 20% off six month prepaid email marketing services or 25% off full year prepaid email marketing services. These rates provide an extra 10% discount over the standard discount available online for prepayment plans. In addition to these discounted rates, Members will have access to a number of resources to help them make the most of their email and online marketing, such as educational contact and best practices as well as Constant Contact’s other products like EventSpot, Social Campaigns, SaveLocal, Online Survey and SinglePlatform.
   
• Member Dive Centers participating in the Be A Diver Pool, will be happy to hear of DEMA’s added follow-up efforts with Pool participants. In an effort to convert Be A Diver Pool participants into customers for participating retailers who provide on-site support to the pool stops, DEMA is sending out follow up communication to all event-goers who supplied their email address upon registration. This email includes a Certificate of Participation, link to a Photo Bucket photo gallery with images from their dive event, link to connect with others on the Be A Diver Facebook page and direct links to the websites for the Retailers who were there to provide instruction and fun during their event.
   
• Member Spotlights continue to be a popular perk for both new and returning Members. Updated with fresh new questions for 2013, these Spotlights allow DEMA Members the opportunity to talk about their business and individuals to talk about their careers, as well as provide valuable exposure amongst Industry Professionals. Those who completed a 2012 Member Spotlight have the option to update their Spotlight with the 2013 questions or keep their Spotlight as is.

Members are encouraged to visit www.dema.org for complete benefit details and access.