Editor’s Note: In the second part of our DEMA coverage, we catch up with dive operators from around the world to see how they’ve responded to COVID-19 and discuss the future of diving tourism and their business.
Sign of the times: Choose your wristband to show how comfortable you feel around others
As discussed in The first part Regarding our DEMA Show coverage, things are a little different this year, as many companies are unable to travel and attend the show. COVID has caused chaos across the globe and scuba diving is the last thing on everyone’s mind when effective travel comes to a complete standstill.
Thankfully, the border is slowly reopening to international travel, and some of our favorite operators have also taken the trip to Las Vegas to promote their dive resorts and destinations later. months locked and closed. It was encouraging to see exhibitors from the Philippines, Indonesia, Fiji, Mexico and across the Caribbean in attendance, and we had the opportunity to strike up a conversation with some of our sponsors and friends to learn how they’re dealing with the pandemic — and more importantly who’s open and when we can go diving again.
Master Liveaboards always has a large booth and is busy taking reservations for the entire show
Master Liveaboards
Companies with vessels in various locations around the world have had to deal with different rules and regulations in each country, and our friends here Master Liveaboards still had some of their fleet in drydock waiting to set sail. The good news is that they are fully up and running and ready to take bookings on all itineraries for next year and beyond.
While some of their most popular destinations like the Philippines and Indonesia remain closed, expeditions to the Galápagos have been going on for months, and despite the demise of the world famous Darwin Arch, they report that diving there was better than ever. . Thailand is also open for business and popular phinisi The ship has just completed its maiden voyage with American guests safely since before the pandemic began. By completing existing reservations that have been delayed and with new customers looking to travel, they are expecting a busy 2022 in all destinations. We can’t wait to get back on board some of the company’s amazing dive boats and bring you lots of new travel content soon.
Instead of handing out pre-printed brochures, the team used tablets to share information
Lembeh Resort team chats with travelers who want to return to Indonesia
Lembeh . Resort
Things have turned out to be extremely difficult for our partners in Indonesia – perhaps the most popular destination in the world for underwater photographers – as borders remain closed to tourism. in general and the resorts are empty waiting for visitors to return. Nobody ever sits back and waits for things to happen, Danny Charlton and his team at Lembeh . Resort made the best of the bad situation and used the time during the lockdown to complete various construction projects and improve the resort. Most admirably, they have managed to survive without laying off any staff and have been open to local bookings since October 2020 while they wait for international visitors to return. Besides perfecting the new Backscatter Authorized Photo Centerthey have also launched a coral garden project and a horticulture project that provides food for the resort’s restaurants and staff.
Sister activities Murex Manado and Murex Banka Also busy with renovations and additions of new buildings, and the entire team can’t wait to show everyone their work and get back to diving with blue-ringed octopuses, hairy frogfish and other animals. other exotic creatures as soon as possible.
Siladen Resort & Spa, one of our favorite dive resorts on the planet
Siladen Resort & Spa
For the group at Siladen Resort, it’s a similar story. They have also been busy during the enforced closure with renovation and maintenance works throughout the property. The already perfect resort in Bunaken National Marine Park has added a new villa and boat to its fleet, and the staff continue to regularly clean the beach and other projects to keep it The island is beautiful and ready for when the tourists return.
Both Siladen and Lembeh Resort have also been approved by the Indonesian government to operate as official quarantine improvement hotels, so while any quarantine measures remain in place, at least you can stay resort and take advantage of great food and other amenities. Both companies are optimistic about a return to normal travel operations in early 2022 and are ready to reopen as soon as tourist visas on arrival allow entry through Manado.
Daniele Marianelli at Siladen Resort is still smiling behind the mask
Pacific Fleet has a nice large pavilion displaying some excellent videos from previous guests
Pacific Fleet
During the pandemic, Pelagic Fleet rebranded, acquired several new team members, and changed its name to Pacific Fleet. Although some things have changed behind the scenes, the great thing Solmar DRAW and Eddy Boats are as popular as ever, and with Mexico opening to tourism, things are working normally for the team in Guadalupe and the Revillagigedo Islands.
Anyone who has participated? Solmar sailing and diving with great whites, or with giant mantises, and dolphins in Socorro know that the Pacific Ocean south of Cabo San Lucas in Mexico is home to some good big animal diving best on the planet. New additions to their service include special trips with special guests including world-renowned chefs and professional underwater photographers. They also have a self-propelled ocean cage that can be reserved for special interactions with amazing white people unlike anything you have experienced before!
Fiji has been back up and running since December 1st and Volivoli was there to let everyone know
Volivoli . Resort
Fiji is another destination that relies on tourism for most of its income and things are getting tough for everyone, as the country has been completely closed since the pandemic began. The good news is that the islands are finally ready to welcome back tourists and have announced that fully vaccinated guests can enter the country without quarantine as long as they present a test. PCR negative on arrival. Despite the lack of business, our old friends from Volivoli The resort was in attendance to announce their latest developments and take reservations for Christmas, next year and beyond.
Owner Steve Darling was happy to provide me with an update on what happened at the resort during the lockdown. They added a brand new camera room with 14 workstations including international sockets and pneumatic guns, plus a new media room that can hold up to 40 people for talks and other important presentations. . The diving team has also been busy exploring near the resort and they now offer free unguided indoor ashore diving, a game changer for those who want to spend a lot of time in the water and shooting. some macro creatures — as well as the reefs and sharks for which Fiji is famous.
They have also teamed up with our friends at the best shark diving company in the world, Beqa Adventure Diversoffers combo packages so guests can dive further south in Pacific Harbor surrounded by giant bull sharks and other iconic shark species.
Members of the Pacific Fleet discuss great whites at the Image Resource Center
Other points of interest
In addition to the ones mentioned above, other popular dive spots are also well represented and often supported by the respective country’s tourist board. The Philippines has suffered one of the strictest lockdowns anywhere on the planet, but well-known dive companies like Atlantis Dive Resort and Aiyanar Beach & Dive Resort made an effort to attend and let everyone know they were ready for business as soon as the travel restrictions were lifted. There are also many stalls dedicated to resorts in the Maldives, the Bahamas, Bonaire, Mexico and the Galápagos, all destinations that are already open and happily accepting visiting divers.
Outside the tourist area, many diving equipment manufacturers were on hand to display a wide variety of diving equipment such as full face masks, tanks, air compressors, BCDs and wetsuits, and just about anything. other you may need for water fun. However, many big players, such as Scubapro and Four Element, chose to miss it this year, so the big booths full of the latest gear we’re used to seeing at DEMA have fallen out of favor. behave as in previous programs. Not surprisingly, PADI and DAN have two of the biggest booths this year, and there are plenty of new announcements and programs to promote and discuss.
PADI booth is one of the largest and busiest booths of the exhibition
Official figures indicate that the total number of visitors at DEMA 2021 is 40% below their normal rate. However, we did have a good time reconnecting with old friends and colleagues, while trying to stay busy during the four-day event. While it’s clear that everyone has been through hard times and some continue to struggle to survive, we’re still optimistic that the worst may finally be over. We look forward to traveling and getting back to doing what we love most — taking underwater photos of iconic marine life in some of the best diving spots on the planet!
