Michel Gilbert and Danielle Alary had the chance to meet Captain Jacques-Yves Cousteau. They spent 45 minutes with the inventor of scuba who was honoured by the Ocean Futures Foundation. John Englander, Ocean Futures Chairman, presented the Ocean Futures Oceanus Award to Capt. Cousteau during a fund-raising dinner. The Award recognized Cousteau's half-century of dedication to protecting and saving the seas.
Michel Gilbert greets visitors at Diver Magazine's booth at the DEMA show.
With 1900 exhibitors, the 1997 edition of the DEMA Show was the largest in history. Attendance was high and the industry showcased many innovations and new destinations.
With pioneers like Capt. Cousteau, Dr. Hans Hass and Sylvia Earle, the 1997 DEMA Show kicked off the Year of the Reef in a remarkable fashion.
It started out 20 years ago as a diving equipment manufacturer's gathering. Today, the DEMA Show has grown to 750 exhibitors occupying 400,000 square feet. Some feel the show is encumbered with too many T-shirt sellers, but it is the most important diving related event in the world and THE place to be and meet the who's who in today's dive industry. 1997 was an exceptional year in this respect.
Gathered at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, the 20,000 or so attendees spent four days doing business and exchanging information on equipment, travel, education and the environment.
Jacques Cousteau
Capt. Jacques-Yves Cousteau was presented the Ocean Futures Foundation Oceanus Award for a lifetime of leadership dedicated to the sea. Chairman John Englander mentioned that the Award recognized "Cousteau's half-century of dedication to protecting and saving the seas, his commitment to inform the public and the inspiration that led many of us to become divers."
Son Jean-Michel, who will be a key speaker at Underwater Canada, saw his father accept the award.
DEMA gave the Reaching Out Awards to other leaders. Dr. Hans Hass, who pioneered underwater film-making and research in the 40's and 50's received an Award. Paul Tzimoulis, publisher of Skin Diver Magazine and Joe Dorsey, an East Coast diving pioneer both also received the Award.
In his acceptance speech, Dr. Hass, author of 100 films and 26 books, insisted on the perils of overpopulation and its effect on the environment. Having spent the last 30 years studying the problem, Dr. Hass mentioned that there is hope but time is running out.
Dr. Sylvia Earle, author of the bestseller Sea Change, gave a keynote address at the Reaching Out Awards presentation ceremony. "The health of our planet, the health of our industry depends on the health of the Oceans." Said Earle in her address.
Dr. Earle, Jean-Michel Cousteau and managers of different organizations like the Coral Reef Alliance and NOAA kicked off the Year of the Reef. "Divers are the best ambassadors of the sea and must participate in a global effort to save the ocean's rain forests" said Dr. Earle.
The Responsible Diver of the Year Award was presented to the DEMA board members for their dedication to the preservation of the marine environment.
Diver Magazine Honored
The Canadian diving industry was well represented in Orlando. The most prominent presence was the British Columbia Dive Tourism Association. Many manufacturers and distributors gathered at a SEAMAC cocktail reception during the show.
Diver Magazine had a booth and also received a plaque from the Ocean Futures Foundation in recognition for its efforts in getting the message about the oceans out to the public.
Equipment/industry trends
1997 may be the Year of the Reef but it seems to be also the year of the rebreather. Several companies were showing what seems to be the first production units of a new wave among avid... and wealthy divers.
Major certification agencies were promoting their material, including the Nitrox related certification programs. Diver's contributing editor Gene Hemsworth kept busy at the PADI booth, while ACUC people greeted interested customers in their own booth.
The video/photography arena was busier than ever with housings and accessories for every need/budget. The new digital video cameras are inching their way in the market and most companies had products related to this new trend in videography. In the still photography business, single-lens reflex cameras are the craze with at least five major manufacturers now offering housings for the most popular cameras.
Many destinations were promoting their unique character. The Caribbean operators were everywhere but Indo-Pacific is the new frontier. Lesser known places like Tonga added flavor to the travel aspect of the show.
DEMA launched its Dive In and Win Sweepstakes. This yearlong promotion is designed to stimulate-divers and non-divers to get involved in the sport. Big prizes are on the drawing list, including three Jeep Wrangler vehicles.
In the mood
Final question: What was the mood?
Mixed opinion there. Participants were upbeat but the attendance did not seem to be more numerous than previous shows. However, this is only a perception. It might have to do with the larger size of the show, or the temptation of all the attractions around Orlando.
Dates are already set for next year so, take a note: January 28-31, 1998, in Anaheim, California.
Capt. Jacques Yves Cousteau interviewed by Diver Magazine.
Thanks to Karen Brazeau of the Cousteau Society, we had the opportunity to speak briefly with Captain Jacques Yves Cousteau. The famed explorer-film-maker-oceanographer received an award presented by the Ocean Futures Foundation for his lifelong commitment to the preservation of the sea and the increasing of knowledge on the underwater environment.
Capt. Cousteau kindly answered a few questions at the end of a long day. He told me that he felt the industry he helped to create seemed to be doing well. "I am glad to see that because they are interested in what they are doing, divers begin to be more careful." said Cousteau.
When asked if this meant they were not careful before he commented: "In the beginning, they (divers) were conquering a new world so, their actions were not always compatible with preservation. Now they realize this world is not infinite, it has limitations."
For Captain Cousteau, the key is education and, in this respect, we can all help. "Careless boaters do a lot of damage to the sea by throwing waste overboard or by anchoring directly on the reefs. Divers are privileged witnesses of the results of such actions and they should connect with the boating industry to raise the awareness of boaters," said Cousteau, adding: "Divers themselves should behave intelligently, taking care not to damage the reef when they explore it. Also, nobody should fish for the sake of killing a fish. Fishing to eat is acceptable, but not for the simple pleasure of killing a living creature."
When asked if he thought today's divers were well educated he promptly told us: "Well educated they are not, but they are better educated than they were. What DEMA is doing with its show for example is the right thing to do. Continuous efforts are needed if we want to help the sea."
In my last question I asked the explorer if he had a message for divers. He gave a definitive answer: "I have no message for anybody. I am not wiser than others. Be careful, think about the world your children will inherit."
Later on, we witnessed a discussion between Captain Cousteau and a guest about the turbosail, the propulsion system of Calypso II. As tired as he was, the seaman had sparkle in his eyes when he explained how this new ship will sail efficiently. His smile translated a renewed enthusiasm as he told how some discoveries were made about the configuration of the system. Back on his ship he was, sailing again to distant shores. The musical theme of his series Odyssey came back to my mind at this moment. I realized how profoundly his passion for the sea had impacted my life and the life of millions over the world. I was privileged to meet the man, but more so to have seen the result of his work. It was a priceless moment.