Irish Dive Show 2012

[Sidemount Ninja Tx]

All good arguments and I agree re what apple should do, however I don't write their commercial strategy just am one of the multi millions of apple users. Don't exclude from what you want to promote users, buyers, etc because of a moral or philosophical standpoint is all I'm saying. I'm not buying a new phone or tablet just to read whether I want to go to a dive show!

[Tom Brett]

Anyway - ref the post I was replying to, I was just stating facts about the flash, although I do believe that it is not well done in the case of the site in question, any site developed in flash should have a alternative representation available to be played in old browsers and other browsers which do not support the technology.

Best regards

Tom

[Tom Brett]

You were replying the same time as me Matt
I think that apple should include flash - the main thing is that they didnt want flash developers to be able to port their code to apple apps - this is the main reasoning behind their exclusion - but as a user of a device, I would be more wandering why I cant use a technology rather than asking developers not to use the technology becausse I can access it! Because I cant go on holidays dosent mean nobody else should!!!

I do believe however that when a developer is designing a site that if there is a chance that a technology is not compatable to a user - if there is any percentage at all, that that user should be catered for, this includes people with disabilities, uncompatable browsers etc. This is not done in this case - but then again it is a volunteer organisation...... I think it could have been done better, but then again the show could propably be done better also, so what do we expect. Sorry CFT


Tom

[Noufette]

Just to close on that topic...
Interesting reading about Flash and Apple. Have a look at the conclusions:
http://www.apple.com/hotnews/thoughts-on-flash/

Flash or not Flash, the fact is that the website advertising the dive show is as bad as the show itself...

[Colin Parle]

Just to close on that topic...
Interesting reading about Flash and Apple. Have a look at the conclusions:
http://www.apple.com/hotnews/thoughts-on-flash/

Flash or not Flash, the fact is that the website advertising the dive show is as bad as the show itself...

Have to agree with you on the above statement

[Stephen McMullan]

Sorry lads the nerdy debate of Apple vs Flash was a bit too close to what I do for a living. Much rather prefer to talk about diving. 

Anyways irrespective of the technical debate (I would have gone for a site based around Wordpress for the record), I think the site looks clunky and doesn't display on my Android phone. They didn't do a great job on the exhibitors logos etc. I know there's some poor sucker burning the hours to have "something" ready for the show on a voluntary basis (which usually means they lose money doing it by the way!!!) so I feel bad to criticise it. I can't imagine CFT have a lot of cash to spend on the website or even on the event.

As things stand I don't feel super motivated to attend the show. There are two presenters who I've seen already and apart from shooting the breeze with a couple of the exhibitors without the intention of buying anything I'm not sure why I'd need to go at all.

I think I've only been to two Dive Shows. I enjoyed the one in Killiney Castle but I thought the Cavan event was a waste of fuel.

But its easy to criticise....so....what makes a good show? What format would get all the naysayers to attend? As you can see from the tech talks i'm curious about events and constantly surprised as to which draw the biggest crowds and which are the least attended.

Bear in mind that I don't believe we have the diving population to have a Birmingham or London Dive Show. There simply isn't enough business to be had for anywhere near that quantity of overseas exhibitors to attend. Besides I'm not really into a "dive holiday expo" and have all the gear I need for the moment and definitely all the training.

The only show I enthuse about is Eurotek but I could hardly see poor old CFT flying in all those guys. Besides we're spending a couple of hundred on tickets, gala dinner, hotel and flights so top quality comes at a price.

So what can CFT do?

Discuss.....

[Stephen McMullan]

Actually does anyone know why there are only two speakers? Did someone think that presentations only detract from people spending time with the exhibitors or from "official business". Is the fact this is the CFT AGM a millstone around the neck of the event?

Reason I ask is I do a bit of voluntary for Mountaineering Ireland, also an NGB. 10,000+ members but only a 100 or so show up to the AGM weekend. They are mostly club delegates there for the business aspect. There's usually a bit of activity on the rocks or hills, then down to business and usually one speaker once thats concluded then a semi-formal dinner and pints/dancing. I find that format a bit old and tired myself. Is Dive Show suffering the same fate? Is it too focussed on the business of CFT? Should the AGM be a separate event?

Should Dive Show be solely for the purpose for promoting diving in ireland with representation from as many agencies and schools and centers and operators and clubs as possible? I'd say the domestic market for diving is in a chronic state at the moment so should the focus shift to getting tourist divers to visit Ireland and more folks to take it up in Ireland and for established club divers who might be stuck in a rut to consider new training or diving in new areas possibly outside their club with the aid of commercial operators?

[Sidemount Ninja]

Should Dive Show be solely for the purpose for promoting diving in ireland with representation from as many agencies and schools and centers and operators and clubs as possible? I'd say the domestic market for diving is in a chronic state at the moment so should the focus shift to getting tourist divers to visit Ireland and more folks to take it up in Ireland and for established club divers who might be stuck in a rut to consider new training or diving in new areas possibly outside their club with the aid of commercial operators?

Totally agree. I remember PADI (ok, not the only training organisation about but well represented here anyway) helped out with a "PADI Village" at the big lifestyle/outdoors show at the RDS last year (can't remember the specific name of the show). Worked well and exposed Irish diving and clubs to a vastly wider audience than a smaller diver's event. Showed how great Irish diving is to a huge base of potential customers that would have had the "there is nothing to see" attitude.

Apart from smaller mostly diver only events (smaller tech events, training weekends, the excellent trinity talks etc) the industry here needs to advertise to, and draw from a wider source to maintain viability. Larger 2/3 day shows seem to be the way forward and the "diving village" style promotion certainly brought the costs of exhibiting down to an affordable level.

I don't really see the point in a dive Ireland show, the divers know what is under the water, mostly the internet has killed the LDS here and it won't attract many (if any) new divers. The UK shows and Eurotek have far greater appeal and the cost of flights can get you a Birmingham same day return for 50 euro. No competition in my book.

[Tom Brett]

IMHO I think that the Dive Ireland show is a way for CFT to cover the costs of their AGM
I have never gone nor do I think that I ever will, Unless its on the way to or back from the Alastor as im passing by! I think that the two events should be split, I do have to laugh sometimes as they are quick to condemn operations but yet when it comes to money want to get some from them.
Me I want to be in the kit not looking at it!

Tom

[Graham Cowley]

Looking at previous Dive Shows and seeing the turnout, it’s sad to say, but the diving business in Ireland is struggling big time.  A lot of established businesses have closed down in the last 2 years due to the change in the economy.  Plus with Internet sales and suppliers from abroad competitively competing with the local market, it is fighting a battle for diving business’s just to keep their heads above the water.
Irish Diving needs to be approached as a whole experience and not from a particular angle, the PADI village at the Adventure Show last year was very successful, and the amount of people who dived, were Irish and were not aware of the sites and centres was an eye opener.  Regardless of organization, diving is diving, the only major difference between each one is politics and usually a misrepresentation of someone’s views on how its run, teaches or how it creates revenue.
The Dive Show should be where all centres and dive businesses meet annually to advertise and interact, LDS or other shows cover so much, if we just focused on covering costs for the hotel venue and not as mentioned, to cover an AGM, then it may create a show that would attract divers but more importantly, people looking to start diving, as they are needed just as much to help keep the dive industry grow.  Also have it where the chance of non divers coming in is higher, not a venue hidden away in a hotel hall in the arse of nowhere.

[Stewart Andrews]

Didn't see the sticky on the dive show, sorry, so I posted separately about one of the presentations below.

No excuse not to go now!!

[richard - aquaholics dive centre]

Hi, we will as usual have a stand at the show 2nd/3rd March at City North Hotel  . We plan to have on display some of the Scubapro and Halcyon Technical diving range , if any one does have any gear they wish to have look at  drop me an email and we can bring to show. We will also be collecting regs/cylinders etc for servicing email dive@aquaholics.org  best regards
richard

[Craig]

Hi

never been to a show before, are the worth the trip

thanks
Craig

[Divin'Dec]

I will have a large selection of Tec diving equipment for sale and display. I will have some show only specials that will save you a good few €.

The session on the Sat night is legendary. There is a few good talks scheduled also.

Regards
Dec

[Craig]

Typical have nearly all my gear except new fins.

But the talk and other show pieces do look interesting.

Sorry about posting in the wrong area.

Thanks
Craig