12 replies to this topic

[WreckWench]

The Florida Dive Show this past weekend in the Palm Beach Convention Center was a huge success for SingleDivers.com and will be a great new consumer show for divers in Florida and the Southern States. About 110 exhibitors participated and although I haven't heard the official show attendee numbers, the show went very well for its first year. I personally met people from all over Florida, SC, NC, PA, NY and other surrounding states. SingleDivers.com sponsored the big Saturday Night Singles and Buddyless Happy Hour at Brewzi's in City Place across from the convention center. We had several rounds of appetizers for guests and a total of 38 fantastic prizes for lucky winners including dive trips, dive gear and loads of other great prizes listed below. The Happy Hour started at 6 and when we left at 11pm and it was still going strong!

The support of SingleDivers.com from the dive industry was phenomenal. We had such a generous out pouring of support, services and assistance on so many levels that we are VERY PROUD to announce the following partnerships with our gracious contest contributors and the lucky recipients of these great prizes!

Dive Trips & Travel:

Dominica...3 days diving for 2 people at Dive Dominica! - Greg D
Tobago...3 days diving for 2 people at Wild Turtle Dive Tobago! - Rachael Y; Deerfield Beach, FL
Cayman Islands...3 days 2 tank dives for 1 person at the Sunset House! - Robert K; Delray Beach, FL
Deerfield Beach, FL...1 day 2 tank diving for 1 person from Sunstar Aquatic Services, Inc. on The Diversity! - Carol H; FL
Boynton Beach, FL...1 day 2 tank diving for 1 person from IDive, Inc. on Starfish Enterprise! - Dan W; Indialantic, FL
Boca/Pampano/Riviera Beach FL...1 day 2 tank diving for 1 person on any Force-E dive charter! - Julie L; Pampano area
Pampano Beach, FL...1 day 2 tank for 1 person from Ocean Diving, Inc on the ReefCat! - Curt B, Bradenton. FL


Dive Gear:

Photo and Video Equipment...$250 gift certificate from Reef Photo & Video, Ft Lauderdale, FL - Dan G, Monterrey, CA
Photo and Video Equipment...$250 gift certificate from Reef Photo & Video, Ft Lauderdale, FL - Neal W; Ft Lauderdale, FL
Dive Fins...Six Gill Fins from Deep Outdoors! - David K; FL
Dive Gear...$100 gift certificate from Wet Pleasures Dive Outfitters; Lantana, FL! - Shawna K; Lantana, FL
Dive Gear...$50 gift certificate from Wet Pleasures Dive Outfitters; Lantana, FL! - Terry G; FL
Dive Gear...$50 gift certificate from Wet Pleasures Dive Outfitters; Lantana, FL! - Julie L; Ft Lauderdale, FL
Dive Gear...$25 gift certificate from Wet Pleasures Dive Outfitters; Lantana, FL! - Leanna S; FL
Dive Gear...$25 gift certificate from Wet Pleasures Dive Outfitters; Lantana, FL! - Matt N; Pampano Beach, FL
Dive Gear...$25 gift certificate from Wet Pleasures Dive Outfitters; Lantana, FL! - Larry S; FL
Dive Equipment...$25 gift certificate from Force-E Boca Raton; Pompano Beach or Riviera Beach FL! - Dave W; FL
Equipment Rental...1 Day FREE rental 2 tanks, regulator, bc & weights from Force-E Boca Raton; Pompano Beach or Riviera Beach FL! - Kathleen B; RPB, FL


Dive Books, Magazines & Resources:

Reef Fish Identification...Paul Humann's Reef Fish Identification Florida, Caribbean & Bahamas book presented from Paul Humann himself! - Austin F; Lantana, FL
Diving Encyclopedia & Diving Society Membership...PADI Limited Edition Hardcover Encyclopedia of Diving and PADI Diving Society Membership from PADI Americas! - Susannah C; FL
CD/DVD...from Mother Ocean Foundation! - Ammie S; Michigan
Scuba News...1 FREE year subscription to Scuba News! - Paula S; Tequesta, FL
Scuba News...1 FREE year subscription to Scuba News! - Ana N; WPB, FL
Scuba News...1 FREE year subscription to Scuba News! - Lynn B; Curacao, NA
Shark Diver Magazine...1 FREE year subscription to Shark Diver Magazine! - Cindie B; Sarasota, FL
Shark Diver Magazine...1 FREE year subscription to Shark Diver Magazine! - Lori L; Ft Lauderdale, FL
Diving for Sunken Treasure Collectors Edition Magazine...Excerpts form the Jupiter Wreck Trilogy from Captain Dominic Addario himself! - Susan W.; Fl


Diving Accessories:

Log Book...SDI/TDI zippered Log Book from TDI/SDI/ERDI International Training! - Rick G; Boca Raton, FL
Wet Notes...Halcyon Wet Notes from Halcyon DIR Dive Systems! - Jim Q; FL
Do Rag...Scuba Do Rag from Scuba Do Rag! - Kim C; NY
Do Socks ...Scuba Do Rag Tube Socks from Scuba Do Rag! - Marvel M; LBTB, FL
Dive Bag...Mother Ocean Dive Bag from Mother Ocean Foundation! - Pat S; FL
T-shirt...Diversity T-shirt from The Diversity! - Ronald C; Miami, FL
T-shirt...Force-E T-shirt from Force-E Boca Raton; Pompano Beach or Riviera Beach FL! Tom M; FL
T-shirt...Halcyon Black T-shirt from Halcyon DIR Dive Systems! - Sheila C; Deerfield Beach, FL
T-shirt...Halcyon White T-shirt from Halcyon DIR Dive Systems! - Kevin B; St. Louis, MO
Diver's Bracelet and Dog Tags...Dive Patches Diver's Braclet & Dog Tags from Dive Patches International! - Roger G; Ft Lauderdale, FL
Diver's Bracelet and Dog Tags...Dive Patches Diver's Braclet & Dog Tags from Dive Patches International! - Franic A; Hobe Sound, FL
Diver's Bracelet and Dog Tags...Dive Patches Diver's Braclet & Dog Tags from Dive Patches International! - Andrea H; Miami, FL


Attendance:

Many of Diving's Who's Who were in attendance at our Saturday Night Singles & Buddyless Event including:

Curt Bowen of Advanced Diver Magazine
David Burrough and Paul Montgomery of SDI/TDI
Neal Watson of Neal Watson's Undersea Adventures
Mike Kurczewski of PADI Americas
Greg Dubas Manta Industries
Lori Lachnicht Scuba News
Kevin Boker Wild Turtle Dive Tobago
Carol Harwood, Jamie Tacy & Lynn Bean of MOTE Marine Labortory
Cathy & Skip Commagere Force-E Dive Centers
Roger Davis Wet Pleasures Dive Outfitters
Dan Wagner Mother Earth Foundation

Assistance:

Of course no show is complete without the countless hours of volunteer help from other members in our organization. And this show was no exception! Howard aka ScubaDadMiami picked me up at the airport and drove me to the show, helped set up the booth and provided backup booth assistance and Happy Hour help as needed! Larry aka Orcaman spent hours editing the Manta and Meke footage from our Oct Fiji trip so we'd have some awesome video footage to show at the show! The footage was a hit and so was Larry. It seems that there are very few people Larry doesn't know in Florida and I think I met all 5 of them at the show! Larry did an incredible job getting the booth set up; manning the booth and getting dontations for the Singles Happy Hour on Saturday that we hosted. Marianne aka ScubaDiva helped with the booth on Saturday and helped recruit several of our newest members from the show. And yes...Larry knew her too! Of course support for the show started well before I arrived in Florida! Que aka Sea Urchin and Kim aka Fingrabber provided tons of help to get things organized for us to even do the show.

I want to thank everyone who helped to work, support and partronize the show. It was a huge success and I look forward to doing it again next year as it and SD grows!!!

New Members:

And I want to thank our 12 newest members for joining SingleDivers.com at the show and the 128 people who registered to win one of our great giveaways and who wanted more information on Single and Buddyless trips!

Single & Buddyless Florida Dive of the Month:

And stay tuned for the Florida Single & Buddyless Dive of the Month starting in January at Ginnie Springs! Yes that's right...we will be having a "Dive of the Month" up and down the Florida Coast for all our Single and Buddyless divers! And yes...you can bet I'll be at a few of them! -Kamala aka Wreck Wench!

[annasea]

Wow! VERY impressive, WW! Especially since it was the first show!

Great to see that SD is so recognized and respected by the dive community as a whole.

Kudos to you, Kamala, and your wonderful assistants. As well as to the sponsors...

[Walter]

I was there briefly on Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning. I wasn't aware Kamala had made the trip, so I received a nice surprise. It's a very small show, but should grow over time.

My focus for the weekend was not diving, but offering support to a friend running her 10th marathon. The Marathon of the Palm Beaches was walking distance from the show, so I was able to combine purposes and sneak into the show as well.

It was great seeing lots of old friends, including the guy who owned the boat from which I made my certification dives. I ran into him at the SD booth. I saw several of my SD friends and even met Dan's mother.

[finGrabber]

It does sound like this was a great show! Not only for Florida diving but also SingleDivers.com


And what a list of prizes! It is so wonderful to know that we're getting noticed in the dive industry for the unique idea SD is and that Kamala's hard work is paying off

[cmt489]

WOW!! Now those are prizes worth going after!!! Absolutely amazing!! Thank you to all those who have sponsored them!

[WileEDiver]

I saw several of my SD friends and even met Dan's mother.

Just goes to show you never know who you're going to run into at a dive show.

[WreckWench]

I saw several of my SD friends and even met Dan's mother.

Just goes to show you never know who you're going to run into at a dive show.

Dan it was great to see you again...but I didn't meet your mom...

I hope you enjoyed the $250 prize you won!

And of course other SingleDivers.com members in attendance at the Happy Hour besides Dan won great prizes too including Marvel, Julie and Lori!

[WileEDiver]

I saw several of my SD friends and even met Dan's mother.

Just goes to show you never know who you're going to run into at a dive show.

Dan it was great to see you again...but I didn't meet your mom...

I hope you enjoyed the $250 prize you won!

And of course other SingleDivers.com members in attendance at the Happy Hour besides Dan won great prizes too including Marvel, Julie and Lori!

Actually, it's you (and the prize) that brought me back on Sunday for a few minutes to check out the products that Reef carries. I was actually planning on doing chores and fixes around my mother's place (as I do when I visit Florida), but dragged her to the show for about a half hour so I could check out Reef's booth.

Anyway, I used the gift certificate to pick up a macro lens and PT-015 viewfinder magnifier to help my aging eyes frame the shot just right. I'll use them both in Maui later this month. Thanks again!

-Dan

[ScubaDadMiami]

We are glad to see you back, and we hope you will remain active with us again.

[Dive_Girl]

WOW!! Although this is clearly out of my local area - thought I'd pop onto this thread to see how this show went and all I can say is hats of to EVERYONE who pitched in. Sounds like the show and booth was a great success and sounds like the monthly dives that have been prompted from this will be fantastic. Y'all are simply luring me down there! At some point, when I can schedule my cave training - I'll make my way!

Congrats again to everyone who worked, contributed, and won prizes!

cheers!

[orcaman]

Hello everyone, I just spent the weekend working the Single Divers booth at the Florida Dive Show in West Palm Beach with Wreckwench. What a hoot? We had some mutual friends, I had some, she had some, now we both have a lot more.
Everyone asked, Where did you meet her? Well, in Fiji, on my first SD trip. Been diving for over 28 years in many place with many groups, probably over 100 trips. This was way up there as one of the best. If you are new to SD or thinking about it, Don't keep thinking about it, JUST DO IT, or as Garth Brooks says, "Just Ladoo IT"!

I have not regretted it for one minute.
Some of my friends asked me before I went to Fiji, Let me get this right, you are going to a place you know nothing about with a group you know nothing about with a group of people you do not know. And I said Yep. I did and had a great time with a really nice group of people who are safe divers and accepted me for the person I am. As I have always said, It is always an adventure and this was one of the best ones.
Larry

[annasea]

Hey Larry,

Seeing as this is you first post... to SD!

[WreckWench]

Hello everyone, I just spent the weekend working the Single Divers booth at the Florida Dive Show in West Palm Beach with Wreckwench. What a hoot? We had some mutual friends, I had some, she had some, now we both have a lot more.
Everyone asked, Where did you meet her? Well, in Fiji, on my first SD trip. Been diving for over 28 years in many place with many groups, probably over 100 trips. This was way up there as one of the best. If you are new to SD or thinking about it, Don't keep thinking about it, JUST DO IT, or as Garth Brooks says, "Just Ladoo IT"!

I have not regretted it for one minute.
Some of my friends asked me before I went to Fiji, Let me get this right, you are going to a place you know nothing about with a group you know nothing about with a group of people you do not know. And I said Yep. I did and had a great time with a really nice group of people who are safe divers and accepted me for the person I am. As I have always said, It is always an adventure and this was one of the best ones.
Larry

Awww shucks Larry...you are making me blush! :anna: But we did have a great time in Fiji as we do on ALL our SD trips! And Larry is right...don't hestiate to join us...you'll have a ball!!!