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154 Diving Industry Status Report: Post DEMA Show Reflections

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In this episode of The Dive Locker Podcast I give a diving industry status report based on my experiences at the DEMA Show 2022.

Welcome To The Show!

Welcome to The Dive Locker Podcast, the podcast for dive professionals where we bring you the latest in diving industry resources that make you excellent at teaching techniques, risk management and dive business.

So the dust settles and life is back to the normal grind for me as the DEMA Show in Orlando Florida November 1-4 has come and gone. For me, the DEMA Show timeframe is my busiest of the year. Not only is there so many things going on at my university, but I am a moderator for several weeks before the show doing DEMA educational sessions, I am finalizing travel details, I am emailing and texting people to set up meetings, and I am prepping presentations – this year I gave three presentations at DEMA. Whew, so I pretty much crashed when I came home.

But since the show I have done some serious reflecting. Reflecting on this industry as a whole and the health of our industry. Although there are a few things that raise eyebrows, there are plenty of things that bring a smile to my face and give me not only comfort, but true enthusiasm for the diving industry now and beyond. And in today’s episode I would like to share some observations with you and give you a type of status report on our industry based on my experiences at the DEMA Show 2022.

Items In This Episode

  • Measured by attendees
  • Measured by exhibitors
  • Measured by relationships

Episode Sponsor

If you find this show adds value to you as a dive pro and you’d like to help support the show, please consider supporting it on Patreon. It’s only $4 per month. When you become a supporter of The Dive Locker you’ll get a shout out from me on the next episode after you join. You will also be listed on the Patrons of Dive Locker Podcast webpage. And you will receive 10% off any ScubaGuru Academy course at the Patron level, and 20% off at the Rockstar level. And of course my undying appreciation for helping support the show.

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153 What to Expect at The DEMA Show 2022 with Tom Ingram

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In this episode of The Dive Locker Podcast we learn all about the upcoming DEMA Show 2022 in Orlando with DEMA President and CEO Tom Ingram.

Welcome To The Show!

Welcome to The Dive Locker Podcast, the podcast for dive professionals where we bring you the latest in diving industry resources that make you excellent at teaching techniques, risk management and dive business.

It’s that time of the year for The DEMA Show! Yes! I’m so excited about this. This year the DEMA Show is in Orlando Florida November 1-4. And no, hurricane Ian is not an issue for Orlando, our state is doing fine Orlando’s doing fine. It’s safe, we don’t defund police. Come on down to the DEMA Show.

Now, if you have never been to a DEMA Show or don’t even know what DEMA is, DEMA stands for the Diving Equipment and Marketing Association. It’s a not for profit organization that is the trade association for the international scuba diving industry. With more than 1,400 business members, DEMA’s mission is bringing businesses together to grow the Diving Industry worldwide. And, each year DEMA puts on the largest diving industry trade show in the world. It attracts hundreds of exhibitors and thousands of dive and travel industry professionals from around the world each year.

Now, I attend it every year. It literally charges my batteries and makes me love this industry even more. And, I can’t recommend it enough for you as a dive pro – no matter what level you are, it doesn’t matter if you’re independent, part time, full time, does not matter this is the show to go to if you’re a dive pro.

So today I have the President and CEO of DEMA, Tom Ingram on, to tell us all about this year’s show. Two years ago was virtual. And, last year we got to be in person in Las Vegas. However, the numbers were so down for exhibitors and attendees because so much of the world was still in lockdown and even domestic travel was so restrictive.

But this year it’s different! We have solid numbers that are approaching pre-covid numbers, not quite there yet, but getting there. So I wanted to have Tom tell us all about this years show in Orlando and what we can expect.

The DEMA Show 2022

Also, I will be at the DEMA Show in Orlando, Florida November 1-4. I’ll be giving three presentations at the show, catching up with industry friends and colleagues, attending tons of seminars and interviewing folks for this podcast.

If you like this podcast you’ll really like my presentations. On Wednesday, November 02 at 1:00 PM I’ll be co-presenting with the incredible Jennifer Shaheen of The Technology Therapy Group. Our presentation is titled Diving Deep into Your Business. During this workshop, we will walk through four key areas you’ll want to evaluate in your business in order to continue to grow; people, process, money, and marketing.

On Thursday, November 03, at 1:00 PM I host The Power of Podcasting Panel Discussion. The panelists are Stephan Whelan with the Deeper Blue Podcast, James Blackman with the Divers Ready YouTube channel, Jeff Cinciripino with the Scuba Shack Podcast and Jason Meaney with A Dram of Diving Podcast and they bring great information with their diverse podcasting experience. Discussion questions surround the aspects of podcasting and the benefits of podcasting for dive centers and dive professionals. The podcasters share their top recommendations for dive centers and dive pro’s to create their own podcasts.

And finally on Thursday, November 03, 2022: 4:00 PM I will be presenting Risk Mitigation. This presentation covers solid strategies to guard against lawsuits and be more defendable.

Please consider attending one of those if you’re going to the DEMA Show. I hope you are going and I hope to see you there.

Items In This Episode

  • Exhibitors
  • Attendees
  • Online Eduction
  • Next Year: New Orleans

Episode Sponsor

If you find this show adds value to you as a dive pro and you’d like to help support the show, please consider supporting it on Patreon. It’s only $4 per month. When you become a supporter of The Dive Locker you’ll get a shout out from me on the next episode after you join. You will also be listed on the Patrons of Dive Locker Podcast webpage. And you will receive 10% off any ScubaGuru Academy course at the Patron level, and 20% off at the Rockstar level. And of course my undying appreciation for helping support the show.

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LXD057 : Tom Leaird

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Tom Leaird – Legendary Underwater Educator

Tom_Leaird_ScubaGuru

In this episode of The League of Extraordinary Divers I chat with legendary diving educator Tom Leaird.

Well, today’s guest has been in my professional and personal life for 25 years. And today I’m delighted to introduce him to you. Why do I say introduce him to you? Well, because he’s one of the most humble and unassuming dive professionals in our industry, one who has done amazing things, and I’m proud to call him a mentor of mine. Well, this is Tom Leaird.

Bio

Tom Leaird had an occupation in photography with Prestige Portraits and Lifetouch from 1957 to 1988, 31 years in professional photography. Then in the US Army 1961 through 1964, he was a photo lab specialist. And then came diving. He has been a certified diver with the YMCA Scuba program since 1961.

He also became a YMCA Scuba instructor in June of 1969. He is charter president of Delaware. Dive scuba club did that in 1968 and continues to sponsor it today. He is the owner of Leaird’s Underwater Service in Muncie, Indiana. And that has been around since 1971. He was also the YMCA Scuba regional commissioner, which is also known as field coordinator from 1974 to 1986. He was a member of the YMCA Scuba advisory committee from 1980. And he was chair of the advisory committee from 1999 to 2003. Tom is also director of education and standards for Scuba Educators International. That was started after the YMCA of the USA retired its program. Tom continued that through SEI, Tom is also the CEO of PDIC international, which was purchased in 2010. Tom is also on the board of directors of the WRSTC.

That’s the World Recreational Scuba Training Council from 1996 to present and he’s been president. And he’s also member of the board of directors of DEMA, the Diving Equipment Market Association. And that’s from 2011 to present, he’s a member of the board of directors of the Muncie family YMCA, treasurer of the Muncie family YMCA, and has served as interim president C E O of Muncie Family YMCA Associations – six branches with over 125 employees. Tom has authored several books and manuals, including many of them for the YMCA the YMCA slam manual that scuba life saving and management also Institute director, manual leadership, preparation, manual crossover preparation, manual standards and procedures manual the YMCA Scuba sport diving tables, search and recovery manual. Let’s go ice diving Divemaster assistant instructor, manual diving fundamentals for leadership, and this thing called scuba diving comfort, advanced diver instructor guide learn scuba diving and learn advanced scuba diving.

He has also won the Bernard E. Empleton award for service to the YMCA of the USA. Tom has held YMCA Scuba leadership institutes at Ball State University, Oregon, Hawaii, Texas, Florida, Connecticut, Missouri, Germany, and Greece. As of December, 2021, Tom has completed over 3,750 dives that include 2000 hours underwater. And as of 2016, Tom’s local instructor group is working on class 1100. This has included over 5,000 certified student divers at the basic and advanced levels. Tom is CEO and president of Phillips Outdoor Center purchased April 1st, 2010 as a nonprofit environmental education center. That includes scuba diving scouting, public safety, and other water training. His son, Dan Leaird is a PhD in research scientist at Eglan Air Force base, and also has four grandchildren. His daughter Tamara is the store manager at Underwater Service and his wife, Bobbi, he’s been married to since 1963.

Items In This Podcast

  • Early YMCA – no swimsuits allowed!
  • Inspired by Sea Hunt – Zale Parry
  • First YMCA Scuba Instructor course
  • Volunteering for YMCA Scuba Program
  • Writing training and standards manuals
  • YMCA Scuba becomes Scuba Educators International
  • Acquiring PDIC
  • Favorite diving destinations
  • The dark side of public safety diving
  • Diving a Mark V diving helmet
  • Tips for divers
  • Leaird’s Underwater Service

Sponsor

Special thanks to our episode sponsor Aggressor Adventures

Aggressor Adventures

Thanks For Listening!

Thank you for joining me again. Do you want to give a shout out to our guest on this podcast? Leave a note in the comments section below!

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Please leave an honest review for The League of Extraordinary Divers podcast on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated! And, don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates.

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116 DEMA Show 2021 Wrap Up

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In this episode of The Dive Locker Podcast we get a debrief on the DEMA Show 2021 in Las Vegas.

Welcome To The Show!

Welcome to The Dive Locker Podcast, the podcast for dive professionals where we bring you the latest in diving industry resources that make you excellent at teaching techniques, risk management and dive business.

So when you put on an industry trade show that is 1/3 the normal size in exhibitors and attendees, one would naturally deduct that was a failed show. However, that is not the case with DEMA Show 2021.

In fact, there was a uniqueness to this DEMA show that I have never seen. There was positivity and tons of relationship building and connecting because there was actually time to connect. So I’m gonna break down some of the highlights of the show for you today and catch you up if you did not make it out there.

Items In This Episode

  • Exhibitors
  • New products
  • DEMA Sponsored Seminars
  • Exhibitor Sponsored Seminars
  • COVID Protocols
  • Connections/Networking

Episode Sponsor

If you find this show adds value to you as a dive pro and you’d like to help support the show, please consider supporting it on Patreon. It’s only $4 per month – that’s only $1 per episode. When you become a supporter of The Dive Locker you’ll get a shout out from me on the next episode after you join. You will also be listed on the Patrons of Dive Locker Podcast webpage. And you will receive 10% off any ScubaGuru Academy course at the Patron level, and 20% off at the Rockstar level. And of course my undying appreciation for helping support the show.

https://www.patreon.com/thedivelocker

Thanks For Listening!

That’s it for today, everyone. Thank you so much for listening. Remember to subscribe to this podcast on iTunes, Google Play or Stitcher, that way you’ll be notified of new episodes as soon as they go live and please leave a rating. Items talked about in this episode can be found on the show notes Page at scubaguru.com . There you can also click the microphone and leave us a comment. Thanks again. We’ll see you in the next episode. Safe diving and take good care of my friends.

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110 Why Attend The DEMA Show in 2021?

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In this episode of The Dive Locker Podcast we learn why dive professionals should attend the DEMA Show 2021.

Welcome To The Show!

Welcome to The Dive Locker Podcast, the podcast for dive professionals where we bring you the latest in diving industry resources that make you excellent at teaching techniques, risk management and dive business.

I have a question for you. When you come out of Covid craziness, in your dive business will you do things exactly as you did in 2019? Nope, the world has changed, businesses have changed and consumers have changed. So what’s one way to address changes that are specific to your diving business? In one concentrated period of time? In one location?

Let’s talk about DEMA Show. Yep the DEMA Show is back in person in Las Vegas Nov 16-19. Now I want to share with you compelling reasons to go, my top list. Doesn’t matter if you have been or if it is your first time, maybe your going or your on the fence, I want to share why IMHO this is a must do event every year – especially the rough years.

Items In This Episode

  • Location – Las Vegas
  • Resource Centers
  • Social Events
  • DEMA Sponsored Seminars
  • Exhibitor Sponsored Seminars
  • Booking Dive Travel
  • Latest Products and Technology
  • Dive Training Agencies
  • Equipment Manufacturers
  • Networking

Episode Sponsor

If you find this show adds value to you as a dive pro and you’d like to help support the show, please consider supporting it on Patreon. It’s only $4 per month – that’s only $1 per episode. When you become a supporter of The Dive Locker you’ll get a shout out from me on the next episode after you join. You will also be listed on the Patrons of Dive Locker Podcast webpage. And you will receive 10% off any ScubaGuru Academy course at the Patron level, and 20% off at the Rockstar level. And of course my undying appreciation for helping support the show.

https://www.patreon.com/thedivelocker

Thanks For Listening!

That’s it for today, everyone. Thank you so much for listening. Remember to subscribe to this podcast on iTunes, Google Play or Stitcher, that way you’ll be notified of new episodes as soon as they go live and please leave a rating. Items talked about in this episode can be found on the show notes Page at scubaguru.com . There you can also click the microphone and leave us a comment. Thanks again. We’ll see you in the next episode. Safe diving and take good care of my friends.

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Welcome Dive Professionals

Welcome to ScubaGuru.com!  The ScubaGuru brand is dedicated to giving dive professionals tools and techniques to be GREAT LEADERS – leaders in the classroom, leaders underwater, and leaders in their diving businesses.  With unique leadership skill-sets, the dive professional can create:

  • Better divers
  • Loyal customers
  • A thriving dive center
  • A flourishing dive industry

See what we mean by Go Beyond the Standard and enjoy the rewards of being truly great at what you do!

Sincerely,

Tec Clark

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