ADEX 2009 - Asia Dive Expo Report

by Aaron Wong

The annual Asia Dive Expo (ADEX) has once again graced the shores of Singapore.
Held at Keppel Bay Marina for the first time, it offered a refreshing backdrop complete with sun, sand and of course the sea!

With this year’s key focus set on conservation, several international NGOs like WWF, Project Aware, and Reef Check Malaysia were out in full force. There were also non-stop activities throughout the 4 days of the show. Scuba try outs took place in a purpose built indoor pool, talks by great underwater photographers and explorers, a photo competition, and of course lucky draws ... just to name a few.

In short, anything and everything that has to do with diving and conservation all under 1 roof in a neat little package by the sea. Seriously, what more can you ask for!

Welcome to ADEX 2009!
The crowd jams down the aisles as ADEX opens to the public. It was great to see so many divers all under one roof. Trust me, it got pretty tough just getting around!
Ivan Choong was holding down the fort at DPG’s booth. The couch became a ‘hot spot’ to chill in no time. I found myself having to squeeze my way in all the time. It was get fun hanging out and talking about all things underwater photography. As DPG's Singapore representative, I can say that it's always an honor to represent the site - but this year we all missed Jason and Wendy!

The master of macro photography, William Tan sharing his insights on some of his stunning underwater images.
The guys from WWF were on hand to spread the message of conservation.
With that iconic panda, They didn’t need to explain much what they are all about.
The fight to stop a Singapore resort from acquiring Whale Sharks for display took on a more hands on approach with hundreds signing in on the petition in person.
I hope with all my heart that all these voices can be heard. Whale Sharks (or ANY sharks for that matter) belong in the sea. Left in their environment, Whale Sharks can live up to a hundred years. But sadly, only one has ever survived a year in captivity. Most die within months.To lend your support, visit Whalesharkpetition.com

Underwater photographer Aaron Wong (aka me!) talking about WATER.COLORS, his latest series of work on underwater fashion photography. The crowd was treated to many ‘never before seen’ behind the scene shots, and also the inspiration and concept behind every image.

David Cheung from Scuba Cam sharing important tips on choosing and
maintaining your underwater housing.

The big indoor pool in the center of the show where visitors were treated to scuba try outs and sea scooter demonstrations.

Many fun new gadgets, were on display, like this cool Ray Board by IQ.
If you are wondering what it does, check out the TV screen in the background.
Yes, you basically tow yourself through the water from a boat! You can control your depth by simply tilting the angle of the board giving you the ability to glide around like a Manta ray. How cool is that!

Underwater photographer William Tan and myself catching up after a long show. You guessed it, we were talking about underwater photography ALL THE TIME!

 

Hope to see you next year in Singapore at ADEX 2010!