News

Florida isn’t just home to the weird and wonderful critters of Blue Heron Bridge. Neither is it only about the epic pelagic opportunities of Jupiter. Nor is it merely the one place in America where you can legally swim with wild manatees. No, friends, the Sunshine State is also—periodically, at least—an incredible location to spot all sorts of folks connected in some way or another to the fine industry of diving! We’re talking, of course, about the annual trade show held by the Diving Equipment & Marketing Association—DEMA Show.

From next week—that’s Tuesday, November 11th till Friday, November 14th—the Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) in Orlando will once again play host to the largest gathering in the industry, with more than 5,000 attendees expected. Among them will be DPG’s dedicated editorial team—Editor Dan Norwood and Field Editors Anita Verde and Peter Marshall—who will be hitting the show floor daily to bring you all the goings-on relevant to underwater photographers and videographers.

Whether you want to know about the latest action cam accessory or sneak a peek at the shiniest new strobes hitting the market, Team DPG will be visiting all the imaging-related booths that matter and posting daily video reports on DPG TV. And when they’re not getting swept up in a frenzy of gear lust, our editorial staff will also be dropping by as many of the booths occupied by our resort and liveaboard friends, and sniffing out the latest travel trends.

To get into the spirit of things, check out this preview guide, providing the lowdown on the imaging brands in attendance (most of which we hope to cover) as well as information on the underwater imaging-related talks happening during the show. And if you are heading to Florida next week, make sure to swing by the DPG booth (#875) and say hello!
 

DPG will be working the show floor and talking to all the movers and shakers in underwater imaging equipment

DEMA Underwater Imaging Brands

• 10 Bar – #1161 —
• Aquatica Digital – #873 🔗 DPG TV
• Backscatter Underwater Video & Photo – #1057 🔗 DPG TV
• Bigblue Dive Lights – #456 🔗 DPG TV
• DivePhotoGuide – #875
• Dive Lantern – #689 🔗 DPG TV
• DiveVolk – #685 🔗 DPG TV
• Fisheye – #971 —
• GoPro – #1939 🔗 DPG TV
• Inon 🔗 DPG TV
• Insta 360 – #1847 🔗 DPG TV
• Isotta (Isotecnic) – #871 🔗 DPG TV
• Keldan – #961 🔗 DPG TV
• Kraken Sports – #970 🔗 DPG TV
• Marelux – #870 🔗 DPG TV
• Nauticam – #964 🔗 DPG TV
• OrcaTorch – #1071 🔗 DPG TV
• Sea&Sea 🔗 DPG TV
• Seacam – #1056 🔗 DPG TV
• SeaLife Cameras – #939 🔗 DPG TV
• Ultralight Camera Solutions – #960 🔗 DPG TV
• X-Adventurer – #774 —

DPG TV: Watch DPG’s interview on YouTube

DEMA Underwater Imaging Seminars

While it might be easy to spend the whole show drooling over new cameras, housings, lights, and accessories, we suggest taking advantage of the underwater imaging seminars that take place as part of the Resource Center Snapshot Sessions (Booth #965). These 45-minute learning sessions are led by some of the biggest names in underwater imaging—and they’re entirely free! So put down that piece of brand-new gear, pick up a notepad, and get ready to learn!

Tuesday, November 11

12:00PM – 12:45PM

AI For Good and Evil

Speaker: Erin Quigley, Post Production Goddess – Backscatter Underwater Video and Photo
Sponsored by: Backscatter Underwater Video and Photo

At its best, Artificial Intelligence works to improve and speed up editing techniques that in the past could be accomplished with mere mortal ingenuity and elbow grease. Learn how to channel AI in your post-production workflow for good and of course for a little bit of evil too!

1:00PM – 1:45PM

From Competition to Conservation: A Photographic Journey

Speaker: Vanessa Mignon, Social Media Manager and Atlantis Imagemaker – Atlantis Dive Resorts and Liveaboards
Sponsored by: Atlantis Philippines

In this session, award-winning photographer and photojournalist Vanessa Mignon will share tips and insights from her 15-year photographic journey. The session is designed to engage a wide range of attendees—from individuals considering photography, to businesses exploring photography services for their clients, to experienced photographers looking to grow, reignite their creativity, or reconnect with their purpose.

Wednesday, November 12

1:00PM – 1:45PM

Illuminating the Hidden Wonders of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula

Speaker: Sam Meacham, DP - CINDAQ AC
Sponsored by: KELDAN GmbH

Beneath the surface of the Yucatán Peninsula lies one of the world’s most extensive networks of flooded cave systems—an ancient, hidden world that has shaped human history since the last ice age. These subterranean rivers are more than geological wonders; they are the lifeblood of the region, serving as its only source of freshwater. Since the 1980s, cave diving explorers have been mapping and documenting this vast network, revealing not only its scale and beauty, but also its vulnerability. Despite its importance, much of this underground world remains out of sight and out of mind for those who live above it. Raising awareness of its presence and fragility is critical. Through film, photography, and photogrammetry, we are able to bring this dark and delicate ecosystem to the surface—connecting people to the water beneath their feet and inspiring a deeper sense of stewardship for what lies below.

3:00PM – 3:45PM

Innovating Underwater Cinematography with New Optics and Creative Lighting

Speaker: Cristian Dimitrius, Cinematographer – Nauticam
Sponsored by: Nauticam

A groundbreaking presentation that explores advanced techniques in underwater macro cinematography for natural history films lead by renowned cinematographer Cristian Dimitrius. Discover the power of new optics for capturing stunning close-ups, the unique perspectives offered by probe lenses, and the dramatic effects of creative lighting. These cutting-edge tools reveal intricate marine life details and enhance visual storytelling. Ideal for expert and aspiring filmmakers and researchers, this talk promises to inspire and revolutionize your approach to underwater filming.

4:00PM – 4:45PM

Beyond Macro, Innovations That Are Shaping an Industry

Speaker: Mike Bartick, Photo pro – Crystal BLue Resort
Sponsored by: Nauticam

Presented in Keynote, Beyond Macro will discuss the various facets of creating compelling content for media, featuring the gear and techniques used, through photos and video.

Thursday, November 13

1:00PM – 1:45PM

Cinematic Control: Filming the Ocean With Avelo

Speaker: Aviad Cahana, CEO – Avelo Labs
Sponsored by: Avelo Labs

Perfect buoyancy and effortless stability are essential for capturing underwater imagery that tells compelling environmental stories. This seminar showcases how the Avelo System enables underwater photographers and videographers to shoot with precision and ease, even in dynamic settings like shark dives at Tiger Beach, the wrecks of Florida, and the kelp forests off Catalina Island. Learn how Avelo unlocks creative freedom by eliminating constant buoyancy corrections, helping you stay present with marine life, frame shots naturally, and document the underwater world with minimal disturbance.

4:00PM – 4:45PM

Exploring the Inland Ocean: A Freshwater Filmmaker’s Challenges and Successes in Sharing the Beauty of Rivers, Lakes, and Wetlands

Speaker: Jeremy Monroe, Director – Freshwaters Illustrated
Sponsored by: Nauticam

Since first films of Jacques Cousteau, marine ecosystems have drawn generations of adventurous underwater storytellers and artists to far-off destinations and ever-deeper depths to witness and capture the living wonders of the Oceans. To a remarkable extent, the earth’s rivers, lakes, and wetlands harbor their own unique and accessible worlds of biodiversity, and yet these waters have been far less targeted by underwater imagers. I will share stories and imagery from 25 years of mission-driven filmmaking across the US and beyond, along with some of the unique challenges we encounter and technical approaches we have developed to document these intricate freshwater worlds… that are far deeper than most of us think.

Friday, November 14

11:00AM – 11:45AM

Maximizing Your Photographic Opportunities at Atlantis Dumaguete and Puerto Galera

Speaker: Marty Snyderman, Photography Ambassador – Atlantis Dive Resorts and Liveaboards
Sponsored by: Atlantis Philippines

A lot of underwater photographers come to our resorts at Atlantis Dumaguete and Atlantis Puerto Galera In the Philippines filled with hope to  make compelling photographs of highly sought after macro subjects. Knowing something about the subjects that might be seen on any given dive, how to find and approach these subjects, and having good diving and photographic techniques combine to go a long way toward maximizing photographic opportunities. In this presentation, Atlantis Photography Ambassador Marty Snyderman will share insights that will help attendees get the most out of their trip and photographic opportunities. Some time will be allotted for Q&A.

12:00PM – 12:45PM

Streamline Your Dive Content Editing: Smarter Workflows for Photo & Video Creation

Speaker: Juliana Olarte, Founder & CEO – Coconut Breeze Media
Sponsored by: Coconut Breeze Media LLC

Dive professionals and content creator find themselves in a unique position - endless content but limited bandwidth for editing. This session offers practical solutions to streamline editing workflows and reduce time spent behind screen. Attendees will discover how to organize and batch-process underwater footage efficiently, automate repetitive tasks like naming and formatting and prepare media for quick use across socials. With accessible and customizable templates, this session will walk step-by-step on streamlining internal content calendars, building consistent branding and using existing tools to help create polished results. Perfect for anyone looking to reclaim more time for diving while still producing consistent, high-quality visuals.

2:00PM – 2:45PM

Underwater Visual Assets Take Your Marketing to New Heights

Speaker: Kimber Greenwood, Professional Underwater Photographer – Waterbear Photography
Sponsored by: Spacefish Army

In a world saturated with visual content, capturing attention is more challenging than ever. This presentation explores the unique and powerful impact of underwater content creation in boosting brand awareness, driving campaign engagement, and sparking consumer interest. Join Kimber Greenwood, an expert underwater brand content creator, underwater photographer, and photography educator, as she reveals how leveraging the underwater world can transform your brand's narrative. Through compelling case studies and data-driven insights from successful campaigns, you'll discover how underwater visuals create a distinct competitive advantage. Whether you're launching a new product, promoting a destination, or simply seeking to elevate your brand's image, underwater assets are more than scroll-stopping content.

4:00PM – 4:45PM

The World of Blackwater

Speaker: Mike Bartick, Photo pro – Crystal Blue Resort
Sponsored by: Ultralight Camera Solutions

We will explore photo and video techniques for capturing natural history in its purest form while drifting in the open ocean at night.