ASIA DIVE EXPO

Asia’s biggest dive expo reached a new milestone this year. Following a stellar track record, ADEX, or Asia Dive Expo, has received one of the most prestigious awards in the industry – Best Exhibition Organiser under the Experience Excellence (MICE) category at the Singapore Tourism Awards 2018. The Singapore Tourism Awards show brings together Singapore’s tourism sector to celebrate individuals and organisations that best deliver exceptional experiences and achieve enterprise excellence. Twenty-nine individuals and organisations were recognised at the prestigious award ceremony held at Fairmont Singapore in May 2018, which was graced by the President of Singapore, Halimah Yacob.

Approaching its silver jubilee, ADEX has brought divers together for the past 24 years and evolved beyond its origins as a dive show – it is now one of Asia’s leaders in the fight for the ocean. The dive expo, originating in Singapore, serves as a platform for divers to congregate and share their underwater experiences, but more importantly, it provides a conducive environment for ocean lovers to learn about how they can protect marine life. Furthermore, ADEX provides an avenue for businesses and organisations – dive operators, equipment manufacturers, and national tourism boards – to spread the message of responsible stewardship of the ocean.

The Underwater360 group (UW360), founded by John Thet, has run the event for the past nine years, breaking attendance records year on year since, with this year’s attendance reaching 62,079 guests. Asia’s longest-running dive expo has also seen many awards from the Media Publishers Association of Singapore (MPAS): Exhibition of the Year 2017 (Gold), Conference/Exhibition of the Year 2015, and Event/Party of the Year 2015 (Merit). Under UW360, ADEX has furthered its reach beyond Singapore, expanding to the Great China Region with ADEX Beijing, Shenzhen, and Shanghai.

As an advocate for conservation, ADEX hosts many speakers from varying circles in the field of conservation. Marine scientists gather to discuss contemporary marine and dive issues, from the basics of climate change to the unforeseen effects our seemingly innocuous actions can have on marine life. Marine biologists and conservationists also give talks on their experiences in the field and how they relate to marine conservation and the onset of climate change, as well as sharing videos they have made about their unique encounters with marine life. Our best tool against climate change is education, and these activities enable the community to educate themselves on climate change and how they can do their parts as individuals to protect the ocean.

ADEX celebrates its silver jubilee next year with ADEX 2019, its 25th iteration. Join us in this joyous celebration of the ocean.

ABOVE The opening ceremony of ADEX 2017