There comes a point in every diver’s year when simply looking at your logbook isn’t enough. You need inspiration. You need ideas. You need to stand in a large hall surrounded by hundreds of other people in fleeces, all of whom are thinking the same thing: where next?
That point arrived at the weekend, when Aerodivers’ own Geoff and I made the pilgrimage to the NAEC Stoneleigh for the annual BSAC Dive Show — the UK’s biggest gathering of divers, dive operators, and people trying very hard to sell you things you didn’t know you needed.
A Show That’s Back and Bigger Than Ever
For those who haven’t been, the Dive Show has genuinely grown since its post-COVID return, and this year was no exception. Halls 1 and 2 were packed with exhibitors from around the world — dive resorts, liveaboards, equipment manufacturers, training agencies — all competing for your attention (and your wallet). It was colourful, noisy, enthusiastic, and absolutely the right antidote to a grey February weekend.
We arrived with a mission: scout destinations for upcoming Aerodivers trips, eye any gear worth salivating over, and generally soak up the atmosphere. Objective achieved on all fronts.
We weren’t the only Aerodivers on the premises either — club members Chris and Steve had made the trip the previous day, Saturday, on similarly inspirational errands. Great minds, and all that.
And before anyone mentions it: yes, the weather was actually sunny and dry. In February. In the Midlands. We chose not to question it and simply enjoyed it.
The Exhibitors: A World Tour Without Getting Wet
Having only recently returned from the Dominican Republic and the Philippines (more on those trips in due course), you might think we’d be sated on dive travel inspiration for a while. You would be wrong. Divers are constitutionally incapable of not planning the next trip.
We had some genuinely excellent conversations with exhibitors representing a diverse range of destinations. Whether it was remote Pacific atolls, Indian Ocean reefs, or closer-to-home European options, the level of enthusiasm and knowledge on display was impressive. Several destinations have now firmly entered the conversation for future Aerodivers expeditions — watch this space. There may be some exciting announcements coming.
Gear Corner: Admiring Things Responsibly
No dive show would be complete without a lingering, slightly guilty look at equipment you absolutely do not need but are seriously considering anyway.
For me, the standout was the Garmin Descent G2 — a dive computer that also happens to be a fully-featured smartwatch, because apparently just knowing your depth and NDL isn’t enough anymore; you also need to know your step count and the time in Tokyo. It is, to be fair, a beautifully engineered piece of kit, and I admired it at length with the focused attention of someone who has absolutely no intention of buying it. Probably.
Geoff, to his credit, exercised admirable restraint throughout most of the show — right up until the point where he spotted a dry bag and decided that was a perfectly reasonable purchase. He is not wrong. A good dry bag is a cornerstone of civilised diving.
The Talks
There were a few regulars this year (Steve & Andy) but also Chris Lemons (whose story, dramatised in the film ‘Last Breath’ is utterly compelling), Lizzie Daly & Liz Parkinson. We caught Andy & Steve who were the undoubted highlights of our day
Steve Backshall — naturalist, broadcaster, and a man who makes the rest of us feel somewhat under-adventured — delivered an engaging and inspiring session that had the audience thoroughly gripped. He’s a natural communicator, and it’s hard not to leave that kind of talk feeling like you should be doing more. I left having immediately added his series Deadly 60 to my watchlist. If you haven’t seen it, apparently we’ve both been missing out.
Andy Torbet — former Special Forces diver, BASE jumper, and all-round person of implausible accomplishment — was equally entertaining. It should be noted that Andy also arrives with what can only be described as a physique that has clearly never seen the inside of a sofa. Steve’s introduction of him as “a package of testosterone” was both accurate and extremely funny, and Andy wore it with exactly the good humour you’d hope for. His talk combined genuine expertise with warmth and comedy, the kind of presentation that reminds you why diving is such a remarkable pursuit. Both talks were well worth the visit on their own.
Vital Sustenance
A show of this scale demands proper fuel. We managed a very decent coffee mid-morning (essential), and then — in what I can only describe as a highlight of the culinary calendar — a pasty for lunch. There are few things that improve a day of enthusiastic browsing quite like a good pasty. I commend the catering team unreservedly 🙂
The Haul
We left — Geoff chauffeuring us home, bless him — with a satisfying stack of brochures, a dry bag, a notebook’s worth of ideas, and the pleasant tiredness of a day very well spent.
The brochures are now being pored over with the seriousness they deserve. If you have views on where Aerodivers should be diving next, or you’re keen to get involved in the trip planning conversations, do get in touch.
In the meantime: start saving, check your passport, and perhaps have a quiet word with your dive computer about whether it’s up to the adventures we’re planning.
Kevin is Diving Officer for Aerodivers BSAC, Bristol. He accepts no responsibility for any gear purchases made after reading this article.
