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Malaysia’s Dive Show: Diving’s Next Generation? by Peter Symes, Publisher, X-Ray Magazine, Denmark
T HE 20TH MALAYSIA International Dive Expo (MIDE) was held June 4–7 at the MITEC convention center in Kuala Lumpur. X-Ray
challenge. Walking onto the MIDE show floor, however, pre- sented a very different picture.
The exhibition hall was sold out and packed with visitors. More importantly, a large portion of the audience appeared to be young adults and families. The aisles remained busy throughout the event, and unlike many shows that peak on Saturday afternoon before tapering off, MIDE maintained strong attendance until closing time on Sunday evening.
Magazine has been a media sponsor since the inaugural event 20 years ago, but with local representatives in the region, I had not personally attended for many years. What struck me most was not just the size of the show, although that was im- pressive. It was the age and energy of the audience.
One of the recurring concerns in the dive industry, especially in Europe and North America, is the aging diver population. Many dive shows in mature markets appear dominated by older divers, while recruiting younger generations remains a
The final numbers confirmed the energy on the floor. The show attracted 19,887 visitors and featured 355 booths, making it one of the largest dive events I have attended in many years and certainly one of the most important in Asia.
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