News
GO Diving Show 2023: Review
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If you missed last weekend’s GO Diving show in the Midlands, you really did miss out! This fourth show from the GO Diving Team promised to be bigger and better than before and it absolutely did succeed!
Once again, the show was held at the NAEC in Stoneleigh – a superb, spacious and easily accessible venue with heaps of FREE parking that is close to many major road, rail and air networks, as well as plenty of accommodation options for those needing to travel to the area from elsewhere in the UK and abroad.
This year’s show had expanded into two hall spaces and the new design of the Main Stage being within the second hall worked much better for presenters and exhibitors alike. With the Great British Pub across from the stage and plenty of space to sit and relax, it was the perfect hub to take the weight off your feet and grab a coffee or a beer, whist getting suitably inspired by a great roster of international speakers. The duo of Ross Kemp and Andy Torbet, and ‘Mother of Sharks’ Cristina Zenato were justifiably popular with the crowds, as I’m sure the other main presentations were that I didn’t get to see.
And that’s the thing… even with two full days spent at the show there was so much to see and do, and so many people to catch up with, that you really were spoilt for choice over the weekend. There were many outstanding presentations on the smaller stages on technical diving, photography, marine conservation, wreck diving and more. I was frustrated not to be able to take the time to watch more. Maybe shorter presentations next time?
Once again, there were lots of interactive elements for visitors to enjoy, including the excellent pool for try dives and side mount dives, VR-experiences and workshops, the mobile caving unit and Bruce the bucking rodeo shark. My children particularly enjoyed their try dives and both times pretty much had the pool – and the instructors – to themselves! What an unbelievable privilege… but it did make me think that it was a shame not to see more people taking advantage of this great experience to try diving for the first time, included in the ticket price.
Dive shows in the UK have always been brilliant at attracting existing divers and there is no doubt that this year’s GO Diving show was well supported and exceptionally well organised and run. A massive thank you and all credit to the GO Diving Team. But as many conversations over the weekend demonstrated, there is still a huge amount of work that the dive industry as a whole needs to do to attract new divers into our wonderful community. It’s never been more important that we, as an industry, look outwards and work together to make this happen. Roll on GO Diving 2024!
News
Go Diving Show 2025 Main Stage Speaker: Dr. Timmy Gambin
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Prof Timmy Gambin is an Associate Professor in Maritime Archaeology at the Department of Classics and Archaeology, University of Malta, and he has been at the forefront of expeditions to undiscovered wrecks and ancient sites for many years – he will be taking you on a trip behind the scenes of some of the latest research on the Main Stage at the GO Diving Show in March.
Prof Gambin graduated in History from this University and went on to attain his Masters in Maritime Archaeology and History from the University of Bristol, where he also got his doctorate in Maritime Archaeology. He has been involved in numerous collaborative research projects, and has also co-directed numerous offshore underwater surveys in various parts of the Mediterranean.
The Virtual Museum
Timmy is the initiator and director of the The Virtual Museum – Underwater Malta. Underwater cultural heritage sites are out of sight and more often than not out of mind. The reason for this situation is simple – the physical barrier created by the sea itself. To date, only divers or people in submarines are able to visit these historic time capsules. There still exist limitations brought about by depth, remoteness and legislation.
In fact, one of the central principles of the UNESCO Convention on the Protection of Underwater Cultural Heritage is that ‘State Parties shall promote public awareness regarding the value and importance of underwater cultural heritage’, a principle that is fully endorsed by The Virtual Museum – Underwater Malta. This online platform brings underwater cultural heritage to the surface and into the homes of the general public.
Using 3D, virtual reality and other media, the aim of this website is to provide access to and share Malta’s unique underwater cultural heritage with all members of the public.
The Phoenician Shipwreck Project
In 2007, during an offshore remote sensing survey aimed at mapping Malta’s Underwater Cultural Heritage, a small anomaly was noted in the sonar data.
Since then, the University of Malta, in collaboration with a number of international partners, have been studying what turned out to be one of the most intriguing recent underwater archaeological discoveries.
Situated at a depth of 110m off Xlendi Bay in Gozo, the Phoenician shipwreck consists of an intact and well-preserved mixed cargo datable to the 7th century BC. The mixed contents of stone and ceramic objects are shedding light on the economic history and trade networks of the Central Mediterranean during the Archaic period.
In addition to the archaeological benefits – including the study of hitherto unknown ceramic typologies as well as a wide variety of scientific tests in the post-excavation phases – this site presents other challenges and opportunities regards methodologies and access, as well as the communication of such a site.
You can find out more on the Phoenician Shipwreck Project here, and the The Virtual Museum here.
Go Diving Show 2025 takes place at the NAEC Stoneleigh Park, Coventry, on the 1st -2nd March.
Marine Life & Conservation
Go Diving Show 2025 UK Stage Speaker: Roisin Maddison
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Underwater photogapher and avid UK diver Roisin Maddison will be taking to the UK Stage at the GO Diving Show in March to discuss why she loves diving off our coastline.
Roisin will be talking about her passion for our native species, UK diving and why it isn’t just deep, dark and cold.
Go Diving Show 2025 takes place at the NAEC Stoneleigh Park, Coventry, on the 1st -2nd March.
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