This is the ultimate scene for underwater people: 3rd annual edition, same place, same date, Sokolniki Convention Center, early February, but bigger and better. This is the editorial aftermath of the major industry event which is now the starting point of the new underwater season.

The Moscow Dive Show stands full tilt for its status as the major turning point for Russia and the ex-SU. All major players showed off, both dive tourism and equipment retail, from Russia, Belorussia, Ukraine (despite all odds), from the Batlic, from Kazakhstan, from Azerbaijan. Coming to Moscow to push the business is of certain convenience for all of them. The local markets are OK doing business via Moscow.

Along with the massive traffic from Moscow and suburbs, visitors from other part of Russia and from abroad gave been well visible.

Where the visitors came from, and male/female percentage: based on Expodat census, 7128 questionnaires processed

MORE OF EVERYTHING

The fair is growing. Visibly more exhibitors, maximum space used, now all three halls in the building, and the entertainment area has also grown considerably. The dive show has to deliver some show. Two big screens and an intense on-stage program is the the key for good mood. Time well spent for visitors in the venue.

New formats are full in. Those who are in some relation to water over its surface, yachtsmen, surfers, board riders, standup paddlers, have been last year just testing and looking around. For now, they are regular exhibitors, and add some thrill to the overall picture. Styles mixed up as the modern trend. Yacht skippers launch dive regatas, boardriders invite their fellow divers to challenge the wave between dives, underwater photographers shoot surfers from below water, liveaboards go for kite safari. Skippers and riders are positively impressed, and the overwater section is yet to grow with new exhibitors to join. Now officially, the slogan for 2019 is appealing to water people, not just underwater. The Moscow Dive Show is where humans go water.

Considerable growth in offer for inland dive tourism. Most visible proactivity from the White Sea and the Barents Sea, the Far East and Kamchatka.

BEST PRACTICES ENVISIONED

The Moscow Dive Show is like both Düsseldorf and Paris, trying to combine a B2B spot with proactive marketing of products and travel packages, as some live cash flow goes well for everyone. This is of some use for liveaboards and dive resorts which not just scout local resellers among dive clubs and tour ops but also collect preorders from individuals backed by instant deposits.

Unique in-show events. Along with numerous presentations on main stage, worth mentioning is the special screening of the Hercules C-130 scuttling. Dive leaders from 5 countries teamed up under the umbrella of the Ultimate Depth magazine have witnessed this event in Aqaba by invitation of ASEZA. Aqaba is the featured partner destination of the Moscow Dive Show the second year in row. 

Overall environment. Totally positive feedback from visitors and exhibitors. Most common quote: this was the best show for maybe the last 15 years.

Conversion of activities. The overwhater part has grown bigger. Boards, kayaks, sailboats are visible in the venue. No longer they are special guests, rather part of the fellowship. While divers and freedivers have noticed only 5% interest for yachts and boards, 68% of skippers and riders are also diving. With activities mashing up, they're comfortable to share the same venue, the must-go scene for water humans.

MALE AND FEMALE, YOUNGER AND OLDER

Both diving and yachting are activities for some wealth over average, which is reached at relevant age. Like everywhere worldwide, the underwater fellowship is mostly aged between 30 and 50, and this audience made up two thirds of the attendance. Nevertheless the younger ones are considerably visible in freediving and among those making up their minds what water activity to choose.

Among divers (who declared diving as their activity) elder people prevailed, median age 42, and divers are male for more than two thirds. Meanwhile the novices are visibly younger: median 39 years, male and female almost equal. Though men dominate among underwater photographers (barely a quarter female) and cave-tech-wreck divers (8 out of 9 are male).

Ages for divers and newcomers, based on 7127 Expodat questionnaires processed

Beginners in the 1st and 2nd year of diving are 16%, this is the market growth estimate for past 2 years. With ten per cent growth potential, this is quite a conversion. The female share is visibly shrinking with experience, maybe men stay loyal to their hobby for longer or they for longer feel like boys.