ADEX Asia Dive Expo is back in China this July with new diving and ocean conservation programmes and activities fit for Summer in Shanghai and Beijing
SINGAPORE, MAY 31, 2019 – ADEX Asia Dive Expo, the largest and longest diving show is back in China with a fiesta of diving and ocean conservation-related activities and programmes. ADEX garnered recognition in 2018 as the ‘Best Exhibition Organiser 2018’ by the Singapore Tourism Board and is appointed by the United Nations and Asia Pacific Diving communities as the ‘Sustainable Ocean Ambassador’ in 2019. Spearheading as one of the “diving industry’s must-attend event”, ADEX is celebrating its 25th milestone this year. ADEX premiered in Beijing as ”CDEX” in 2005 and Shanghai in 2006, and since 2014 the official ADEX China Asia Dive Expo is organised by Underwater360 (UW360).
Day 1 of ADEX Beijing Ocean Fiesta 2019, in partnership with Enlightened Creations and Guoye Culture, commenced with a brand new partnership for a deeper impact on China’s diving community.
ADEX Beijing Ocean Fiesta opens from 9 am to 5 pm on July 12th & 13th, and from 9 am to 3 pm on July 14th. ADEX Asia Dive Show is not just a dive expo. Themed “Dedicated to a Plastic-Free Future”, we can expect activities suitable for everyone in ADEX Beijing Ocean Fiesta, such as ocean-themed photography & art exhibits, film festival, kids’ zone, conservation forums, professional panel discussions, mermaids, dive try-outs, lucky draws and many more. Over 50 renowned local and international dive brands will be making their appearance as well.
Speaking live at ADEX Beijing Ocean Fiesta – the Main Stage, we had the Dive Safety Panel Discussion was moderated by John Thet, CEO of ADEX. The panel includes Lou Yan, President of PADI Greater China, Ahmed Gabr, Guinness World Record Holder in the Deepest Scuba Dive of 332.35m, Jean Claude Monachon, vice president of international sales & marketing of SSI and Wang Yi Kun, founder of Dragon Diving Group. The topics include how to reduce dive risks and organisations that have safety standards systems. Followed by the Freediving Panel Discussion of Mainstage at 1pm is moderated by Dada Li, ADEX Freediving Ambassador, and attended by Wang Aolin, ADEX Freediving Ambassador (China), Potti Lau, professional freediver, and Maggie Yang, professional freediver. The audience gets to learn about their daily routines, training, dangerous situations overcame through intense willpower and even a glimpse of their younger days.
Day 1 also sees the likes of talks by speakers such as underwater photographer Christian Vizl (Mexico), Torch Sun and more.
During the opening ceremony, ADEX Beijing Ocean Fiesta was treated with a cultural-exchange performance brought by the Tourism Promotions Board Philippines and the heartwarming introductions to the “Left-Behind Children” of China. Aside from that, headlining on the programmes for the next couple of days were both local and international industry speakers and thought leaders.
As a part of the #ADEXGivesBack initiative, ADEX Beijing Ocean Fiesta Charity Ball was held on July 12, 7 pm at Infinity Hall, Hilton Beijing, with over 200 invited VIP guests, exhibitors and speakers and hosted by Alexandra Ao and Jin Tao.
The highlights for the evening included a toast on stage for CEO of ADEX Mr John Thet, ADEX Ocean Citizen Ambassador Celebrity Eric Tsang, and CEO of Enlightened Creations Mr Lin Fan, performance by guest Ukraine head violinist Vedmedenko Olha, a song “Ajelu” performed by the “Left-Behind Children”, an Award Ceremony for outstanding brands that contributed to the dive industry, an exciting lucky draw with the grand prize being an 11 Days 10 Nights Africa Wild Safari and Indian Ocean Itinerary worth over USD 20,000 by WCG, and a charity auction for items such as a 3.25m by 1.2m on-site artwork completed by the children with the Millennium Crown International Arts Education, the Terrapene Vest by Ocean Trash Artist Kalindava, Indo Aggressor Liveaboard trip worth USD 4250, limited edition XDeep Dive Equipment worth USD 1,800 and many more.
Day 2 ADEX premiered in Beijing 15 years ago, and this year marks the 9th run. With the inaugural partnership with Enlightened Creations and Guoye Culture, this edition marks a great marketplace featuring great offers, robust knowledge-sharing contents and a phenomenal reception of crowd on Day 2!
Speaking live at ADEX Beijing Ocean Fiesta – the Multi-Purpose Stage, we had “Underwater Photography & Videography Panel Discussion” panelled by Yorko Summer, ADEX Ambassador for Photography (Greater China), Sun Ping, ADEX Ambassador for Photography (China), Nan Wang and Christian Vizl, ADEX Asian Photographer of the Year 2019 Judges and Aaron Wong, ADEX Ambassador For Ocean Citizen, and moderated by William Tan, ADEX Ambassador for Macro Photography. They discussed on the subject of ethics in underwater photography, the interaction with marine creatures, comparing the trends in the past and present, and what values we should uphold in this ever-changing arena. Quoting, Christian Vizl perfectly puts it: “We are divers, we should take care of the ocean if we don’t do it, who will do it? We have to set an example for the world, with our images and our actions”. Followed by, the conservation panel on “Single-Use Plastic Conundrum in Greater China” moderated by Claire Li, attended by Wei Rong from Peking University Diving Association, Monica Chin from Ara Dinawan Research Education Conservation Center (ADRECC), director of online intelligence Fu Subin from Zhou Zhi Island, Ocean Trash Artist Kalindava, and Zou Qian from the Enterprise Photographers Natural Fund (EPNF).
Day 2 also sees the likes of talks by speakers such as Dada Li, ADEX Ambassador for Freediving on the subject of “Diving with Love – Searching for a Coral Paradise”, DouDou. ADEX Ambassador for Marine Conservation and also an online influencer on the main stage sharing with the audience on her journey of 3 pole ice dive to Antarctica, Arctic and Tibet. She also shared on the extreme temperatures to the study of multiple species of penguins, she got it all and has taken note on how drastic climate change has affected different natural environments overtime and strives to bring the important messages of conservation to the public and her fans. Yorko Summer, ADEX Ambassador for Photography (China) and Asian Photographer of the Year 2019 Judge brings the treasures of Marianas, as well as tips on how to be a better eco-conscious diver to his audience on the main stage. Henley Spiers together with wife, Jade Hoksbergen, Underwater Photographer, shares on multi-purpose stage about “A Competitor’s Guide To Underwater Photography Competitions”. He showcases his beautiful winning images in competitions around the world and educated his audience on the best types of competitions in terms of purpose, fee, and passion. Alan Lam of MFI provided a holistic overview of the nitty-gritty in Mermaid Fashion. And finally, Yolanda Yao, an SSI mermaid instructor and is the co-investor, executive producer, and leading actress in the largest production of all-underwater mini-movie “Snake Sisters in China”, a film on the legend of the white snake battling the bronze monks to fight for the love of her life, premiering worldwide in ADEX Film Festival. The team also made a special presentation at the dive tank for the visitors to see!
Finally, ADEX Beijing Ocean Fiesta bestowed the ADEX Youth Ocean Ambassador (China) from its inaugural hunt in Beijing to Wang Xing and Liu Jian Xing! Selected students from Peking University got to present and share their passion for marine conservation to the public in the wee hours of 9.30am at the main stage. The best presenters in the live judging panel walked away with prizes including two SDI TDI ERDI Divemaster courses worth RMB 6,888 each, CERTINA DS-Action Diver Watch C0324071105100 worth RMB 6200, CERTINA PH200M Heritage Watch C0364071605000 worth RMB 5,350, and an ADRECC 7 Days 6 Nights (1 week) camping participate on Conservation Project with protocol for 1 person worth RMB 4,670.
The Mermaid Fiesta was held on July 13, Saturday 7 pm at the Superlife Gym, Beijing. This is a summer pool party for the diving/non-diving public, exhibitors of ADEX, an evening packed with good live music by DJ Shen Yue and DJ Darcy, inviting pool, boozes, mermaids, a party of like-minded individuals and influencers.
Winners of the exciting poolside lucky draw sashayed home with Ossidabile Jewellery, the 3 Days 2 Nights Summer Bay Resort Dive and Stay for 1 person voucher worth RMB 4,015, 3 Days 2 Nights at Deluxe Beachfront Accommodation with meals provided and 4 Dives for 2 person voucher worth RMB 4,970, Magic Jet from Aquarobotman worth RMB 5,000, and ADRECC 3 Days 2 Nights Stay for 2 person at Ara Dinawan Island Private Resort + 4 Dives voucher worth RMB 8,250.
Day 3 ADEX Beijing Ocean Fiesta 2019 ended its 9th Beijing edition with success! In partnership with Enlightened Creations and Guoye Cultures, the event has attracted 28,958 visitors over a span of three days and have successfully garnered traction and rising interest amongst China’s divers and non-divers scene!
Introducing diving as one of China’s summer sport and committed to raising awareness of the threats of single-use plastic and ocean plastic pollution, ADEX has managed to establish a well-founded positioning as a “must-attend” dive show and set forth towards the 2020 edition on July 10 to 12.
Themed as “Dedicated to a Plastic-Free Ocean”, ADEX deemed to spearhead the “Ocean Citizen” movement with some of China’s celebrities headlining for a greater cause, such as Eric Tsang and Princess Ye Mingzi, ADEX Ocean Citizen Ambassador; Anais Martane, ADEX China Ocean Citizen Ambassador, Mei Ting, ADEX China Ocean Ambassador, Jing Chao and Tan Kai, ADEX China Marine Public Welfare Ambassador, Jin Tao, ADEX Ambassador, which later drives the “ADEX Gives Back” social responsibility campaign for the “Left-Behind” children of China.
Speaking live at ADEX Beijing Ocean Fiesta – the Main Stage, we had the “Technical Diving Panel Discussion” that was moderated by Tan Xiao Long, were joined by Ahmed Gabr, Guinness World Record Holder in the deepest scuba dive 332.35M, Raymond Chan from SDI TDI, Steven Schwankert, Edmund Yue from RAID, Gideon Liew from GUE, Alex Santos from Philtech. They shared about the advancement in technology, interesting tales of how they adapt and execute technical diving before there were all the digital gadgets, dive safety and personal stories in different parts of the world. With the interactive Q&A session at the end of the panel discussion, the audience gets to benefit from the advice by the 6 seasoned guest panel on stage. Followed by the sharing session bt speaker Ahmed Gabr’s record scuba dive 332.35 metres into the Red Sea is the deepest ever. Making a stand for our oceans, he founded an organisation and mobilised 614 divers for the world’s largest underwater clean-up. As a technical diving instructor trainer, he is backed by 20+ years experience in sport and military diving; an ex-Special Forces officer, a graduate of the US Combat Diver course, his passion for technical diving began soon after becoming a professional dive instructor in 1996. Continued by an array of talks by speaker Roni-Ben Aharon, ADEX Asian Photographer of the Year 2019 Judge, Nan Wang, underwater photographers, Jade Hoksbergen & Henley Spiers, underwater Photographer Chen Yuping, Double K from Korea, ADEX Ambassador of Freediving, Wang Aolin, ADEX Ambassador of Photography (China), Spiri Sun, ADEX Ambassador of Freediving (International), Dada Li and official country partner speaker, Alex Santos.
Finally, ADEX Beijing Ocean Fiesta bestowed the inaugural WORLD SHOOTOUT/ADEX ASIAN PHOTOGRAPHY OF THE YEAR! The ‘live-judging’ session at ADEX Beijing Ocean Fiesta Main Stage for Asia’s best underwater photo by a panel of both local and international judges – Aaron Wong (Singapore), Christian Vizl (Mexico) Doudou (Greater China) Nan Wang (China), Yorko Summer (Greater China) and Yue Hong Jun (China)! After a long ordeal of judging, the results are as indicated below:
World Shootout/ADEX – Asian Photographer of the Year 2019 Winner
Cai Songda from China
Winning entry wins:
– The Andromeda Statuette Trophy
– 1 x SEACAM Underwater Camera Housing (worth RMB 69,000)
– 10 Nights Komodo National Park Itinerary for 1 Person (worth RMB 29,300)
World Shootout/ADEX – “Most-Voted Online” Asian Photographer of the Year 2019 Winner
Elianne Dipp from Indonesia
Winning entry wins:
– USD $500 CASH
World Shootout/ADEX Asian Photographer of the Year 2019 – “LIVE-JUDGING SESSION TOP 5 FINALISTS”
Winners:
1) Cai Songda from China
2) Simon Lorenz from Hong Kong
3) Marco Steiner from the Maldives
4) Yen Wen Chih from Taiwan
5) Marco from Taiwan
Winning entry wins:
– 4 Days 3 Nights Summer Bay Resort Dive & Stay for 1 person (worth RMB 5,300)
ADEX Beijing Ocean Fiesta would like to thank all our friends, exhibitors, sponsors, partners and stakeholders for the participation and support garnered to ADEX Beijing Ocean Fiesta 2019! We look forward to a resounding partnership for the 2020 edition on July 10-12, 2020!