Northwest Dive Club

I was just looking at the vendor list for the dive expo, having never gone to this is it worth the trip (trip is like 15 miles for me nothing bad) so rephrase is it worth the time?

I see a lot of local vendors and some national ones that would be cool to look at some gear

stuff on sale for this event is it worth buying gear here? etc thoughts, opinions, insults?

I will be hiking in Montana with some old Navy friends (either way you read it is correct, old navy or old friends) and will miss it. In addition to gear, there will be representatives from the various dive destinations there as well, if that interests you.
- Curt

spudgunman wrote:I was just looking at the vendor list for the dive expo, having never gone to this is it worth the trip (trip is like 15 miles for me nothing bad) so rephrase is it worth the time?

I see a lot of local vendors and some national ones that would be cool to look at some gear

stuff on sale for this event is it worth buying gear here? etc thoughts, opinions, insults?

Yeah, it really is worth going to, IMO. I have been there all day every day for the last two years, and I was never bored. I have a lot of friends in the diving world, and this is the only place I've ever been able to visit with pretty much all of them in the same place. There are lots of booths full of stuff to look at, as a side bonus. It's not really about buying gear, more about seeing old friends and making new ones.

Although if you're looking for gear, it's not a bad place to look at lots of options.

I didn't go last year, but I went the year before, and I had a ball. You see so many people, and you get to talk to folks who do charters locally and up in Canada. And you get to see some new stuff the manufacturers are rolling out. I didn't buy anything there, but it was really a fun way to spend a day.

Are they going to be doing the treasure hunt again this year?

Dive Monkey wrote:Are they going to be doing the treasure hunt again this year?

all the info is here:
http://divenewsnetwork.com/dive-and-travel-expo.html

Sunday 9am @ Owens Beach? Not doing the dive but the show is worth going to... Lots to see and Folks to meet... Definitely worth the trip...

IMHO, as a diver, if you do not come to the Expo you will be making a mistake. In addition to all of the reasons mentioned above, there is a constant "flow" of free seminars dealing with travel, photography, marine life, etc.

Personally, I shall be driving 50+ miles one-way to the Expo in Tacoma each day from Mill Creek and then returning. It's worth it.

- John

well sounds like I have plans that day! See you guys there

someone said at one point they had 50% off tickets, those still around where would I find em?

also this treasure hunt thing, it looks cool is it worth waking up at 0-dark?

This will be my first and the wife is even coming!!! I have my slot at the NWDC booth and look forward to seeing some o' you all

Kelly, the Expo is something you'll truly enjoy.

For those looking for 50% off tickets ... any current DAN member can get them off DAN's website.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

spudgunman wrote:well sounds like I have plans that day! See you guys there

someone said at one point they had 50% off tickets, those still around where would I find em?

also this treasure hunt thing, it looks cool is it worth waking up at 0-dark?

Penelope had them, last I heard. In addition, many dive shops have the half-off coupons- AND, I just got an email from Divers Alert Network that says my DAN membership is good for half price entry- shouldn't be too hard to scare one up.

Anybody been to the treasure hunt before?

Joshua Smith wrote:

spudgunman wrote:well sounds like I have plans that day! See you guys there

someone said at one point they had 50% off tickets, those still around where would I find em?

also this treasure hunt thing, it looks cool is it worth waking up at 0-dark?

Penelope had them, last I heard. In addition, many dive shops have the half-off coupons- AND, I just got an email from Divers Alert Network that says my DAN membership is good for half price entry- shouldn't be too hard to scare one up.

here's a coupon you can print out:

IMHO The treasure hunt is down right dangerous. A couple hundred divers shoulder to shoulder scrambeling to get into the water at the same time then trying to scour the bottom for treasure is not my idea of fun!!

Dusty2 wrote:IMHO The treasure hunt is down right dangerous. A couple hundred divers shoulder to shoulder scrambeling to get into the water at the same time then trying to scour the bottom for treasure is not my idea of fun!!

Not to mention its Owens Beach, and I doubt anyone checked to see what the currents look like.....

The treasure hunt can be fun. I did it last year and brought my then new to diving girlfriend (although i did put her on a leash). Just be sure you're ok with the possibility of a mask or reg getting knocked off/out and zero vis. Depth is no more than about 35 FSW.

I'm not sure I'd call it dangerous ... AFAIK, nobody's gotten hurt in that mad melee ... but jumping in the water simultaneously with a couple hundred other divers isn't my idea of a good time ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

The expo is the perfect place to meet great people. I'm not really interested in 90% of the vendor offerings, but the other 10% are pretty awesome though. But seriously, it's worth going just for the people. I went last year and met over a dozen people from this club who I'd only known through the board until then. It was well worth the trip for that alone.

Regarding the treasure hunt: One of the great things about it is that a couple hundred divers are all at Owen's Beach which means they are not crowding another site you might choose to dive at that time.

OK I dont dive nearly as much as I would like, but the hunt doesn't sound like a very good time to me. I'll pass.

I am showing compressors again this year. Every year we have done this and the people that buy our show samples save HUNDREDS of dollars. This year we have a small 4.2 SCFM gas portable as well as a larger 8.9 SCFM gas portable and of course some O2 analyzers for our Nitrox customers. I am not sure if there will be any of the trimix analyzers again this year.

I talked with a drysuit company that is handing out 20% off discounts and another exhibitor that has freebies with any major purchase.

So ... YES ... the show is well worth attending!

We are going to drive the 120 miles to get there each way and it is worth it.

Last year, we went drysuit shopping (myself and another diver) and we put all the shop owners through their paces, comparison shopped and then bought suits for screamin deals. Bought a tank (great deal)....can't remember what else we got, maybe nothing after my drysuit purchase

Yes, there will be great deals!

This year, we are looking at dive computers and travel deals (went to Bonaire in Feb...yea, that whole no-wetsuit diving was pretty awesome)

Most dive shops, and links posted above are good for 50% off ($10 instead of $20).... But somehow they have a groupon for $9.
http://www.groupon.com/seattle/area/tac ... e=20110405

Meeting so many awesome people and some delicious gear. Can't wait to meet you tomorrow guys!

Man ... should be a good one! We were still setting up and had lots of people drop by wanting to buy analyzers and stuff before we even had it unpacked! I sure hope they come back tomorrow when we are set up and selling!