Its been two great weeks for Tommy and Allan as they set out for another DEMA (Dive Equipment & Marketing Association) show, this time to be held in Las Vegas.

After a long long flight from Manila-HK-LAX-Mexico City and onto Havana one was ready to either crash or look for a little fun. All hyped up after the flight and not knowing if it was morning or afternoon, a good feed of seafood was on the cards and a few beers to follow.

Allan Nash in Havana

That was exactly what I had, a large bowel of oyster soup (superb) and a serving of lobster, Cubana style. Then time to explore Havana. What a city, and incredible walk back in time, with old buildings with the facades still standing with sculptured artwork on building after building. The streets cobbled stoned and the quant little restaurants lining the streets with live music playing in many of the small bars and restaurants. The atmosphere is exciting and the feeling is overwhelming, you just cant do more than sit back relax and enjoy the ride, or after dark and when the time is right, get up and dance, Havana style, Salsa!  Great people, awesome buildings, crazy cars and transportation and the music, something you want to take home with you, absolutely outstanding musicians, its a must do, must see kind of place and now is the time to see it.

Such lovely architecture seemingly frozen in time.

Lots of music and the island of Cuba loves to party.

Las Vegas and the town that never sleeps was again the host of the DEMA show 2010. The show was held at the Las Vegas Convention center and there was little to no space left for anymore. It took me the best part of two days to get from one end to the other, along with my schedules with some of our very best friends in the dive industry. As always its a great pleasure to meet up with Ken and Tina from Island Dreams and Yasuko from Island Cruisers along with many more. The waterproof guys were there selling there latest dry suit, designed for ice diving, nothing we were immediately interested in, however a huge hit for the team selling out all there current drysuit stock. Waterproof’s line of wet suits were as always top of the list and a well sort after items. Waterproof have by far stolen the stage on wet suits, everyone is talking about them. So if you don’t have a waterproof wetsuit and are looking to buy a new suit, don’t look past Waterproof for excellence.

Other items of interest at the show were UK (Underwater Kinetics) lights and accessories, take your time and take a look at what this company has to offer. There new lights UK SL3 is about to be upgraded with a new bulb that is guaranteed to outdo anything close to its size. Already the SL3 has taken many by surprise, its size and durability is by fare more superior than anything else in its class. Asia Divers is taking slowly all its rentable lights and changing them to the UK SL3, that’s how good we think they are.

During one evening we decided to take a night off (something not easy to do at a DEMA show) and go see an old favourite singer song writer Rod Stuart, what a man, mid 60’s and still as strong as ever. Its been a long time since I have been to  alive concert (not to many visit PG) but I have to say I was overwhelmed by Rod’s voice, his energy and his simple way of having a great party at the Coliseum, go Rod, the man!

Four days of DEMA, lots of excitement, so many new ideas and lots of leads to follow up, it was time to leave and head for the airport for that wonderful flight back home. If your ever near a dive show, do drop by, you never know who you will find wondering around, its generally the beginning of another great night of meeting new friends and telling old stories. Till next year, Orlando Fl., DEMA 2011.

Cheers
Allan Nash
Managing Director
PADI Course Director