Patriots for Disabled Divers is proud to announce a highly successful DEMA 2023. This is the first Dive Equipment Manufacturer’s Association (DEMA) show we’ve ever attended as an exhibitor. This year, we accomplished a lot at the New Orleans show, including building new relationships in the dive industry and strengthening our commitment to long-time partners. Read on to learn all about PFDD’s first-ever DEMA show.
Making Waves
DEMA is the dive industry’s largest annual conference attended by 5,000 to 10,000 industry professionals and approximately 600 exhibitors each year. Our presence at DEMA 2023 marked significant strides in expanding our programs and partnerships. Our booth was the focus of our awareness efforts. There, we explained the therapeutic importance of scuba diving to the show’s many attendees. Beyond baseline awareness and conversations with industry professionals, we had several significant successes at the show.
Meetings and Collaborations
At the forefront of our achievements were our meetings with several potential new affiliates from all across the United States. These discussions laid the groundwork for expanding Patriots for Disabled Divers’s reach, ensuring that more disabled veterans can access the therapeutic benefits of scuba diving.
A highlight of our engagements was the strategic meeting with the Professional Association of Dive Instructors (PADI), the world’s largest scuba diving certifying agency. These talks centered on a collaborative effort to amplify adaptive diving within veteran communities. This promising partnership solidifies PFDD’s commitment and signifies a shared vision with industry leaders to make diving accessible to everyone.
In a poignant moment, one of our founders, Merial Currer, received a well-deserved award from the DEMA board of directors, recognizing her invaluable contributions to the show. This accolade honors her tireless work and dedication. It also shines a spotlight on PFDD’s growing influence in the diving community.
Building Bridges
Our engagement with dive centers and professional influencers showcased the multifaceted benefits of diving for injured veterans. The discussions delved into the transformative power of scuba diving, not only for the participants but also for affiliate dive centers. PFDD emphasized how their programs create a mutually beneficial relationship, enriching both the centers and the participants. This led to several budding partnerships that laid the foundation for expansions to PFDD’s veteran dive travel programs.
Strengthened Partnerships
To fortify PFDD’s mission, we enhanced our partnerships with key equipment manufacturers Sherwood Scuba and Akona. Both organizations have supported PFDD from our founding and have donated several complete sets of equipment to supply veterans in need. These collaborations underscore the industry’s growing recognition of the importance of adaptive diving programs and PFDD’s role in championing this cause.
Voices of Resilience
A poignant moment at PFDD’s booth was the presence of Scott V, a paraplegic and veteran of the United States Army, who shared his personal journey and the profound physical and psychological benefits he derived from scuba diving. Scott’s testimony resonated with attendees, highlighting the real impact of PFDD’s programs on injured veterans’ lives. Scott was so moved by the interactions that he began planning his path from Open Water Diver to Divemaster to better support the community of injured veterans.
An Enduring Vision
As 2023 draws to a close, our time at DEMA stands as a reminder of the growing recognition adaptive diving and veteran’s programs are seeing within the international dive industry. Our success at the show has laid the foundation for continued growth in 2024.
Join Patriots for Disabled Divers in our mission to empower heroes through the therapeutic benefits of scuba diving. Your support can make a meaningful difference in the lives of injured veterans. Visit PFDD’s website to contribute to the cause and help bring the transformative power of diving to those who have bravely served our nation. To learn more, contact us online or email us at jeff@patriotsfordisableddivers.org.