Northwest Dive and Travel Expo 2012: Promoting Awareness and Sustainability in the Scuba Diving Community

The Northwest Dive and Travel Expo 2012 taking place between 21st and 22nd April at the Tacoma Convention and Trade Center in Washington, will aim to promote marine and environmental awareness among fellow scuba divers and the international scuba diving community for the protection of the underwater world so that it can be enjoyed by future diving enthusiasts for many years to come.

The exhibition, sponsored by Dive News Network Media Group in partnership with the Citizens for a Healthy Bay organisation will prioritise raising awareness by promising to work with local non-for-profit agencies, which will also help them expand their reach in promoting sustainable scuba diving holidays at a local and international level.

Image by Islanders on Flickr.

During the event, Citizens for a Healthy Bay will sponsor a unique opportunity for educating and inspiring youth at this year's Expo. The specifically arranged "Kid's Zone" will offer an interactive pollution display as well as displays explaining storm water runoff and its effects on Puget Sound.

"Our kids are our future in the dive industry," Dive News Network Media Group Founder, Rick Stratton explains, "We have an opportunity to lead the way in bringing awareness to these very important issues. And, we get to make it fun."

Children visiting the Kid Zone and learning more about responsible and eco-friendly scuba diving will have an opportunity to win prizes in some of the activities including a snorkelling set provided by National Geographic Snorkeler.

Image by Islanders on Flickr.

In order to reach more youngsters, the Dive & Travel Expo is also donating free admission to the kids from the South Sound and Tacoma area Boys and Girls Clubs. This allows these kids and their families a chance to participate in learning about ocean conservancy, trying scuba diving first hand, and participating in this exceptional event.

There will also be 300+ exciting exhibit booths to explore at this year's Expo. Vendors from all over the world will be available to answer questions as well as introduce divers to the latest in scuba diving. Visitors will see brand new scuba diving businesses alongside industry standards like Oceanic and White's. There will also be booths manned by industry organisations such as PADI and NAUI.

This event presents industry-wide organisations in the scuba diving sector with an opportunity to meet and reconnect with their membership and share their plans for the upcoming year.