SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
8:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
REFRESHMENTS – All you can eat, all day, with the purchase of a wrist band for only $10 for adults, $5 for children. 100% of the wrist band proceeds benefit IAHD-Americas. Delectable and mouthwatering culinary creations by Stitzinger Catering. Pre-order wristband(s) when you register for the Festival by clicking on the Registration link above.
9:00 A.M. to 12:00 NOON:
DIVER-TO-DIVER SWAP MEET - The Swap Meet begins at 9:00 a.m. (set-up beginning at 8:00 a.m.) and runs until 12:00 noon. We all know what hoarders most divers are. Here’s your chance to bring out that unused/unwanted (or curiously shrunken) gear and convert it to dollars. Reserve a table for a $20 tax deductible donation to IAHD-Americas when you register for the Festival by clicking on the Registration link above. Shop early for the greatest selection!!
9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
SILENT AUCTION – An unbelievable array of great diving & non-diving items will be auctioned off throughout the day. There are ten Silent Auction tables overflowing with over $40,000 worth of great items, ready for you to enter your bid! One table will close each hour, starting at 10:00 a.m. Bidders must be registered to bid and do not need to be present to win.
Wish to contribute your own auction item? Email or call us at 866-685-IAHD (4243) to register your Silent Auction donation today. Check the website (updated daily) for list of sponsors and donations and table closing times.
10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Seminars and Presentations – The afternoon will be filled with opportunities to hear some truly inspiration and educational speakers share their knowledge and experiences with you. Space is limited, so make sure you register for the sessions you wish to attend! Here is just a sampling of what we have confirmed so far – check back often to see who is being added to the list!
Joe Weatherby
USS Vandenberg Project Manager
Session 1 -12:30 Classroom A
Session 2 - 5:30 Classroom A
- The USS Vandenberg - Wrecks to Reefs 101 - from Concept to Reality - Come and learn how the newest wreck in the Keys came to be, from a great idea to the worlds hottest new dive site. Our host is Joe Weatherby, the man that guided this project from Day 1 and has more dives to date on the wreck than anyone. Share Joe's stories and experience from vessel procurement, to cutting through the environmental red tape, to preparing the ship, engineering the sinking and finally diving the dream! Joe will be showing off the actual nine foot engineering model from Stevens Institute of Technology that was used to design the actual sinking!
Ed Hayes
GUE Instructor, owner, Scuba Shack Dive Center, and Brownstone Exploration Park
Session 1 -10:50 Classroom A
Session 2 - 3:00 Classroom A
- Diving the GUE Way - Learn the benefits and advantages of diving the GUE way with Ed and cut through the myths, mystery and nonsense about one of the most progressive technical training programs available!
Jeff LeClair
Zeagle & Pinnacle Representive for the Northeast US
Session 1 -11:40 Classroom A
Session 2 - 4:40 Classroom A
- Zeagle Gear - Service & Repair Clinic – Learn first-hand how to service, repair & adjust your Zeagle gear from one of America's top authorities on this great line of of scuba equipment. Jeff will be running two clinics and seats are filling fast, so sign up today!!
David Valaika
Executive Director, IAHD-Americas, owner, Indian Valley Scuba, PADI Course Director
Session 1 -4:40 Classroom B
- Grow your Dive Center with IAHD-Americas – Discover how to open new markets by developing an IAHD-Americas diving program within your dive center. Expand your business by reaching out to these very special divers and bringing the magic of the undersea world into their lives.
Lisa Racz
Autism Advocate
Session 1 -1:20 Classroom A
- Diving and Autism - Achieving Focus – Autism is a complex developmental disability that affects over 1.5 million American children and adults. Learn how scuba diving has helped change the lives of those living with autism, and the positive impact it can have on the individual and their family.
Bob Hahn
Olympus Photo-Pro, Digital Underwater Photography Instructor
Session 1 -10:00 Classroom A
Session 2 - 2:10 Classroom A
- One Click Closer to Perfection - Bring the images that we see underwater back up to share with others! Learn the tricks and tips that will make you a better photographer immediately! This hands-on session will help you understand the world of digital photography, choose a camera system that best suits your needs and budget, and how to work with your digital files afterwards to create beautiful images and presentation to share.
Mark McElwee
Father of Kit McElwee, IAHD Blind Diver and Inspiration
3:50 Classroom A
- “Mission to Swim – the Kit McElwee Story” – Hear this inspiration story about Mark’s daughter Kit and her amazing successful defeat of a rare medical disorder that took her sight and tried to take her life, more than a few times. See the struggle through the eyes of those nearest to her, as she overcame challenge after challenge, with the personal goal to one day become a scuba diver, and how the IAHD-Americas was able to turn that goal into reality for her.
Randy Rudd
PADI MSDT, Digital Photography Instructor, Published Photographer & Entrepeneur
3:00 Classroom B
- Turn your Passion for Underwater Photography into Profit! – Enjoy the Southern-fried humor of Randy Rudd as he shares his experiences, good, bad & otherwise, launching Sea Life Scuba. Randy has run Sea Life for the last 4 years, specializing in taking underwater images and marketing his artwork through a myriad of avenues, including craft & art shows, consignment sales, and more. For anyone thinking that selling your photos was easy, you need to hear the ins and outs of the business during this session.
Noon to 6:00 p.m.
ROTORS TO REGULATORS -- Learn about the most recent developments in the IAHD-Americas program that specifically targets wounded and disabled veterans, helping them grow in so many positive ways by bringing the exciting sport of scuba diving and the magical underwater world into their lives. See and hear the latest progress in our program with the U.S. Army donating battle-proven Chinook CH-47’s to the IAHD-Americas.
Noon to 6:00 p.m. [Certified divers only]
IN-WATER GEAR AND PRODUCT DEMOS – The IAHD-Americas scuba pool will be up and heated for the Festival. The industy's leading manufacturers will have the latest gear on site for you to learn about and test dive. White’s is bringing their 40 ft Fusion Demo trailer, and Poseidon will be represented with the hottest new Rebreathers on the market – the MkVI Discovery. Try out these and more of the latest gear and products from the extensive list of vendors and manufacturers that will be in attendance as the Festival. Heated changing areas will be available. Check the Schedule of Events on the website daily to see who is coming and what goodies they will be bringing for us to try!
Noon to 6:00 p.m. [Ages 8 & up]
FREE Discover Scuba Diving – Come out and get wet with a FREE introduction to scuba diving with the IAHD-Americas instructor team. This event is open to all attendees ages 8 and up, and all you need to qualify is a bathing suit and a desire to get underwater with us! Learn about diving, the equipment we use, what to watch out for, and then get in and spend a half hour under the water in our heated 28,000 gallon pool! How cool, eh?
Registrations are limited so sign up on the registration form to secure your time slot!
This event is open to everyone that wishes to discover scuba during the Festival. There are no limitations or physical requirements except your desire to be a scuba diver. Come try what you have dreamed about & swim like the fishes with IAHD-Americas. Heated, private changing areas, towels & hair dryers will be available.
Noon to 6:00 p.m.
FREE regulator flow bench testing & inspection – Ready to see how that regulator of yours really performs? Wonder if it still breathes as good as new? Well bring your regulator on down and the folks from Indian Valley Scuba will be offering FREE regulator flow bench testing and inspections all afternoon long.
Nothing proves the performance of a scuba regulator like a dynamic flow bench test. See your regulator really get breathed, to depths as deep as you wish to go, and be confident knowing how it will perform to whatever depth you may find yourself diving. This test also helps determine if perhaps a service might be in order to restore that regulator performance back to the original specs.
And the best part – it’s FREE, all day long – just be sure to register for a time slot to hold your place in line!
1:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
LIVE BANDS – We’ve got two great live bands playing this year! Leading the parade we’ll have the Mighty Manatees ( www.losmanatees.com ) rocking the crowd from 1:00 to 5:00, and then we’ll enjoy the sounds of the Bill Z and Spellbound bringing back the 70’s and 80’s hits from 6:00 til closing. Check the Schedule of Events on the website to see who else will be entertaining the crowd.
7:00 & 8:00 p.m.
RAFFLE DRAWINGS - for trips, gear and more!!!! Tickets will be sold all day. Three drawings will be held, starting at 7:00 p.m. You need not be present to win.
7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Bonfire and dance party – After a day like this what could be better than kicking back, enjoying some great live music and toasting a mega-bonfire to light up the night sky! The pool will be warm, the food gets fancier, and the laughter even louder as the evening winds down. So kick back, relax, catch up with old friends and meet new friends, while you enjoy some great mixers or BYOB for your evening refreshments.