A Day Among Divers – Inspiration from the Go Diving Show 2026

This was not my first dive show, but every time I visit one I feel the same excitement. There is something special about being surrounded by people who share the same passion for the underwater world.

You can talk with complete strangers and after a few minutes it feels like you already know them. Walking between the stands, you easily start dreaming about future adventures – from exotic destinations with warm blue waters to colder and less obvious places that can be just as beautiful.

For a few hours you forget about everyday life and think only about the next adventure under the surface. There were so many impressive and exotic dive locations at the show that it would be impossible to describe them all.

One destination that really caught my attention was cold-water diving in Antarctica and Greenland, offered by Aqua-Firma. It is not the usual warm-water diving many people think about, but it looked truly unique and unforgettable. It is something I will definitely add to my bucket list.

Quite a few conservation projects also had their place on the show floor. I will mention only a few here, but for anyone interested in getting involved there are plenty of opportunities and different ways to help protect the oceans.

Bite-Back Shark & Marine Conservation attracted a lot of interest with a very clever display using a mock-up tuna can, showing what can actually end up inside and how fishing practices affect marine life. It was simple but very effective and made people stop and think.

Another organisation that made an impression on me was British Divers Marine Life Rescue. They presented a simple and easy-to-remember plan explaining what to do if you come across an animal in distress on the beach or in shallow water. It is definitely something I want to read more about myself. There is nothing worse than feeling helpless when you see an animal that needs help, and it was reassuring to learn that there are clear steps people can follow.

On the way to the show I planned to ask a few visitors what, in their opinion, was the biggest change in diving in recent years – whether technological or otherwise. Some interesting answers came up.

Several people mentioned modern dive computers, including watch-style models and solar-powered devices that remove the need for frequent battery changes. It seems that technology is slowly making diving equipment simpler and more reliable.

One innovation that caught my interest the most this year was the Avelo Diving System from Shearwater. The Shearwater Jetpack combines a Fluid Control Module and rechargeable battery with the Hydrotank, creating something that looks and feels completely different from traditional diving equipment. Rather than using weights, you manage your buoyancy simply by adding water to the flexible Hydrotank – and many visitors stopped to take a closer look. It is always exciting to see ideas that could genuinely change the way we dive, and hopefully this system will become more accessible in our part of the world soon.

I found myself sitting a bit on the fence when I came across the diving experience offered by Skegness Aquarium, including the chance to dive with sharks. I know that some people strongly dislike the idea of animals being kept in enclosed spaces instead of living freely in the ocean. At the same time, I believe that awareness through personal experience – especially underwater, where we are only guests, can change people’s attitudes more effectively than films, brochures or dry facts. Seeing marine life up close can create respect and understanding that stays for a long time. And if someone enjoys that first experience, maybe next time you can go on a real diving holiday together. Perhaps that is exactly how the next generation of divers is born – not from reading about the ocean, but from being in it.

Kids Sea Camp offers well-organised packages designed especially for families, with activities suitable for children as young as four years old. Some people may think diving and young children do not go together, but maybe the real question is — why not? Getting them comfortable in the water early means you can share your favourite passion together. It is a great idea for families who want their holidays to be active, educational and fun at the same time.

The speakers always have a special place in my heart. These are people who have truly been there and done it, and their first-hand experience is something you cannot replace. Judging by the crowds, I was not the only one who felt this way. Talks given by members of the diving community involved in major film and underwater projects always attracted large audiences and a lot of interest. Listening to their stories makes the underwater world feel even more fascinating and real.

Towards the end of the show, two destinations seemed to follow me around wherever I went – Malta, where I am always happy to return, and Cyprus. Maybe the universe is trying to tell me something. Safe travels, fellow divers. I wish you clean and clear waters, full of amazing things to discover, and plenty of memories to last a lifetime.