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January 18, 1996-For Immediate Release
Attendance up 36%, booth sales nearly double at aquaCORPS' 96 tek.Conference
The technical diving community turned out in full force, as more than 2,500
leaders and pioneers of the diving world converged in New Orleans January
12-17 for aquaCORPS' tek96 Diving Technologies Conference.
The tek.Conference has established itself as the crossroads where the
expanding field of technical diving-which stresses improved safety and
emerging underwater technologies-meets to discuss new projects,
technologies, and theories. Participating were underwater experts,
explorers, inventors, manufacturers, physiologists, instructors, and
tekkies from more than 30 countries.
"We brought together people passionate about the underwater world," says
tek organizer and aquaCORPS publisher Michael Menduno. "This is where
people from the technical, scientific, and military communities sit down to
improve safety and expand the horizons."
Exhibitors displayed the latest in underwater equipment in 165 booths, up
from 85 at tek95. More than 50 seminars and 40 hands-on clinics were
offered by 119 speakers.
Among the key technologies introduced at the conference were
next-generation rebreathers, submersibles, new gas blending systems,
portable chambers, mixed gas computers, and digital navigation packages.
Hot topics included deep air diving, PADI's new EAN program, and
deregulation efforts by governments around the world.
"One message we got loud and clear," says Menduno, "is that there is
intense competition among manufacturers to bring increased capability
and safety to the market=8Aparticularly in rebreathers."
Two-day pool sessions gave divers the opportunity to try out the latest in
rebreathers: the Prism II with Peter Readey, the Atlantis 1 with TDI's Joe
Odom and Rob Palmer, and the Cis-Lunar with Richard Nordstrom. Explorer and
inventor Bill Stone introduced his new Mk 5, and Japan's Grand Blue
=46ieno-aimed at recreational divers-made its US premiere. Another big hit a=
t
the pool sessions was the rare opportunity to step back in time and dive
the Mark V suit brought by The Historical Diving Society.
The latest in underwater work and projects included George Irvine's WKPP,
Bill Charlton's subsea archeology expeditions, Erika Leigh Haley's Transpac
dives, Bill Stone and Jim King's Wakulla 2, and the ongoing efforts to
connect the Yucatan's mammoth caves.
The leading women in technical diving were spotlighted in a special "Tekkie
La Femme" session.
At the Evening Show, mixed gas pioneer Dick Rutkowski received the Tekkie
award, and National Geographic underwater photographer Emory Kristof was
given a special Wizard award.
"Technical diving is the future, the emerging market," says Menduno. "As
evidenced by the impressive mainstream media coverage of tek from CBS, NBC,
the Learning Channel, the Discovery Channel, ESPN, Wall Street Journal, as
well as from local media outlets."
tek96 sponsors were aquaCORPS Journal, Cochran Undersea Technology, Dive
Rite Manufacturing, Hard Suits Inc., Hruska & Lesser, IANTD, Intel,
Molecular Products Ltd./O. C. Lugo Co., Oceanic, PADI/DSAT, Perry Tritech,
Scubapro, and Trelleborg Viking.
Plans were also announced for the next conference-tek 96.5-to be held in
Orlando, Florida in November 1996. Menduno says, "aquaCORPS will take the
plunge with a series of education dive packages to coincide with the show.
Next year were going to stop just jawin' and get wet diving."
-30-
=46or more information, contact:
Dean Mullaney at aquaCORPS
p:305.294.3540 f:305.293.0729 e:aquacorp@ke*.ne*
` For photos, contact: Alicia Earle Renner at aquaCORPS
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