EC&O Venues Earls Court And Olympia

Teenagers from across the UK are being asked by The Chamber of Diving and Watersports (CDWS) in Egypt and the organisers of London’s newest scuba show, The Big Scuba Show (19-20th February) to get their creative heads on and enter a competition to help save dolphins in Egypt.

Recent reports have highlighted the issue of dolphin captivity with the opening and planning of new dolphinarium attractions in resorts around the world. CDWS wants to highlight that British divers and tourists do not want to visit dolphinariums while on their holidays - a point proven with the closure of the last UK-based dolphinarium in 1993.

CDWS and The Big Scuba Show have launched a competition to give 13-18 year olds the chance to win a holiday for four to the Red Sea by designing a poster and a slogan to promote the appeal to ban dolphin captivity.

Mary Gleeson from the Chamber of Diving and Watersports said: “This is a really exciting competition for teenagers who care about dolphins to get involved with. All entries will be uploaded to an online gallery and the winning entry will be awarded their prize on stage at the Big Scuba Show at Olympia, London in February. A selection of entries will also be displayed in a dedicated area at the show.”

Entries to the competition close on January 30th 2011. To find out more about how to submit an entry visit – www.thebigscubashow.com or www.cdws.travel.

The Big Scuba Show is aimed at diving enthusiasts and those who have never tried diving before, from across the UK, which will bring the world of diving and underwater photography together in a wave of entertainment at Olympia, is also being supported by the Egyptian Tourist Board and is raising money for The Royal Marines Charitable Trust Fund – a charity to help injured Marines.

Egypt has teamed up with the Big Scuba Show as country partner for the event and will showcase everything that a Red Sea holiday has to offer divers and non-divers alike.  Tour operators and Egypt’s Chamber of Diving and Watersports will be on hand to answer questions and provide information about one of the world’s favourite warm water diving destinations.

Mary Gleeson added: “We are delighted to be supporting the Big Scuba Show. This is a fantastic new event for diving that will include a wide range of interactive features for everyone from the most experienced divers to absolute beginners who want to get involved in the sport. With the help of some great exhibitors, we’re going to transform Olympia into a divers’ paradise.”

“I’m looking forward to seeing the creative work that is submitted to the competition,” says Graeme Gourlay, managing director of The Big Scuba Show sponsors, DIVE magazine.  “The winning entry will be used throughout the CDWS campaign to promote the appeal to ban dolphin captivity and they could see their poster appearing in a number of locations and magazines across the UK.”

Tickets for The Big Scuba Show are on sale now at www.thebigscubashow.com or by calling the box office – 01635 588 488.
 

Ends

Notes to editors

Monty Halls, celebrity diver, TV presenter and ex-Marine, is the face of the Big Scuba Show and will host a diving question time on the events first stage, accompanied by other experts.  Another key feature will be the Bubble Wars Zone, where visitors will have the chance to walk on water, inside a huge inflatable ‘zorbing’ ball.

 The British Sub-Aqua club (BSAC) is bringing a host of inventive events and activities to the show, including the BSAC Try Dive pool, where people can find out for themselves what diving is really like for free. And for the younger members, there will also be fun free snorkel taster sessions and games.  BSAC will also be launching its new 2011 environment initiative with the Marine Conservation Society and dive clubs will be on hand so visitors  can find out first hand just how easy it is to go diving with the BSAC.

Exhibiting the wonders of underwater photography at the show will be the British Underwater Image Festival (BUIF).  Moving to London from Cornwall for the first time, BUIF is the biggest underwater video and photography exhibition and annual competition in Europe.  The Big Scuba Show will host many of the best underwater images recently taken and this year’s competition winners will be announced live during the event.

The Big Scuba Show has also committed to help raise money for ex-servicemen by naming the Royal Marines Charitable Trust Fund as its official charity for the next three years.  This partnership will involve supporting the Commando Spirit challenges, where fundraisers train as Royal Marine Commandos.  Through the Big Scuba Show website, divers can put themselves forward for an opportunity to take part in Escape The Dunker, a charity challenge where participants have to free themselves from an immersed helicopter cockpit – a great way to discover if they have got some of what it takes to be a Royal Marine Commando.

Media contacts at Press Ahead:

Sara Fisher on 07534 937 932 / 0191 516 6235 or sf@pressahead.info Chris Lines on 07971 868329/0191 516 6235 or cl@pressahead.info