My Blue Wild spearfishing exhibit experience

    Yesterday (Sunday) around 3pm I was talking to a friend who had just returned from the Blue Wild. He asked me, and I get asked this often, if I'm going to exhibit Speardiver there. I answered him that over the course of next year the Speardiver line will become much more complete and at that point it will be worthwhile to pay for a booth, so probably yes at next year's Blue Wild. At that moment it occurred to me, that if Blue Wild acquired the reputation of being the premier event to promote and check out spearfishing gear, I just bought into the hype. I really have no idea what it's like because I never been there. The smart thing to do would be to go and see before committing to exhibit. Good thing the Broward convention center is 15 minutes drive from my shop, so I headed over.


    Another friend of mine recently told me, that he doesn't like the Blue Wild because it commercializes spearfishing, changing it from being private and special to something that caters to the masses, putting more people in the water and more pressure on our already pressured hunting grounds. I have to wholeheartedly agree. But as someone who gets a lot of satisfaction from providing myself and my fellow divers with the best equipment to enhance our enjoyment of the sea and chances of putting fish on the table, I can't ignore the possibility of giving exposure to the Speardiver brand. Also as a business man I can't stand by idly and allow my competitors, especially those of whom I believe to have inferior product, to have the stage without opposition. Those would be my reasons to attend the Blue Wild.


    Like I said the good thing about the Blue Wild is that it's 15 minutes from my shop. The Broward convention center is easy to get to, other than the minor irritation of getting carded to get into the port. Parking was also easy and close to the building. I didn't expect the number of escalators I had to take to get there.


    The lobby was used for the art exhibits; photos, prints and some original paintings. There were some that caught my eye, beautiful fish colors always do, but overall nothing I'd throw money at. The themes were divided about %95 ocean environment/sea creatures and maybe %5 spearfishing specific. There was one particularly silly booth with surrealistic shark theme paintings, underwater babe with a shark on a leash, a matador like diver holding a red cape in front of what I suppose was a bull shark. I think for those of us who closely observe and try to understand the ocean environment and the creatures that live in it, that kind of fantasy appears well out of place.


    I stopped to talk to Sheri Daye, introduced myself and asked about the layout of the booths. I learned that the larger ones were multiples of the single booth, x 2, x3 etc. I decided that if I go, one booth will suffice for my needs. Some vendors made more of an effort than others to stand out. The Sea Sniper booth was noteable with it's "metal tech" decor. Another one that stood out had two girls in scant bikinis. While I admit I had to stop and gawk at one of the girls ass, I felt it was inappropriate. It's nice to have a pretty friendly girl at a booth. But to flaunt skin in that environment like it was a porn convention, was overkill/poor taste and IMO reflects badly on the exhibitor. Like they're desperate and have nothing else to hold our attention with. From a practical stand point I didn't even notice the name of the booth the girls were standing in front of.


    I was surprised to see the Sea Shepherds at the show. Talk about hypocrisy! Remember this campaign http://spearfishing.world/gene…ng-campaign-ive-seen.html I don't think the Sea Shepherds should have been allowed to exhibit in the Blue Wild. I asked them what they're doing there "Aren't you against spearfishing?" They started to answer "Well there are limits to what spearfishing is ok and.. " I just cut them off, reminded them of this campaign, booed them and walked away.



    Not much else to tell, I only stayed about half an hour. After stopping by Tito's booth (Tito Spearguns) and saying hi, I headed for the exit. Passing by the Spearboard booth I saw the grogan talking a couple of girls into having their photo taken, called his name, snapped a photo and went home. Is it my imagination or did he have one facelift too many?



    Loved it! :laughing3: better than being there :)

    Edited once, last by Oscar ().

    I didn't go this year. I have to say I feel your observations are spot on. At least about the main hall.
    In previous years they had cool break out sessions all day on various topics that ranges from very interesting to marginally relevant. That was that part that always drew me. I hope they still did that this year.


    It would be a boon to the brand to be there as long as the cost is not unreasonable.

    i like to spear fish

    I never made it this year. Judah, they did have a few pretty cool seminars I wanted to hear like the history of spearfishing in SA by Rob Allen. But between not living in Fort Lauderdale anymore, being tired from diving the day before, and seeing that its mostly exactly the same stuff as last year I decided to skip it. I do like looking at all the gear and hearing some of the seminars though. Last year was also cool to meet a number of people behind screen names.


    Also, hahahahahahahahah rofl.

    It would seem that these things would be almost obsolete now. Before the internet and spearfishing websites, Facebook etc etc....it was a good way to meet up with friends, other spearos etc.


    But now, you know what fish they got at Spot X on Friday, who the new girlfriend is...what they had for dinner last night..... You've seen the latest guns etc.


    If I lived down the block, I'd go I guess. But flying to Miami ......nah.

    I'd be interested to know about it from the perspective of a beginner spearo. Whether they felt overwhelmed by the quantity of offerings in one place, or felt it was informative and enabled them to make a good gear choice.

    If lived in South Florida I would go mostly to meet folks in person I've dealt with, bought from, or respect. But like Hank - nah wouldn't fly to Ft. Lauderdale for the show. Always wanted to meet Sheri as she is one of the pioneer women in our sport and a few others but conventions in general don't do much for me.

    I'd like to go sometime. I like to see/touch gear. At the end of the day, I end up using the same gun, a wetsuit lasts me 3 years and I wear the same fins for 10 years now... But I like to see new stuff and talk to people.


    I would like to meet Joseba Kerejeta, Shery, Daryl Wong (not sure if he was there), Dan (in person) and other personalities... I like to talk shit... :laughing:

    Marco Melis

    A bad day fishing is ALWAYS better than a good day at work.

    Well I don't think I classify as a beginner anymore but I have been to a few blue wilds as I gained experience so I might have an interesting perspective.


    My first Blue Wild I was not unlike a kid in a candy store. having only been diving a short time seeing that collection of gear was impressive. It was also interesting to see some of the presentations from people that I really looked up to in and out of the sport.


    The following summer, I took a job at a local dive shop and learned more about the industry in a couple months than a lot of people do in a couple years. Looking back at my first experience, I realized I didn't learn all that much but it was still pretty cool.


    Fast forward another year and I had worked at the same shop again for another summer and had now personally met and worked with many of the people that are "celebrities" at the show. Going to the show this time was more like hanging out with a bunch of friends than anything else. There are a few new products that are released each year at the show and it is cool to see the work from the artists, gunmakers etc but the last time I went I think I was most interested in the raffle.


    I have been a total of three times. I did not go this year because I attend college out of state and like a few others have noted it was not worth it to fly in for the weekend. I can also understand how from the perspective of an insider, like Dan, who knows about everything going on in the industry anyway, how the show is not particularly intriguing. I do think the importance of the show has been a little understated in this particular thread. Like mentioned in another thread I find it very important for all spearfishermen to "stick together." I think this is one of the largest if not only spearfishing convention in the US and it does bring people from many states and different clubs together. I did enjoy getting to meet people behind the screen name as well though.


    And while not as big or innovative as some of the boat shows have become this show has a a much closer knit community and unlike those shows I know a lot of the people there. Also when it happens to fall on a weekend with crap weather like it did last year it ends up being a pretty good second to going diving.


    Overall there is a lot of room for improvement but its a pretty small and relatively new. I hope that it can continue to grow and become a true expo.

    Quote from Marco

    I'd like to go sometime.


    I would like to meet Joseba Kerejeta, Shery, Daryl Wong (not sure if he was there), Dan (in person) and other personalities... I like to talk shit... :laughing:


    Marco - Daryl always goes to the Wild Blue. In fact, he invited me so I could meet him and Sheri but as much as I would have liked - not worth a flight, hotel room and expense for me. Maybe if I can combine it with a trip to the Keys - maybe.

    Quote from Marco

    I'd like to go sometime. I like to see/touch gear. At the end of the day, I end up using the same gun, a wetsuit lasts me 3 years and I wear the same fins for 10 years now... But I like to see new stuff and talk to people.


    I would like to meet Joseba Kerejeta, Shery, Daryl Wong (not sure if he was there), Dan (in person) and other personalities... I like to talk shit... :laughing:


    Marco you forgot me

    Scupper Pro Gives You Wings!

    I am pretty new to spearing and I enjoy the show. Some of the seminars are very good and some are basically short commercials to get you hooked and signed up for a class. I went to the lobster seminar on sunday and learned several new things in only half an hour. Its great to learn little bit of info from guys like Rob allen Joseba and Daryl these guys have some much knowledge on the sport its hard to be around them with out picking up a few new tricks.
    There isnt a whole lot of new gear from year to year but sometimes you can find good deals on stuff or win something in the raffles.
    I was very disappointed to see sea shepard there. I know its done for charity but allowing them to have a both at blue and wild to me is a slap in the face to all spearos.
    I cant ever go without buying a new gun so I probably wont go next year.

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