ADEX — Asia Dive Expo

Full name: Asia Dive Expo (ADEX) Type: trade show Frequency: annual (April) Location: Singapore

Overview

ADEX (Asia Dive Expo) is Asia’s premier diving trade and consumer show, held annually in Singapore. It serves as the primary showcase for underwater imaging products in the Asia-Pacific market and draws tens of thousands of visitors from across the region.

Wetpixel’s Drew Wong regularly reported on underwater imaging products at ADEX, providing the community’s primary coverage of the show.

History

ADEX 2006 (April, Singapore)

Eric Cheng attended after the Digital Shootout Palau and filed a multi-page report describing ADEX as “tiny compared to shows in the United States and Europe” but noted a “tight network of dive operators, tourism representatives, manufacturers, distributors, publishers, editors, and photographers working together.” He spent time with Tony Wu, Jason Heller (DivePhotoGuide), Cor Bosman, the Scubazoo team, and others. Nemo Travel offered discounted Asia Pacific trip packages extended to Wetpixel members. ([1])

ADEX 2008 (Singapore)

Wetpixel announced a meetup for members at the 2008 ADEX. ([2])

ADEX 2011 (April, Singapore)

Drew Wong filed the first of his ADEX reports that would continue for nearly a decade. The show featured 3D as a major trend. Shawn Heinrichs, Berkley White of Backscatter, and Todd Essick gave talks. Shawn Heinrichs spoke about shooting big animals and conservation, and won best speaker. ([3])

ADEX 2012 (April 13–15, Marina Bay Sands)

The show celebrated its 18th year at a new venue, Marina Bay Sands Convention Center. Shortened to 3 days. Shawn Heinrichs braved injuries from a skiing accident to deliver a presentation on the manta ray conservation crisis, winning best speaker. His “Manta Ray of Hope” campaign with Shark Savers illuminated the gill raker trade. Wetpixel/Scubacam party held. ([4])

ADEX 2013 (April 19–22, Sands Convention Center)

Drew Wong covered imaging equipment extensively. Scubacam/Wetpixel party held. Gates showed a prototype housing for the Sony PMW-F55 Cinealta 4K camera. Amphibico displayed a Rouge housing for Red cameras. Wetpixel displayed the Full Frame website relaunch at the Scubacam stand. ([5])

ADEX 2014 (April, Marina Bay Sands)

Adam Hanlon reported. Asia’s largest underwater and diving exhibition. Scubacam showed a 3D-printed Subal housing prototype for the Black Magic Pocket Camera, plus Subal’s Nikon D7100 housing and Nauticam housing for the Sony A7R. “The dearth of new camera models from Nikon and Canon has meant that there is little to report on in terms of innovation.” Wetpixel/Scubacam party held. ([6])

ADEX 2015 (April 2015)

Drew Wong filed the Wetpixel imaging products report. Wetpixel/Scubacam party held. ([7])

ADEX 2016 (April 2016)

Approximately 58,000 visitors attended ADEX 2016. Drew Wong filed the Wetpixel imaging products report.

([8])

ADEX 2017 (April 2017)

Attendance grew to over 60,000 visitors. Notable speaker: ocean explorer and conservationist Sylvia Earle. Drew Wong reported on underwater imaging products at the show. Drew Wong also reported that Eric Cheng was working with Facebook’s VR division. ADEX announced the “Pixel Expo” underwater imaging subsection.

([9])

ADEX 2018 (April, Singapore)

Drew Wong reported. Attendance: 62,079 visitors. Show organizer John Thet had expanded the ADEX brand with shows in Beijing, Shenzhen, and Hong Kong for the Chinese market. Doug Perrine was among the speakers. The “Eneloopgate” battery controversy dominated the imaging conversation — Seacam’s Harald Hordosch and Inon’s Takuya Tori confirmed their strobes were safe with Eneloop batteries. Seacam announced Canon high-speed sync for the Sea Flash 60 strobe. Wetpixel/Sam’s Tours imaging party held. ([10])

ADEX 2019 (April 12–14, Suntec Convention Center)

25th anniversary of ADEX Singapore. Drew Wong reported. The highlight was a panel discussion by Tham Luang cave rescue team members recounting the 2018 rescue of 12 teen boys from a Thai cave system. A “Photo/Video Future Forward” panel compared traditional photography (with Stephen Frink) to VR/360 approaches. Nauticam and Seacam were the major housing exhibitors. Inon’s Takuya Tori showed the X2 housing for Panasonic GX9. Wetpixel/Sam’s Tours party held. ([11])

ADEX 2020

Deferred due to COVID-19. ([12])

Significance

ADEX functions as the Asian counterpart to the DEMA Show and Boot Düsseldorf, providing:

References

Sources

  1. Wetpixel article, Apr 26, 2006: Adex Asia Dive Expo 2006 Report ↩
  2. Wetpixel article, Apr 18, 2008: 2008 Asian Dive Exposition Adex In Singapore ↩
  3. Wetpixel article, May 3, 2011: Adex 2011 Report ↩
  4. Wetpixel article, Apr 18, 2012: Adex Singapore 2012 Report ↩
  5. Wetpixel article, Apr 26, 2013: Adex 2013 Imaging Equipment Report ↩
  6. Wetpixel article, Apr 12, 2014: Show Coverage Adex 2014 ↩
  7. Wetpixel article, Apr 23, 2015: Show Report Adex 2015 ↩
  8. Wetpixel article, Apr 21, 2016: Report Adex Show 2016 ↩
  9. Wetpixel article, Apr 15, 2017: Report Imaging Products At Adex 2017 ↩
  10. Wetpixel article, Apr 16, 2018: Show Report Adex 2018 By Drew Wong ↩
  11. Wetpixel article, Apr 24, 2019: Show Report Adex 2019 By Drew Wong ↩
  12. Wetpixel article, Mar 24, 2020: Adex 2020 Deferred ↩
  13. ADEX 2006 report (article) ↩
  14. ADEX 2011 report (article) ↩
  15. ADEX 2012 report (article) ↩
  16. ADEX 2013 show report (article) ↩
  17. ADEX 2014 coverage (article) ↩
  18. ADEX 2015 report (article) ↩
  19. ADEX 2016 report (article) ↩
  20. Imaging products at ADEX 2017 (article) ↩
  21. ADEX 2018 report (article) ↩
  22. ADEX 2019 report (article) ↩