From 18 to 26 January, the Dive Center in Hall 12 at boot Düsseldorf 2025 will be the central meeting place for all divers, underwater professionals and those who want to become one. A very special highlight for the diving community is the dive awards ceremony, which will be held for the third time in 2025. The aim of the award is to recognise outstanding achievements and activities in the international diving industry. Prizes are awarded in five categories each year: INNOVATION, CLIMATE, DESTINATION, PRODUCT and PERSONALITY. This year, the boot dive award is supported by main sponsor BAUER Kompressoren.
A high-calibre jury of experts, consisting of the editors-in-chief of the diving media divemaster, PLONGEZ!, TAUCHEN, taucher.net, VDSTsporttaucher and WETNOTES, has selected three nominees from the numerous applications in each category. The public voting will now run until 3 January 2025, during which diving enthusiasts can support their individual favourites. The winners will be determined by a combination of public votes and the final verdict of the jury and will be honoured at a ceremony during boot Düsseldorf 2025 on Friday, 24 January 2025. All information about voting is available here: https://www.boot.com/en/Program/Awards/dive_award/dive_award
The five categories of the dive award - powered by BAUER Kompressoren and the three nominations are:
INNOVATION says a lot about the future viability of an industry. In this category, we celebrate people, companies and initiatives that make a special contribution to the future viability of the diving industry, its foundations and resources. Where are the concepts and projects that make the diving industry fit for the future? Where are the ideas that shape tomorrow's world with fresh wind and forward-looking energy?
The nominees are (in alphabetical order):
Cressi Aquawing: ‘One size fits all’ – the versatile donut jacket for every occasion. The patented Modular Adjustment System (MAS) allows for quick and flexible adjustment to any body size and shape.
Scubapro Seawing Supernova: A like no other – the customizable fin. Scubapro's modular fin system offers both individuality and flexibility. The Seawing Supernova can be converted in seconds, both in terms of colour and function.
The Avelo System: Buoyancy control like a submarine. The Avelo System takes a new approach to controlling buoyancy in recreational diving. Unlike conventional BCD jackets, the Avelo System does not use air cells, but instead adds or removes water.
In the CLIMATE category, the focus is on projects and initiatives that are making a particular contribution to climate protection and climate neutrality. For example, scientists, lobbyists and environmental organizations can be nominated – in short, anyone whose work or project is dedicated to the health of our oceans and the life in them. After all, climate change is the greatest threat to oceans and waters.
The nominees are (in alphabetical order):
Better Oceans: marine conservation meets water sports. Not an organization, but a platform. For marine conservationists, water sports enthusiasts and scientists. An unbeatable network in the fight for better oceans.
MANTAHARI: You buy – we donate. MANTAHARI is committed to ocean conservation – for cleaner oceans and more research and education on the topic of ocean plastic, especially in Indonesia.
Scubapro Everflex Yulex Dive: For about two years, Scubapro has been manufacturing its high-quality Everflex suits from YULEX® Dive material, a new plant-based foam made from FSC-certified natural rubber.
More than almost any other water sport, diving is closely linked to travel. The DESTINATION category is therefore dedicated to tourism aspects. Divers set out across the world to explore the wonders of the underwater world. This category therefore includes destinations and tourist offers that are particularly geared to divers. Destinations and regions as a whole can apply, as can individual hotels, diving centres or liveaboards.
The nominees are (in alphabetical order):
Gl. Ålbo Dive Resort: Danish Baltic Sea - Diving paradise at the Little Belt. Gl. Ålbo is a natural pearl on the Little Belt in the Danish Baltic Sea. A paradise for divers and everyone who loves the water.
Malta, Gozo and Comino: the diving paradise in the Mediterranean
The Maltese archipelago is one of the best diving areas in the Mediterranean. A mild climate, short distances to the dive sites and excellent underwater visibility make Malta, Gozo and Comino an ideal destination for divers of all levels almost all year round.
Wakatobi Dive Resort: A diver's paradise and a centre for conservation.
Wakatobi is a luxury diving resort in Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia. World-class dives along miles of reefs, directly from the beach or by boat, lead to spectacular underwater landscapes.
The PRODUCT category is about equipment and technology. The award is not necessarily for the biggest, fastest or most expensive piece of equipment that makes a diver's life easier. Perhaps the ingenious thing is in the detail? Or in a new material that has not existed before? Or in the fact that a proven product can now be manufactured in a particularly environmentally friendly way using new technologies?
The nominees are (in alphabetical order):
Dynamicnord: dry suit RS-350. Dynamicnord offers a complete range of diving equipment for every underwater enthusiast. The RS-350 dry suit is made of innovative, high-quality ripstop material that is tear-resistant and durable.
Oceanreef GSM CUBE3: With the GSM CUBE3, no mission is out of reach – the versatile underwater communication unit can communicate in three different ways: wirelessly, via a fixed cable, or via VHF.
SEAYOS: the first standalone GPS for divers. SEAYOS is a versatile, autonomous tracking device for professional and recreational divers with tracking, mapping and communication functions.
The PERSONALITY category is about people. It honours outstanding athletes, underwater or nature filmmakers or people from other fields who have made an outstanding contribution to diving, the diving industry and the oceans in a particularly public-relations-effective way.
The nominees are (in alphabetical order):
Sabine Kerkau: Founder of the Baltic Sea Heritage Rescue Project. The Swiss national is a CCR full trimix expedition wreck and cave diver, a member of the Women Divers Hall of Fame, and the founder and project manager of the Baltic Sea Heritage Rescue Project.
Nuno Sá: Award-winning underwater cameraman specializing in large animals. Nuno Sá is a BAFTA-winning wildlife cameraman and photographer specializing in marine animals and ocean life.
Dr Steffen Scholz: A look into the depths – sunken wrecks. As a passionate explorer, Dr Steffen Scholz provides a glimpse into the depths of the seas with his underwater wreck photography.
Interested diving fans can cast their vote in the public vote at https://www.boot.com/en/Program/Awards/dive_award/dive_award
Trade fair tickets online in the ticket shop
For private visitors, the cheapest admission ticket costs €19.00 for a membership of boot.club, and is valid for two days of the fair. Children up to and including 12 years of age can visit boot without a ticket together with their parents.
https://www.boot.com/en/Visit/Tickets_Vouchers
The world's largest yacht and water sports fair
With more than 200,000 visitors from over 100 countries and 1,500 exhibitors on 220,000 square meters in Halls 1 to 17, boot Düsseldorf from 18 to 26 January 2025 is the world's largest yacht and water sports fair. Both sailors and motor boaters will find a wide variety of boats, dinghies, superboats or luxury yachts. The popular water sports of diving, surfing, kite surfing, stand up paddling, skimboarding or canoeing are available at boot in all facets and with the appropriate equipment. Attractive stage programs with the stars of the scene, the latest trends and a high-caliber mix of workshops and hands-on activities, both for leisure sports enthusiasts and experts, make the fair unique worldwide. But marine conservation and innovative, sustainable technologies are also in focus at boot 2025. In cooperation with the European Boating Industry (EBI), the blue innovation dock will offer a unique dialogue format with political, economic, technological and media expertise in Hall 10. In addition, two lighthouses for ocean protection will again be on board: The prestigious "ocean tribute" award with partners Prince Albert II. Foundation and German Ocean Foundation as well as the "love your ocean" campaign with its stand in Hall 11.
