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 The daughter of a famous actress used to say that her mother always took a handbag to the Academy Awards, the Oscars, because it gave her something into which to vomit. The Diver Awards have achieved a degree of importance in the British diving scene, but let's hope that no-one gets that upset about not winning one! Winning an Oscar can make a big difference to an actor's flourishing career and, evidently, winning one of the coveted Diver Award bronze statuettes is seen as something that can improve the cash-flow of a diving business, too. Unlike the Oscars, the winners of the Diver Awards are chosen by the public in the form of you, the readers of Diver. As such, these annual awards reflect a level of performance achieved throughout the past year. It must be said that in the past the proprietors of certain businesses tried to influence the voting, such was their determination to get a favourable result. We have managed to legislate against such activities and remain confident that the results provide a true and honest reflection of your preferences. The Award categories were widened this time round to encompass products that were not necessarily new to the marketplace, and the range of categories was extended too. So which products and companies were victorious this year? | ||
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Diver Brand of the Year 
Mares and Scubapro fought it out for the award for Brand of the Year. After several recounts, it was decided that Mares had won it, but by only a couple of votes. "We've won again thanks to a lot of hard work and a high quality product-line," said Mark Jenkins, MD of Mares' British importer Blandford Sub-Aqua. "We'd like to thank all Diver readers who voted for Mares." Andy Shears of Scubapro, magnanimous in defeat, countered: "I can only assume that most of the Scubapro faithful were actually out diving last year rather than filling in the voting forms! However, it's good to see divers choosing Scubapro yet again as one of the top brands in the UK market. "We will continue to produce an increasing number of innovative and market-leading products across the range during 2004 - and win next year's poll!" Suunto, the Finnish diving computer manufacturer, made it into third place. Diver Product of the Year 
Suggestions from readers for Product of the Year were as disparate as one might expect. Eventually, as vote-counting continued, it emerged that it was the Apeks ATX 200 regulator that had caught the imagination of the diving public and taken first place. "What excellent news!" said Tony Gallagher of Apeks Marine Equipment when told. "It's always good when it's divers themselves who give the vote of confidence. We couldn't be happier. We can't make the Black Pearl version of the ATX200 fast enough to meet demand." The Suunto Vyper diving computer, now a popular choice among divers, was rewarded with second place. Among aspirational purchases, MST JetBoots were evidently most popular, even if their high purchase price keeps them firmly in the realms of the whimsical. Remarkably, they took third place for an award. It was interesting to note that the JetBoots also attracted a few votes in the Wooden-Weightbelt category. You can't please everyone! Diver Tour Operator of the Year 
Tour Operator of the Year was won again by Diver readers' perennial favourite Regaldive, but not without Tony Backhurst Travel barking at that company's heels this time. It's another company to watch in competition for a Diver Award next year. Explorers Tours, a previous winner, came third. "Oh that's brilliant. Wow!" said Andreas Elia of RegalDive. "I'm extremely pleased to hear that Regaldive has won this prestigious award once again. It's testimony to the efforts of the Regaldive team both here in the UK and in the resorts. I would like to thank all our clients who have travelled with Regaldive over the past year to the Red Sea and other destinations for their continued support." Diver Dive Centre of the Year 
It's no fun counting the votes for Dive Centre of the Year. Emperor Divers seems to win nearly every year, and we were swamped again with votes for either its operation in Sharm or Hurghada. When she heard that her company had won again, Theresa Simpson said: "What fantastic news! We have to thank our staff and our clients yet again, because without them it wouldn't be possible." After a careful recount, Emperor Divers in Sharm el Sheikh was declared overall winner, with its counterpart in Hurghada second. Third place was shared between Ocean College and neighbouring Red Sea Diving College, both based in Sharm. Diver Dive Destination of the Year 
A newly introduced category this year is Dive Destination of the Year. It was no surprise to find the Egyptian Red Sea the clear winner, with the Maldives in the Indian Ocean following closely behind, such is their popularity with British divers. After that the voting became more fragmented and it was Sudan, not an obvious popular holiday choice, that emerged third on the list of most desirable diving destinations. Diver Liveaboard of the Year 
The voting for another new category, Liveaboard of the Year, was equally fragmented throughout, with readers apparently voting for familiar favourites rather than vessels that they aspired to use. Red Sea boats dominated and Tony Backhurst's mv Cyclone was first choice, with Regaldive's very new mv Emperor Frazer second. On hearing that one of his vessels had won the coveted Diver Award, Tony Backhurst remarked: "I'm sure the owner Ayman Moussa, the dive guides and crew, and all here at Tony Backhurst Scuba Travel would like to thank all the Diver readers who voted for Cyclone. We do our best to get the boats right and they continue to improve year in and year out." Following closely in the wake of the winning boats was the well-established mv Sea Spirit operated by Maldives Scuba Tours, and a long-time Red Sea favourite mv Coral Queen, marketed through Oonasdivers. Diver Retailer of the Year 
Yorkshire dominated the list of popular retailers and SDS Watersports of Sheffield was once again clear winner of Retailer of the Year. "We were obviously voted for by our customers and we thank them for it," said founding partner Arthur Balderson. "We try to give the best choice and sound advice. We just keep on doing what we do and we just keep on winning. "Nuff said." Diver's Warehouse of Bradford was a close second and old favourite Deep Blue Dive Centre of Tynemouth came third. Diver Publication of the Year 
A small number of votes for one publication was enough to secure a place among the winners for the Publication of the Year, such was the diversity of suggestions from readers. In the event, the cult classic Neutral Buoyancy: Adventures in a Liquid World by Tim Ecott won the Diver Award, closely followed by Peter Benchley's Shark and Paul Naylor's Great British Marine Animals. Tim Ecott was thrilled and told us: "I feel genuinely honoured that Diver readers in particular continue to respond to the themes in Neutral Buoyancy. I hope that they like my next book as much!" Diver Wooden Weightbelt of the Year 
Some of the recommendations for the Wooden Weightbelt Award were rather personal and therefore got no more than a single vote, but besides the MST JetBoots (below), the television series Wreck Detectives came in for a pasting. However, it is those airlines which rigidly enforce a 20kg checked-baggage allowance that attracted universal ire. Without singling out any one airline, it is inflexible airlines in general that win the Diver Magazine Wooden Weightbelt Award for 2003. The Diver Awards will be presented at the London International Dive Show 27/28 March at the ExCeL Centre. | ||
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