Those rising graphs on the organisers' office walls tell the story - the Dive Shows run by Diver Group keep on getting more popular with visitors and exhibitors alike.
     Two new records were set at the ExCel Centre on 2/3 March, when the London International Dive Show welcomed 14,006 visitors - up, if only marginally, from 13,928 the previous year.
     Threatened recession doesn't deter divers in search of goodies, and this year they had the chance to examine the wares of no fewer than 252 exhibitors - that's 11% more stands than in 2001.
     Outside the main hall presentations from the likes of deep-diver John Bennett, free-divers Loic Leferme and Pierre Frolla (a great Gallic double act), Fabio Amaral from Bikini, Jacquie "Squidbait" Couzens, submarine specialist Innes McCartney and our own Louise Trewavas (coming clean on expeditions) drew sizeable crowds.
     In the main hall the BSAC's Rebreather Try-Dive Pool proved as popular as it had at the NEC, with 8.5 divers an hour (spare a thought for that half-diver) sampling the apparatus.
     Meanwhile the Shark Trust Auction raised a cool £4600 towards the organisation's pelagic protection programme, aided by lucrative lots such as Marc Dando's hot reef shark prints (£1250) and a bargain two-week dive safari in South Africa donated by Dive South (£700).
     But Brian Hayes of Poole Dam Divers BSAC in Dorset was LIDS' biggest individual winner. He landed a free fortnight's diving with a friend on Mindoro in the Philippines, courtesy of tour operator Snooba Travel, in the main Show Draw.
     Brian will stay at the El Galleon Beach Resort in Puerto Galera and dive with Asia Divers - not bad for the price of a LIDS ticket!
     There were plenty of other winners. Clive Bowen of Bedford Sub-Aqua Club saved £25 by booking ahead for LIDS for himself and nine other members. His name popped up in the Advance Booking Draw, and now all 10 divers are preparing for a free week's diving trip to Sharm El Sheikh!
     There were, unfortunately, downsides to the Show's success. The event proved so popular that at times visitor numbers outstripped ExCeL's capacity to cope. Having the catering facilities and presentations away from the hall allowed for wide aisles and minimised the crush factor, but there were over-long queues for refreshments outside the main hall.
     Also, on the Sunday in particular, there was some confusion as car parks near the hall filled up and directions to the overflow areas proved inadequate.
     ExCeL assures LIDS that these problems will not recur, and that such aspects as catering facilities, signage and staff training are being reviewed. Put its promise to the test over the weekend of 1/2 March 2003, the next ExCeL experience. Apologies to anyone inconvenienced this time round.
     Before then comes Dive 2002 at the NEC on 12/13 October. No fewer than 165 stands had been booked in the weeks following LIDS - a few years ago that would have been the total the day the doors opened, a measure of the growth of this competitive marketplace.
     You'll find details of forthcoming shows at www.diveshows.co.uk

The Rebreather Try-Dive Pool drew a steady stream of divers.


News of Brian Hayes' lucky draw win of a holiday in the Philippines gets the town-crier treatment.


Members of Bedford Sub-Aqua Club werecelebrating their own prize draw Red Sea holiday