ScubaFest Cornwall gets mixed reviews, some people come back year after year, some people hate it with a vengeance. Even the locals have mixed thoughts. During this post, I will talk about the good and bad and let the reader make their decision.
Background.
ScubaFest started as DiveFest, a mainly BSAC event. It ran for three years before BSAC pulled out, the following year it was held and organised by a local dive centre. Since then it has been run by SITA, the Scuba Industries Trade Association. It is held at Pentewan Campsite, near Mevagissey in Cornwall. The campsite has many facilities including a large club house, two indoor swimming pools as well as a long sandy beach, with lots of camping pitches and static caravans, it is ideal for this kind of event.
What it is?
ScubaFest is a scuba diving festival, the main idea is to get people in the water. Local hard boats and RIBs organise trips out to the local sites, some clubs bring their own RIB's, which can be launched from the beach. Manufacturers and distributors display their wares, sometimes holding equipment workshops.
Try dives are done in the on site pool by the local BSAC club, there are also rebreather try dives and even 'have a go' at sidemount sessions.
What does it cost?
There is no entry fee. If you want to stay on site, you pay for your pitch/accommodation. Try dives etc. are free. If you want to visit the trade stands, you have to pay for the car park. If you are shore diving, you just pay Bauer for the cost of an air fill (£3 in 2015), if you need one. If you are boat diving, then you need to cover the boat costs too.
My view
I didn't visit ScubaFest in it's early days, only since SITA have been running it. The quantity of people visiting, is quite impressive, even though everyone tells me, it is not like the old days. When diving is cancelled, because of the weather, most are still just happy to be in Cornwall. I get a lot of comments asking why it is put on at this time of year? It is because it is more or less the beginning of the season. Large campsites, like Pentewan, will be full during the summer, all week. They wouldn't want the a site full of weekend bookings mid season, it is also one of the few locations that has the facilities to hold such an event. The weather is unpredictable, yes easterlies are more likely at this time of year but, it is the only time of year where it can be done because of bank holidays, there are no bank holidays in September when it would be ideal.
2015 was a windy year, the whole of the south coast was blown out, we spent most of our time advising divers where to go. We sent people shore diving at Newquay, Port Quin and Port Gaverne, those wanting boat dives were sent to Newquay or Rock, clubs with RIB's were sent to Rock. There was still plenty of diving going on, just not at Pentewan. Monday's weather improved, so a couple of club RIB's went out for a dive. There is always somewhere to dive in Cornwall.
The trade stands pay for their yurt hire, they make no money. This year Fourth Element were offering free Ice Creams to anyone, no equipment even on view, so no trick selling. The organiser, SITA's chairman, is a dive centre owner like me, he doesn't gain financially out of this.
This is the only event like this in Cornwall, with trade stands and diving, divers in Cornwall should support it and help promote diving in Cornwall, so come on and join in, let's help keep it in Cornwall.
There is also the Kernow Diving Festival in Penzance, which is mainly about diving and raising money for DDRC, the Diving Diseases Research Centre. Another good event, where your diving and BBQ costs just £25 (2015) plus the costs of camping.
