Has "Be a Diver" gone awry???

[The Chairman]

Wow... I just got off of the phone with a long time and trusted friend and he is incredibly upset with a certain video. To be sure, it's a GREAT video:

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However, according to this person, it seems the Board of Directors have put their companies in the credits even though DEMA picked up the $25,000 bill. somehow, they feel that DEMA should be more equitable in who they spotlight on their video. It is my understanding that many of the agencies in particular feel slighted.

How much of this is true and how much is conjecture? Did the companies buy their way into the video? I have no idea, and I really don't know how to verify or debunk it. Can anyone help a brother out?

 

[DebbyDiver]

Sweet video! It's obviously an advertisement for Sunset House, PADI, and Delta. {after viewing} it promotes Delta Destinations. I'm not really happy if DEMA paid for it.

Are there really "millions of divers"?

When I was still an aspiring diver in the 70's, this would have appealed to me GREATLY.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

If this was a DEMA project then they should have been more equitable. But it seems that this is an inflight commercial that the companies paid for. I would not consider this as anything else. It is strange that Board members companies are in it. Did they approach any one else to ask if they would contribute to it. If not, then DEMA should not have paid a cent for it.

 

[DCBC]

Yes, it's obvious that this commercial promotes PADI, Delta, Cayman and Sunset House in particular and DEMA should not be contributing to it. That's disgusting.

 

[PhilEllis]

While I have never been short of criticism for DEMA, I would bet that DEMA played no financial role in the production of this piece; except for maybe giving permission to use some of the previous footage from the original Be A Diver commercial.

I would also assume that they would give permission to use footage and edit the original commercial to anyone who intended to create a mass showing of the final product. However, it will be very interesting to see the full details of this as it become available.

Phil Ellis
www.divesports.com

 

[diversteve]

When I was still an aspiring diver in the 70's, this would have appealed to me GREATLY.

That scooter at 1:31 is from the 70's. Looks like an old Tekna...

 

[dgreenh]

It looks to me like DEMA found sponsors to pay for the video. I can't say if DEMA contributed any money or not. If they did I doubt that it was very much. We are bombarded with commercials and product placement everywhere where we go, everyday. The ads in this video are relatively non-intrusive. Seems like a cost effective way for DEMA to get the word out to me. Nice video too.

 

[The Chairman]

I would bet that DEMA played no financial role in the production of this piece; except for maybe giving permission to use some of the previous footage from the original Be A Diver commercial.

Phil... that would be a great outcome to this. Unfortunately, their stance of never engaging these kind of questions openly hinders our ability to really know the truth. People are STEAMING about this and I have heard a rumor that several of the certifying agencies are also in a stew: AND IT MIGHT JUST BE MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING! I would hate to see them make decisions about future participation at DEMA based only on hearsay. Their "Cone of Silence" on such matters hearkens to "Get Smart" mentality... they must think we are reincarnation of KAOS. I am kind of braced for a "Would you believe..." statement on this.

Now to be certain: two industry leaders begged me to cerate this thread. One has been a long time critic of DEMA, while the other has been a supporter. While I normally would like to keep my distance from these kinds of issues, it's obvious that they already distrust and/or dislike me. At least, they have done their best to try to marginalize and patronize me. That's OK, and since I have nothing to lose when it comes to DEMA, I might as well be the gadfly. It's not the role I envisioned, but they don't seem to want to embrace the realities of the 21st Century. I wonder how we research who paid what on this?

Yours truly... Siegfried

 

[PhilEllis]

Pete, I agree with you fully that the MAJOR problem with this issue is the they will never tell who paid directly or indirectly for that ad.....and if they do, there is no way to know if they are telling you the truth.

DEMA is an old-school organization, operating in a relatively well-developed cast system...and I am sure they fell absolutely no need to tell anyone anything.

Phil Ellis
www.divesports.com

Phil... that would be a great outcome to this. Unfortunately, their stance of never engaging these kind of questions openly hinders our ability to really know the truth. People are STEAMING about this and I have heard a rumor that several of the certifying agencies are also in a stew: AND IT MIGHT JUST BE MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING! I would hate to see them make decisions about future participation at DEMA based only on hearsay. Their "Cone of Silence" on such matters hearkens to "Get Smart" mentality... they must think we are reincarnation of KAOS. I am kind of braced for a "Would you believe..." statement on this.

Now to be certain: two industry leaders begged me to cerate this thread. One has been a long time critic of DEMA, while the other has been a supporter. While I normally would like to keep my distance from these kinds of issues, it's obvious that they already distrust and/or dislike me. At least, they have done their best to try to marginalize and patronize me. That's OK, and since I have nothing to lose when it comes to DEMA, I might as well be the gadfly. It's not the role I envisioned, but they don't seem to want to embrace the realities of the 21st Century. I wonder how we research who paid what on this?

Yours truly... Siegfried

 

[mike_s]

why would the "Be A Diver" theme and website URL be a part of it if DEMA didn't pay something? (Maybe not all of it, but something.... )

Delta just didn't go pay for and produce a video to promote a DEMA website for free. That's all I'm saying.