Paris Dive Show (Salon de la Plongée)
A cold January morning in 2023 and I am looking for ideas for a dive trip when the Paris 2024 dive show advert appears in my email box. It seems like a good idea so after a little investigation a plan is hatched to visit in 2024.
Roll on a year and it’s 4:30am on a cold dark January morning and I’m on the way to collect my fellow travellers. A straight walk through the airport and we are waiting for our 7:30 flight with a coffee and (as it’s Paris) a pain au chocolate.
The flight is quick and no sooner have we reached maximum altitude we begin the descent into Charles De Gaulle, a quick landing and we are on the way to the next stage. As this is new to us we get a taxi, rookie error, as this costs a bit and extra as its a weekend but we arrive at the dive show and join the quickly moving queue.
The show is huge, bigger than any of the British ones I have been to and full to bursting with all age divers.
The difference is quite noticeable. There are the usual stalls’ kit, parts, clothing, a try dive pool, dive organisations and dive centres. These are some slight differences as they focus on dive areas that are French speaking, Guadeloupe for example. The noticeable additions are the sheer quantities of stalls, they have book stalls focused on diving, a French cartoonist (Sébastien Salingue), a cheese stall, art stalls and wine sellers (including a bar), a recycling area for old kit, second hand kit sales.
After a couple of hours it is lunch and Paul brings out crisp and cheese sandwiches, most welcome. Finally it is time to leave, I have my books signed, Paula has managed to fit a wetsuit into her bag and we have pamphlets and a few small bits of shiny kit.
This tie we return using the tram and the tarin getting back to the airport with time for food, a coffee and a rest before returning to Manchester by 10pm.
A great day out and one that I will be repeated next year.
Keep an eye out for the email.
