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In recent years, the Editor has interviewed dive instructors, underwater photography masters, and resort operators — all of whom spoke passionately about their respective fields, giving the Editor a crash course in the professional world of diving. This time, we are thrilled to serve as a media co-organizer for the 2019 Taiwan DRT SHOW, and we had the honour of sitting down for an exclusive interview with DRT SHOW CEO Jason Chong. Naturally, we hoped he could share his perspective on Taiwan's diving industry — as seen through the eyes of an expo organizer.
The Origins and Vision of DRT SHOW
Jason's team got to know many industry vendors through publishing the diving magazine EZDIVE, and one day the idea struck them: what if there were a way to bring all these vendors together? A platform that offered face-to-face opportunities between vendors and customers — and at the time, Taiwan lacked a dedicated professional dive expo. And so, DRT SHOW was born.
The formidable team behind DRT SHOW
DRT SHOW stands for Diving, Resort, and Travel — as the name suggests, it encompasses the full range of services that radiate outward from scuba diving at its core, with the aim of providing consumers with comprehensive diving information. After years of preparation, DRT SHOW expanded from its Greater China base across Asia, and in recent years has partnered with dive expos in numerous regions to offer vendors more complete services and build a more powerful platform for the diving industry — including the Middle East Dive & Fish Expo in Dubai, the Moscow Dive Show in Russia, DEEP & EXTREME Indonesia, and the Thailand Dive Expo (TDEX).
Beyond providing a professional platform for vendors to showcase their products, DRT SHOW also adds value through softer programming such as photography competitions and keynote presentations by industry masters, transforming the expo into a true diving carnival. Every edition draws ocean enthusiasts from all corners of Taiwan. Running into friends who are ordinarily scattered across the country is a memory shared by every ocean lover — so it's not too much of a stretch to call DRT SHOW one giant reunion for the diving community (laughs).
The professional seminars at each expo are always a highlight
The Gradual Growth of Taiwan's Diving Market
To understand an industry, you first need to understand its history. The diving industry around the world evolved as an extension of military diving. In the Asia-Pacific region, Japan, Singapore, and Hong Kong were the earliest countries to develop a diving industry. Thanks to the influence of World War II, the two great military powers — the United States and Japan — poured enormous resources into underwater engineering and underwater combat to gain the upper hand on the subsea battlefield, giving these three countries a solid foundation in diving. Taiwan's diving industry traces its roots to the Japanese colonial era, during which the Japanese government invested comparable resources in developing military diving on the island. After Japan's defeat, the relevant techniques were passed down through an apprenticeship system to Taiwanese trainees of the time.
As Taiwan's economy developed and per-capita incomes rose, and with the introduction of international certification systems, diving gradually evolved from a military pursuit into a recreational activity accessible to the general public. A wide variety of certification agencies entered the Taiwan market in rapid succession — beyond the well-known PADI (certification agency), agencies such as SDI (certification agency)/TDI (certification agency) and DIWA offered consumers different teaching philosophies and course options. However, Jason believes that in recent years Taiwan's diving industry has grown relatively slowly compared with other countries — particularly mainland China. This is largely because Taiwan's overall economic conditions have been sluggish, dampening people's enthusiasm for ocean recreation. That said, the proliferation of social media and affordable underwater photography equipment has drawn more and more young people into the fold; beyond scuba diving, freediving and mermaid swimming have become synonymous with ocean imagery on Instagram.
Driven by social media growth, the diving community continues to expand
Opportunities and Challenges for Taiwan's Dive Travel Industry
Many Taiwanese divers avoid diving locally for a variety of reasons — comfort during the dive, the absence of megafauna, and so on. Yet after organizing so many dive expos and getting to know dive operators from around the world, Jason remains consistently optimistic about Taiwan's potential as a dive destination.
- Marine life you can see in Southeast Asia should "in theory" also be visible in Taiwan
- Rich biodiversity offers visitors a variety of experiences
- Visibility in certain Taiwanese waters rivals — or surpasses — that of other dive destinations
Even so, despite Taiwan's abundant natural resources, overfishing and the resulting depletion of marine life are undeniable realities.
At the very beginning of developing an "industry," the government plays a pivotal role — it should enact legislation to regulate and guide the sector
In many countries, national and local governments actively legislate to promote the diving industry — for example by designating marine protected areas (MPAs), enforcing visitor quotas, or levying marine conservation fees, allowing underwater ecosystems to develop sustainably over the long term without being overwhelmed by the environmental pressures that come with suddenly viral travel itineraries. Industry development also requires vertical integration and supporting infrastructure. The Philippine Department of Tourism, for instance, organizes national-level investment roadshows, partnering with airlines, resorts, and dive operators to deliver fully integrated services — something Taiwan's diving industry currently lacks. Taiwan may appear open for business, but its policies toward foreign investment are comparatively conservative. Without the ability to attract international capital and services, it will remain difficult to draw world-class dive tourists.
Ocean-Inspired Creative Products — The Next Frontier for Young People?
In recent years, DRT SHOW has worked hard to provide a stage for ocean-inspired creative entrepreneurs to shine
Beyond the capital-intensive ventures of manufacturing dive equipment or opening a dive shop, Taiwan's young people can try their hand at developing ocean-themed creative products. Over the past few years, DRT SHOW has actively provided a platform and stage for young creative entrepreneurs, and the results have been impressive. However, Jason did raise one concern. Whether in the creative industries or the dive equipment sector, Taiwanese businesses generally lack the mindset for marketing themselves effectively. Taiwan possesses world-class manufacturing capabilities and remarkable innovation, yet companies struggle to gain rapid exposure, capture market share, and can only watch helplessly as their hard work is imitated.
After years of organizing expos, Jason has seen this painful pattern play out time and again. He therefore strongly hopes that industry players, in addition to pouring their energy into product development, will invest equal thought into marketing themselves, building their brand, and claiming their share of the market. And of course, the very mission behind DRT SHOW is to help everyone take that step together — onto the world stage.
Now that you've read the article, grab your dive buddy and come join this year's DRT Taiwan International Diving & Resort Travel Expo!
Further Reading:
Frequently Asked Questions
How is a BlueTrend dive trip different from an unknown, no-name dive group?
Choosing us means full peace-of-mind protection and a smooth experience from start to finish. Every trip we run holds to three things.
First, full legal protection and a professional dive leader: we strictly follow Taiwan's travel regulations and provide complete travel-agency liability insurance, travel insurance, trip-inconvenience insurance and dive insurance. Every group is accompanied by a certified, foreign-language dive leader who joins you on both the dives and the land itinerary, liaising seamlessly with local dive shops and operators on your behalf to keep things running smoothly — the person our travellers trust most.
Second, fully licensed with secure payments: every payment goes into a licensed travel agency's account, with multiple safe payment channels (bank transfer, credit card and more) and a legal collect-and-remit receipt, so every transaction is open, transparent and protected, avoiding the fraud and dispute risks of transferring money privately to an individual.
Third, hand-picked quality we vet in person: every trip, dive site and partner shop is scouted on the ground by our own team, from the guides' professionalism and safety standards to the food, lodging, environment and service details on land, all vetted by us so you don't get caught out.
I want to sign up for a dive trip. Are there certification-level or logged-dive requirements?
Each dive site is different, so the entry bar varies. 'Bali Tulamben', for instance, is relatively beginner-friendly. 'Malapascua in the Philippines' is also beginner-friendly, but since thresher sharks tend to cruise between 20 and 30 metres, we recommend AOW certification with 20+ logged dives to enjoy this trip comfortably. For 'the Maldives' or 'Palau', we suggest AOW with 50+ logged dives for a more relaxed experience. If you're not sure whether your experience fits the trip you want, message us and our dive editors will assess it and help you find the trip you'll feel safest on.
Can I join if I'm signing up alone? How are rooms arranged?
Plenty of our travellers sign up solo! For rooms and beds, we prioritise pairing you with a same-gender traveller, and if you'd rather have your own space you can pay the difference to upgrade to a single room. For the diving, our professional leader will pair you with a suitable buddy, and with the happy vibe on our trips you'll quickly make a great group of dive friends. Many people sign up alone, make new friends, and end up organising the next trip together!
Does the trip fee include dive insurance, gear rental, taxes and instructor tips?
It depends on the trip, the destination's regulations and the local operators. Every BlueTrend dive trip has a detailed web page with a clear 'included / not included' list, transparent and with no hidden charges. All payments are collected by a licensed travel agency, with a standard-form contract for your protection.
I'm a new diver / haven't dived in a long time — will I fall behind the group?
Before you complete your booking, our team assesses a suitable trip based on your certification level and experience. Before departure, we strongly recommend taking time to refresh in Taiwan with an instructor, or a fun dive to get your feel back. On the trip itself, our professional dive leader groups and pairs everyone by experience, keeps a close eye underwater on travellers who need extra care, and steps in to help right away.
Will the photos and videos taken during the trip be shared with us?
During the dives, 'safety' is always the leader's top priority, so whenever it's suitable and safe the leader will capture great shots and record the best moments. During or after the trip, we compile a cloud album for all travellers to download, so you go home loaded with memories!
Besides your scheduled trips, can you arrange a private group charter or independent travel for me and my friends?
Absolutely! Besides group trips, we also arrange private group charters and independent travel. We can communicate, enquire and coordinate services with local operators based on your needs, saving you time and effort and taking the language barrier off your plate, to tailor the smoothest, most reassuring dive trip just for you. Contact our LINE support and our editors will arrange it for you!
