Thinking of Going to ADEX? Read This First (Especially Mermaids!)

Hey there, merfam! 💙

It finally happened: our first-ever dive into Asia’s ocean scene—and wow, what a way to kick it off. Singapore’s ADEX Ocean Week was the starting point of our 5-month Asia journey, and we’re still riding the current from all the magic, connections, and unexpected lessons we picked up along the way.

If you’ve ever wondered what ADEX is like as a mermaid, underwater performer, ocean entrepreneur—or you're just salty and curious—this one's for you.

🧜‍♀️ Arriving in Singapore: First Fins on Land

We got to the venue around 9:30am. Things were still calm—a good tip if you're attending as an exhibitor or performer: the crowd doesn't really show up until 10:30, so that first hour is gold for setting up, scouting booths, and chatting with fellow ocean people before it gets loud.

🎟 Tickets + Badges

You can grab a 1-day or full-event pass at the ticket booth outside, but if you're in the industry, you can apply for a free participation badge online—just do it early! (Yes, we love a good freebie.)

🌊 Booths & Deals Galore

There were so many booths—PADI, SSI, DAN, dive shops offering certification + travel packages, ocean orgs, underwater tech companies.

🔥 Hot tip: Many stands offer special deals on trips and certifications—but if you’re there for a bargain, wait until Sunday. In the last 2 hours or so some shops start making especially juice bargains that are really worth considering. Just… make sure to double-check prices online. We, specifically, were on the lookout for an open water dive certification and even though we had already found the cheapest one on the convention ($150 difference between one and the other per person!), we later saw that the same cert was available even cheaper outside the expo online 👀.

We landed Thursday evening, tired but excited. Normally, you'd use that night to set up your booth—tables, banners, tech stuff—but lucky for us, MFI (Mermaid Federation International) generously let us share their space. We brought a banner and a tablet to demo the MerMapp app—easy peasy setup. No last-minute mer-panics.

💡 Mermaid Biz Tip: How to Network at ADEX

Want to talk partnerships, collaborations, or business ideas? Just walk up to the booth, let them know you're with XYZ (in our case, MerMapp), and ask who you should speak with about partnerships. That’s literally how we got meetings with PADI and SSI.

It might feel intimidating—but honestly, everyone’s there to connect. Show up friendly and curious. Be direct. Be respectful. And don't wear your most glittery tail leggings if you're pitching something serious 😉.

🛍 Friday Flow: Exploring ADEX Like a Pro

🧜 The Mermaid Tank: Small Corner, Big Heart

Now let’s talk about the hidden star of the show (no bias): the mermaid zone.

Tucked in the back-left corner, this space was easy to miss if you didn’t know where to look—but the moment you got close, you felt the energy.

The tank was in constant use—performance after performance drawing crowds every time. And the diversity? Incredible.

• Youngest performer: 9 years old

• Swimmers from across Asia and even one from the US (yes, we were able to bring the legend, Morgana - founder of the famous Circus Siren Pod which was featured in the netflix series MerPeople - with us to the trip and she got to try out the tank as well which everybody loved!!)

• Even a hijabi mermaid swam gracefully in full coverage

• Underwater dancing, choreography, cultural storytelling, and even superhero cosplay (Ironman underwater? Yes, that happened.)

And the crowd loved it. It wasn’t just for photo ops—these performances kept people watching, learning, clapping, and returning.

💎 We also loved checking out the other mermaid-related booths nearby: MFI (who was collaborating both with us - MerMapp - as well as with a wonderful underwater costume designer called mermaid_mystery) Sea Dive Tails, and X. We were really impressed, seeing some of the most creative mer accessories there so far. It felt like a mini mer-market tucked into a giant dive expo.

Need lunch, a break, or an emergency printout? You’re in luck.
The convention is connected to a HUGE mall—and we mean huge.

Pro tip: There’s a place called Evergreen Stationery that saved our tails when we needed a last-minute print job. Heads-up though—it opens at 11am.

Otherwise, food choices? Endless. And indoor. A blessing when the outside is constantly above 30 degrees celsius and extremely humid (although - mentioning temperatures: do remember to bring a jacket with you as the convention hall was on some pretty heavy air-con!).

🍲 Food, Breaks, & the Mighty Mall

🎉 Night Mixer (Free Event)

On Saturday night, we joined the ADEX Night Mixer—a laid-back gathering meant to bring attendees together. It was set to start at 7pm... but even though this is Asia - don’t rush. The buffet opened 45 minutes late 😅.
No one minded though. The organizers were incredibly kind, the drinks flowed, and the vibe was relaxed and happy.

🥂 MFI Celebration Night

Friday night, we also went to the MFI after-party—a private, ticketed event. Yes, the food was meh for the price, but the networking and good vibes? Worth every cent.

Also? The giveaways were WILD. About 50 prizes for 80 people. The odds have never looked better—and yup, we walked away with a new swimsuit!

🌙 After Hours: Mixers, Community, and Giveaways

For mermaids, ADEX can feel like you’re a sparkle in a sea of scuba tanks—but that’s exactly why it matters that we’re there.
We’re not the fringe. We’re part of this world. And when we show up with purpose, passion, and professionalism, we shift the tide.

This was the first stop of our Asia tour. And it reminded us why we’re doing this:
💙 To build real bridges between mer communities.
💙 To grow our pod across continents.
💙 To make sure no mermaid swims alone.

If you're planning to visit ADEX or explore the underwater scene in Asia—do it. It’s worth it. And don’t forget to check the MerCalendar for global mermaid events or add your own to help the pod grow.

We’ll be sharing more from each stop in our journey. Until then—stay curious, stay salty, and keep making waves. 🌊💫

💬 Final Thoughts: Why ADEX Was More Than Just a Convention

Asia Dive Expo (ADEX) is one of the biggest, most established dive conventions in the world. It brings together the who’s who of the underwater scene: scuba brands, conservation orgs, freedivers, underwater photographers, techies, marine scientists… and, yes—mermaids.

This year, it took place in the Suntec Convention Centre in Singapore—a massive, multi-level space connected to an equally massive mall (more on that later).

We came not just to attend—but to connect, represent the mermaid community, and introduce MerMapp to the Asian underwater world. And this was just our first stop on a journey that’ll take us across the continent.

🐚 What Even Is ADEX?

🏙 Bonus: Exploring Singapore as a Mer

One of the best parts of ADEX ending early (usually by 7pm) is that you have time to explore the city.

Our faves:
🌈 Spectra Light Show at Marina Bay Sands (8pm + 9pm): Epic fountains, lights, and projections—all free.
🌳 Garden Rhapsody at Supertree Grove (7:45pm + 8:45pm): LED trees dancing to music. Magical. Pro tip: a light drizzle = fewer crowds + better views.
🐉 Merlion Park: Cheesy but classic. We did the photo. No regrets.

Check out our dedicated blog article to dive deeper into this topic.