... but let's start at the beginning: At the boot 2019 – the 50th anniversary of the world's largest water sports fair in Düsseldorf. Following the motto of the jubilee fair, the VIT was also part of it, because once the entire dive industry meets once a year, of course we do not want to miss it!

For all participants, whether visitors or exhibitors, a great opportunity to exchange ideas, to make new contacts, to cultivate old ones, to build cooperations and to meet for us as an association especially many of our diving instructors and to snap up new ideas. For our divecenters in particular, the opportunity to participate as a co-exhibitor at our trade fair appearance, as did this year Unica-Diving Elba and the diving school Aquaworld, or just contact information and flyers with great offers, such as Mad Shark Malta, at our booth interpreted.

This year, we were especially pleased with the overwhelmingly positive feedback on our wiki for divers – Taucherpedia – which we had officially unveiled at last year's boot. Our head of department Biology Uwe Scherner was also able to enchant his young audience with fantastic discoveries in fresh water on the dive center stage.

Of course there was something to celebrate as well: Werner Nehls from Unica-Diving Elba was named a VIT Examiner and thus wears the highest distinction that can be achieved as a diving instructor! Also for such occasions was had our daily keg free beer, which our stand supervisor Wolfgang opened exactly at 17 o'clock.

Almost legendary is what happened after Paulchen Panther's Wer hat an der Uhr gedreht from 18 o'clock in Hall 3. As with diving, it does not matter who you are, how old you are or where you're from – just get together and celebrate – that's the goal of the evening. That too is an aspect of the boot that you should not miss, despite aching feet after a long day at the fair.

After 10 days of massive rumbling in the rumor mill, we all realized: The diving industry has to say goodbye to Hall 3 with very mixed feelings. A very dense veil still wraps around the concept of the next year. But we are not afraid, because after the boot is before the f.re.e – and there, the dive industry has already made their move behind. And that was certainly not for the worse – quite the opposite.

Although not comparable in size with the boot, our new stand next to the diving pool has brought us many unexpected prospects. And also little new friends for our loved ones at home.

And there is the highlight: the Munich Divers Day. This year, in its fourth edition and again fully booked, the speakers were able to present 80 participants with topics from all areas of scuba diving. We look forward to the next year's small anniversary!

And here we are now: After the f.re.e and before the boot. We are curious what the new concept will bring next year! We would like to thank all participants, visitors and helpers and look forward to repeating the success of 2019 with you in 2020!