“Don’t Shop. Dive.”
That’s the motto of the “Blue Friday” concept, which was launched in 2021 by a Northern California diver as a healthy alternative to the Black Friday shopping insanity over the Thanksgiving weekend. It is now gaining more traction worldwide to boost both trips and holiday sales.
Blue Friday, launched in 2021 by diver Ken Carter, offers a sustainable alternative to Black Friday consumerism by encouraging divers to explore underwater destinations. Starting as a personal tradition in California, it has expanded globally, with divers in locations like Hawaii and Roatan embracing the concept for its environmental focus and community-building potential. Blue Friday now promotes holiday sales for dive shops, training agencies, and manufacturers, with growing advocacy for its inclusion in major industry events like the DEMA Show. This year’s Blue Friday is November 29, 2024!
Blue Friday Participants so far:
• Ken Carter, Marin Scuba Club, Big Apple Divers in New York City
• Members of Marin Scuba Club and Dive Club of Silicon Valley on the Beachhopper II, Monterey, California
• Terry and Cathie Cummins of Dive Queensland at Ashmore Reef, Coral Sea, Australia
• Natalie Shuman, Owner, Sun Divers Roatan
• Mike Smith, Marin Scuba Club & Chris Cervellone, Sea Divers, Peace Dive Boat, Channel Islands, California.
• Kerwin Lewis, Marin Scuba Club, Blue Wilderness Divers, Big Island, Hawai’i
• Amigos Del Mar, 11/29 and 11/30 — Banco CHinchorro, 12/1 –– Mahahual Reef, Mexico