This year’s Gold Coast International Marine Expo will feature exciting new attractions, comprising the Expo High Divers, presented by JSW Powersports, as well as the Club Marine cooking show, with Bart Beek, to name but a few.

Riviera's passionate craftsmen will explain the latest in marine design and technology

For the first time in Expo’s three year meteoric history there will be a range of seminars and demonstrations from wooden boat construction through to fiberglass construction of a new Riviera, as well as the immensely popular 50 Tonne Travel Lift Demonstration, and Quintrex factory tours demonstrating alluminium tinnie construction.

Gold Coast International Marine Expo spokeswoman Emma Milne said the Expo was so much more than a boat show.

“It is a not-for-profit, action packed, gold coin charitable donation entry fee, family friendly event that offers a unique behind the scenes view of the diverse marine industry,” Ms Milne said.

Sea Worlds research and rescue vessel has been used in a number of shark turtle and whale rescues

“The Expo also encourages boating enthusiasts and exhibitors to come together in an interactive and memorable manner and this year we look forward to welcoming a host of fascinating new exhibitors and attractions.”

Everything from kayaks to superyachts, fishing equipment  to jet skis and everything else in between will be on show over a 3km display circuit, and with live attractions and demonstrations taking place every 15 minutes, the Expo will definitely be an interactive and memorable event for everyone.

Two times world high diving champion Steve Black leads the Expo High Divers and with 27 years in show experience, he looks forward to putting on a show in front of a home crowd.

“It is the first time the high divers have performed at the Expo and I am very excited to be part of this event.  My home town is the Gold Coast and after travelling the world performing, it is great to be home,” he said.

The high divers will perform a daring act from great heights

The high divers will perform three shows daily with acts including a mix of Olympic diving, comedy diving, a 25m high dive and a daring fire dive to finish off the day.

Club Marine’s resident chef Bart Beek is an accomplished author, restaurateur and highly-sought after performer and he will be sharing his wealth of culinary knowledge in humorous and entertaining live cooking demonstrations held on the hour every hour between 10am and 4pm on Club Marine’s stand.

The Coomera Cup is another new Expo attraction for 2013.  In its third year, the Coomera Cup will be held for the first time at the Expo on Saturday, November 2.  It encompasses a 12km kayaking course and comprises of three 4km laps around Foxwell Island. The Cup is open to a wide range of categories, ages and skill levels for kayakers.  See the start of this exciting race at 9am and the finish at approximately 11am from the Main Stage.

Another new attraction this year is the Family Zone which replaces the Kids Club from previous years.  The Family Zone is a massive 2000sq m site dedicated to family fun for children of all ages.  There will be a café offering healthy snacks and lunches, gourmet coffee with comfortable seating in a park-like setting to allow mums, dads and caregivers the chance to relax and unwind while the children are entertained with a kaleidoscope of activities.  The Family Zone is open daily between 10am and 4pm.

The Jetpack Adventures Demonstration is another popular attraction at the Expo

Ms Milne said another interesting new attraction this year was the Sea World Research and Rescue Boat tour.

“For the first time at the Expo you have the chance to come down to the marina and tour the Sea World’s primary research and rescue vessel, Sea World 1.  This boat has been involved in hundreds of whale, shark and turtle rescues around Australia.  You can learn about the Sea World Research and Rescue team, what happens during a rescue and even see the specialised rescue equipment they use,” she said.

Ms Milne said Expo organisers were pleased to have a comprehensive list of new  live seminars and live demonstrations this year.

“As Australia’s only ‘working boat show’ we are pleased to host fishing talks by Doug Burt and the new Riviera seminars, which will give people an insight into how a Riviera boat is designed in 3D computer aided design systems.  People will also have the opportunity to see the varying stages of construction and hear from Riviera’s passionate craftsmen as they explain the latest in marine design and technology,” Ms Milne said.

Yamaha Super tank travelling fishing show is another crowd pleaser

“We have an exciting line-up of popular entertainment this year with the Yamaha Supertank Fishing Show, the Jetpack Adventures Demonstration, a mock rescue demonstration from the Westpac Surf Life Saving Helicopter Rescue Service, the Flyboard X, and a Sealift Demonstration.”

In 2013 organisers expect to have more than 500 boats on display including over 100 boats in the on water display.

The Expo is a partnership between Gold Coast City Marina and Shipyard, Riviera, Quintrex, International Paints, and Clipper Motor Yachts who founded and helped stage this annual not-for-profit community and family focused event.  Expo is so much more than a boat show as it takes visitors behind the scenes of the marine industry and does so surrounded by hundreds of exhibits from the world’s best boating brands displayed over an enlarged 3km display circuit.

The third annual Gold Coast International Marine Expo is set to break all its previous records, which attracts around 300 individual marine brands each year.

Ms Milne said attendance at last year’s Expo defied industry trends with a 24 per cent increase on the first year’s attendance.

“The three day Expo attracted a total of 20,752 people in 2012 from around Australia, New Zealand and internationally as counted independently by the Rotary Club of Coomera River, which is a tremendous achievement for such a vibrant and new event,” Ms Milne said.

A gold coin donation is requested upon entry to the Gold Coast International Marine Expo which will be donated directly back to community groups including the Rotary Club of Coomera River, Paradise Kids, the Westpac Life Saver Helicopter Rescue Service and Sailability Gold Coast.

Easy access including free on site parking is another major draw card for boating enthusiasts from across the nation.

The Gold Coast International Marine Expo will be held on November 1-3 from 9am to 5pm with free entry and free parking.