Scuba Diving Industry™ Magazine published by Cline Group, LLC. Printed and mailed to all dive retailers in the USA and digitally delivered to over 17,500 dive professionals in 165 countries. Published monthly, so "Start a Conversation" with your Business Customers!
NOVEMBER 2025 PUBLISHED BY CLINE GROUP Photo by Jesse Alpert. Margo Peyton, International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame Inductee & founder of Kids Sea Camp, whale shark in Oslob, Philippines.
TRAVEL SAFETY ECO PRO TRAINING RETAILING RESEARCH
INNOVATION BUSINESS EDU
TRENDS IN DIVE RETAILING, TRAVEL & TRAINING
digital version
SCUBA DIVING INDUSTRY™ MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 2025
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ADVERTISERS 2 & 3 Aggressor Adventures 7 Shearwater Dive Computers 8 Aggressor Adventures 9 Books by Dan Orr/Best Publishing 10 Dive BVI’s 50th Anniversary 11 Divers Alert Network (DAN) 13 Alex Brylske’s Book by Reef Smart 15 Bahamas Ministry of Tourism 16 Fort Young Hotel Dive Resort 19 Coltri Compressors 21 The Dive Shop @ Cape Eleuthera 23 Deep Blue Adventures Travel 25 All Star Liveaboards 26 Barefoot Cay Resort, Roatan 28 Best Publishing Scuba Books 29 Blue Force Fleet Liveaboards 30 ScubaWeather.com 31 SeaCure Custom Mouthpieces 32 Stream2Sea Reef Safe Products 33 Wayne B. Brown Book 33 SSI/Scuba Schools International 35 Fog-X Mask Defogging Film 36 Clear Story Coach 36 Make A Di ff erence Challenge 36 Scuba Show 2026 East & West 37 Sea Experience, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 38 NAUI’s 65th Anniversary 40 Dive Industry Young Professionals 41 2026 Dive Show Schedule 44 Clines 3rd Q Dive Survey Results 45 Neal Watson’s Bimini Scuba 46 ScubaRadio 48 Visit Cayman Islands | ISDHF 49 Diveplanit Travel Planners 51 Explorer Ventures Liveaboards 52 DEMA Association 53 Level Up, Marketing Minutes & From Behind the Counter Podcasts 54 2024/25 Article Index
PAGE 6 SAFETY Dan Orr: An Incident in Scuba Diving is an Accident that Didn’t Happen PAGE 5 FROM THE PUBLISHER Jerry Beaty Was Right - It All Starts in the Dive Shop PAGE 10 TRAINING Al Hornsby: Store Policies and Staff Training – Is Everyone on the Same Page? PAGE 12 ECO PRO Alex Brylske, Ph.D.: Why the Scuba Industry
PAGE 20 TRAVEL David Prichard & Lily Mak: Dive Travel Planning Checklist for Groups PAGE 24 BUSINESS EDU Cathryn Castle Garcia: 7 Books That Will Supercharge Your Dive Business in 2026
PAGE 38 BUSINESS EDU
Shelli Hendricks, Ph.D.: How to Find a Mentor that’s Right for YOU!
PAGE 39 RETAILING
PAGE 42 TRAINING Kramer Wimberley: Inspiring a Generation of Ocean Advocates Through the CARES Youth Diving Program PAGE 46 RESEARCH Terry Cummins, Ph.D.: What Is Sustainability – Seeking A Definition (Part 1) PAGE 50 TRAVEL Carlos Lander: Nicaragua’s Corn Islands – A Crossroads of History, Culture, and Adventure Gretchen M. Ashton: Highlight the Fitness Features Found in Modern Dive Computers
PAGE 27 RETAILING
Gil Zeimer: To Pee or Not to Pee: “Urine” Good Company
PAGE 30 TRAVEL Jeffrey Bozanic, Ph.D.: Antarctica Beyond Tourism – A Scientific Expedition for Your Ad- vanced Clients
Needs More Self– Generated Data
PAGE 17 TRAVEL
PAGE 18 TRAINING Patrick Hammer: Are You Giving Money Away? Barry Lipsky: Vessel Incident Survival – Firefighter Principles Every Liveaboard Diver Should Know
PAGE 34 TRAINING Margo Peyton:
Training Your Staff to Safely and Effectively Teach Kids to Dive
PAGE FOUR | SCUBA DIVING INDUSTRY
FROM THE PUBLISHER
JERRY BEATY WAS RIGHT - IT ALL STARTS IN THE DIVE SHOP
At the Scuba Show in Long Beach this past June, we interviewed the late Jerry Beaty, one of the industry's most respected voices and someone who understood the business of diving better than anyone. When asked about the role of retailers today, he summed it up per- fectly: “Dive shops are the front door to the whole sport. It’s also the beginning and end of the industry.” – Jerry Beaty DEMA 2025 proved that point with data as clear as it gets. This year’s show delivered record performance across multiple sectors. Exhibitors reported some of the strongest sales and bookings in recent memory. One leading manufacturer added 50 new retailers. A major resort operation generated more than $200,000 in group travel from U.S. dive stores on the first day. Scuba Diving Industry Magazine brought more issues than last year, and they were gone by midday on day two. DEMA confirmed a 22% increase in total attendance and a 25% increase in retail buyers compared to 2024 on opening day. These buyers are the backbone of the show, and their presence reinvigorated exhibitors across the floor. Cline Research has long documented the reach of brick-and-mortar retailers. The average U.S. dive store maintains a customer list of roughly 2,500 divers, a figure validated by mul- tiple retailers and a Cline Group study. Multiplied across our verified list of 986 dive stores, that equals an estimated reach of 2,465,000 divers in the United States alone. During the four days of DEMA, our team collected 261 business cards and badge scans using our show software. After comparing them against our verified print list, we added exactly one new retailer. One. That brings the national total to 986 brick-and-mortar businesses. From a marketing and distribution standpoint, this accuracy matters. It ensures your com- panies, products, services, and travel offerings are reaching nearly every physical dive store- front in the country, stores that collectively generate just under $500 million in annual sales , according to DEMA’s research. Retailers remain the channel that shapes diver behavior. As Jerry reminded us in that same interview: “People walk into a dive shop and sign up if they trust that store… they look at it as trusting their life into this instructor’s hands.” – Jerry Beaty That trust is the foundation of training, equipment sales, and travel planning. It is why the retailer channel continues to drive the industry’s commercial performance. Our mission is to support retailers. Many of the same writers who worked with Jerry and Mark Young now contribute to us monthly, helping make our magazine the world’s only printed
Diving Industry ™ Magazine: (Print: ISSN 2996-1416, Digital: ISSN 2996-1424) Published monthly by Cline Group LLC, 1740 Airpark Lane, Plano, TX 75093. Printed copies are mailed within the USA to select dive re- tailers & advertisers. Subscriptions are free to dive profession- als & distributed digitally to 165 countries. POSTMASTER send address changes to Diving Industry Magazine, 1740 Airpark Ln., Plano, TX 75093. Any part of this publication may be reproduced, as long as the source is quoted “Diving Industry Magazine.” For editorial requests, email william@williamcline.com or 972-267-6700. The views and opinions expressed in this magazine are those of the contributors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Cline Group LLC or any of its affiliates. © 2025, all rights reserved by Cline Group LLC. Britain Cline, Advertising Sales Manager Carlos Lander, Latin America Ad Sales June Cline, Social & Podcast Producer Contributors: Gretchen M. Ashton, CA Jeffery Bozanic, CA Alex Brylske, Ph.D., FL Cathryn Castle Garcia, Azores, Portugal Terry Cummins, Ph.D., Australia Patrick Hammer, IL Shelli Hendricks, Ph.D., AZ Al Hornsby, Singapore Carlos Lander, Venezuela Barry Lipsky, NY Dan Orr, ID Margo Peyton, SC David Prichard & Lily Mak, TX Kramer Wimberley, NJ Gil Zeimer, CA William Cline, Publisher Patty Cline, Associate Publisher Amber Wagenknecht, Executive Editor Betty Orr, Senior Editor Neal Watson, Sr., Editor-at-Large SCUBA DIVING INDUSTRY™ MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2025 VOL. 2, NO. 11
monthly dive trade magazine. Our latest survey shows that 80% of U.S. retailers read every issue, and 84% share content with staff. That level of engagement reinforces the strength of the brick-and-mortar network and the accuracy of the list we serve. Thank you for visiting us at DEMA, and thank you, as always, to the 986 retailers who continue to lead this industry forward.
Watch Jerry’s June 2025 Interview on Marketing Minutes
William Cline, Publisher
PAGE FIVE | SCUBA DIVING INDUSTRY
SAFETY An Incident in Scuba Diving is an Accident that Didn’t Happen – by Dan Orr, President, Dan Orr Consulting
Scuba diving gives divers an opportu- nity for unparalleled underwater adven- ture and attracts thousands of enthusiasts each year. Yet, the underwa- ter world is an environment that de- mands respect, preparation, and
poor visibility; entanglement in seaweed, kelp or fishing line. Human Factors: Miscommunication with a buddy; ▪ miscalculation of breathing gas supply; anxiety or overexertion. Each of these incidents may, if not handled correctly, spiral into a much more serious situation. The diver who calmly and properly ascends to the surface in the event of a broken fin strap. The dive buddies that recognize and adapt to a strong current avoid being swept off course. The distinction between incident and accident is not always clear-cut. Many accidents, when reviewed after the fact, are found to have started as minor incidents. The diver who ig- nores a slow leak in their high-pressure hose may be, without realizing, setting the stage for a catastrophic loss of breathing gas. The diver who shrugs off early symptoms of nitrogen narcosis may find themselves disoriented and vulnerable at depth. In accident investigation reports, a recurring theme is the presence of “near misses,” situations where disaster was nar-
constant vigilance. Among the many phrases that circulate in the diving community, one stands out for its directness and gravity: “An incident in scuba diving is just an accident that didn’t happen.” This statement, seemingly simple, is layered with meaning and serves as a guiding principle for divers who wish to explore the depths safely. At its core, the phrase suggests a continuum between inci- dents and accidents. In the context of scuba diving, an inci- dent is any event or situation that deviates from the planned or expected course, potentially endangering the diver or their companions. An accident, on the other hand, is the culmina- tion of those deviations – when things go truly wrong and result in injury, loss, or worse. What distinguishes the two is often a matter of chance,
quick thinking, or preparedness. An incident may be a mask flooding, regulator free-flow, or a momentary loss of buoyancy control. These are interruptions – disruptions to the smooth flow of a dive, but not cata-
rowly avoided. These near misses, or incidents, are invalu- able learning opportunities. Div- ing organizations such as Divers Alert Network (DAN) encour- age divers to report not only ac- cidents but also incidents, to
strophic in themselves. An accident occurs when such inter- ruptions escalate: a mask flood causes disorientation or water inhalation, the regulator continues to free-flow leading to panic and drowning, and a rapid ascent results in decompres- sion sickness or arterial gas embolism. The phrase, therefore, serves as a warning: Every incident is a potential accident in disguise. It is a reminder to treat even minor deviations seriously, to reflect on them, understand why they happened, learn from them, and strive to prevent their recurrence. Incidents in scuba diving are varied, and their severity ranges from the trivial to the near-fatal. Here are some ex- amples: Equipment Malfunction: A fin strap breaks mid-dive; ▪ a BCD power inflator sticks open; a regulator free-flows. Environmental Challenges : Unexpected currents; ▪
build a database that can inform safer practices for all. Why do some divers respond well to incidents, while others allow them to escalate? The answer lies in training, experience, and mindset. Training: Divers who have recently practiced emer- ▪ gency procedures – mask clearing, out-of-breathing gas drills, sharing breathing gas – are more likely to respond effectively under pressure. Experience: Divers with experience, especially recent ▪ experience, have often encountered and resolved a vari- ety of incidents without ever realizing they had the po- tential to escalate to more serious situations; their confidence and recent experience enables calm and me- thodical responses. Mindset: The better divers are those who anticipate ▪ problems and maintain situational awareness throughout the dive. They monitor their own status, their equip-
PAGE SIX | SCUBA DIVING INDUSTRY
PAGE SEVEN | SCUBA DIVING INDUSTRY
SAFETY continued
ment, and their environment. Incidents test these qualities. The diver who panics is the one most at risk of turning an incident into an accident. The diver who pauses, takes a deep breath, assesses the situ- ation, and acts with purpose is much less likely to be harmed. DAN has an Incident Reporting System for the reporting and sharing of information about diving/snorkeling-related incidents. This is critically valuable information that is shared with the diving community so that we can learn from these incidents and be sensitized to these circumstances in order to reduce the likelihood of recurrence. To access the DAN In- cident Reporting System: https://dan.org/research- reports/research-studies/diving-incident-reporting-system/ The phrase, “an incident in scuba diving is just an accident that didn’t happen,” encourages a culture of diving safety rooted in vigilance and self-confidence. It urges divers to see every incident, no matter how minor, as a warning bell – a signal to review and improve. Debriefing: After each dive, divers should discuss any ▪ deviations or problems with their diving companions. What was the root cause of the incident? What could have been done differently to avoid the incident? Continuous Improvement: Divers should adapt their ▪ equipment, procedures, and habits based on lessons learned. If a piece of gear failed, it should be repaired by a trained and licensed technician or replaced. If com- munication was unclear, divers should agree on better signals. Incident Reporting: Sharing incident reports helps ▪ build a collective wisdom. As more divers become aware of common pitfalls, the community and the sport as a whole becomes safer. For individual divers, the phrase is a call to vigilance and self-reflection. It encourages preparation, skill development, recent and continuous practice, honest self-assessment, and the regular sharing of information with diving companions. For instructors and other diving professionals, it is a teaching tool – a reminder to instill good habits and stress the impor- tance of regular practice of emergency procedures. For the broader community, it is a rallying cry to share information, standardize protocols, and maintain high standards. Pre-dive Checks: Always inspect equipment thoroughly before each diving experience and review dive plans with your diving companions. Skill Practice: Practice diving and emergency skills regu- larly.
Buddy System: Maintain close contact and clear commu- nication with your dive companions. Plan for Emergencies: Know how to handle common problems, and carry necessary backups, such as extra masks or lights. Dive Your Experience: Don’t exceed the limits of your recent experience or the conditions you’re trained for. Learn from Each Dive: Reflect on anything that went wrong and make adjustments to be better prepared for the next dive. We all agree that the underwater world is a wondrous place, but it can be unforgiving for the unprepared. “An incident in scuba diving is just an accident that didn’t happen” is more than a catchphrase – it is a philosophy that places learning, preparation, and experience at the heart of every dive. By ac- knowledging incidents, treating them as warning signs, and striving for continuous improvement, divers can enjoy the beauty and adventure of diving with greater safety and peace of mind. In the end, the best divers are not those who have
never faced an incident, but those who have learned from each one and emerged wiser, more skilled, and better prepared for whatever the next dive may bring.
email Dan Orr
World-Class Diver Education
AVAILABLE FOR DIVE BUSINESSES RESELLER DISCOUNTS
To Order Contact Best Publishing Company +1-561-776-6066 info@bestpub.com
PAGE NINE | SCUBA DIVING INDUSTRY
TRAINING
Store Policies and Staff Training – Is Everyone on the Same Page? – by Al Hornsby, owner, Al Hornsby Productions, Singapore Al is regarded as one of the industry’s most experienced risk management litigation executives.
We all know – and appreciate – that dive retailing is a rewarding but chal- lenging endeavor. We also know that it is done, overall, very well. But, like with any complex activity, it also faces chal- lenges, and there are times when prob- lems arise, or could. In this regard, one of the most valuable tools retailers can have is a clear set of
core activities as gear rental, tank fills, dive paperwork, and gear purchases, especially in busy stores, may also involve non- instructor staff who need to understand the rules and their role in maintaining safety. There have been accidents when non-divers were rented gear; when divers were using some of their own gear and some from the store – which turned out to be incompatible; when staff members either did not obtain proof of certification or maintain it correctly (which later
policies and procedures that staff members have been well-trained in, and which are spelled out in an always- available document that they can ac- cess. Not only does this approach make things run more smoothly, day- in and day-out, but such clear guide-
came into play either in the causes of an accident or as a negative element in the defense of an accident, such as when release/assumption of risk or required medical documents were not obtained or were obtained but not stored properly).
lines can also be used in new-staff training and can improve, and make more consistent, the overall customer experience in the store. They can also help reduce staff errors and avoid potentially costly – or safety-related – problems. Beyond everyday business issues, dive retailing has elements of special risk, of course, and far more industry-wide stan- dards and practices than most businesses ever face. As we are well aware, diving has developed and evolved a substantial body of safety and training standards, which have had con- siderable effect in helping our risk-inherent activity maintain an impressive safety record. (If you take a look at sports and recreation accident stats, you’ll find interesting facts and com- parisons such as diving having long-maintained a fatality rate of about 3 per 100,000 participants… compared to, say, jog- ging, which has been reported at around 11 per. While the causes and explanations are varied, it is still a very real point.) Diving’s effective, rule-based approach has been a signifi- cant factor in our accident record being quite low and con- sistent over many years. However, it is through the maintaining of these rules and standards that our safety per- formance has remained impressive. And, with the fairly high opportunity for litigation when accidents do occur, the value of consistent, familiar practices being utilized in the store takes on an even stronger degree of importance. Also, while instructors have been thoroughly educated when it comes to training and supervising divers, the inter- action customers have with a store is not just in the water, or with such dive professionals, but also with retail staff that play their parts in the customer journey. Consider that such
We are a complex business with known risks – a well-con- structed store procedures manual – like the dive instructional
manuals we are so accustomed to – can play an important role in not only defining a store’s op- erational concepts and approaches, but also in training staff and maintaining ongoing consis- tency.
email Al
PAGE TEN | SCUBA DIVING INDUSTRY
ECO PRO Why the Scuba Industry Needs More Self-Generated Data – by Alex Brylske, Ph.D., President, Ocean Education International, LLC
In the October issue, my article “Charting the Blue” highlighted a land- mark study that finally put numbers to what many of us have long sensed: dive tourism isn’t just a passion industry – it’s an economic engine, contributing an estimated $8.5 to $20.4 billion annu-
usage, incidents, or simple reef condition signals (e.g., bleaching, visibility, crown-of-thorns). Without these, we can’t inform marine spatial planning nor demonstrate how good practices (e.g., moorings, briefings, Green Fins) reduce impacts. 4. Temporal and geographic blind spots: National travel accounts and broad tourism dashboards are often annual, lagged, and aggregated at the country level. Dive man- agement needs seasonal resolution and site or Marine Protected Area (MPA) granularity – exactly what those datasets don’t provide. 5.Skewed multipliers and leakage: Tourism multipliers used in generic reports rarely fit dive’s locally rooted staffing and procurement patterns. In many destinations, dive centers hire and buy locally more than mass-market tourism does – yet generic models can understate that local retention of value. 6. Policy translation gap: Ministries and MPAs need stan- dardized, comparable indicators – certifications by level,
ally and supporting up to 124,000 jobs worldwide. But if that piece established the “why,” this follow-up tackles the “what now.” Because when it comes to real decisions – marine spa- tial planning, coastal permitting, fee structures, protected area design – our sector’s voice is still too often absent. Not for lack of impact, but for a lack of standardized, self-generated data that policymakers recognize and can act on. Some argue that the effort and expense of creating self- generated data aren’t necessary, citing that while other sports, fitness, and travel organizations already provide data – which may not be comprehensive for scuba – it is sufficient. How- ever, this argument is inaccurate for many reasons. 1.Misclassification and
operator employment, dives per site, conser- vation fees remitted – not a proxy from “outdoor recreation” or “beach tourism.” When our evidence arrives in the wrong format, it gets side- lined in favor of sec- tors with cleaner data plumbing (e.g., cruise, hotel, fisheries).
dilution: Mainstream sources like the Sports and Fitness Industry As- sociation (SFIA) and the National Sporting Goods Association (NSGA) bucket scuba into broad “outdoor recreation” or “water sports” categories. Our training pathways, capital intensity, safety require-
Source: The Journal Cell Reports Sustainability, 2025
ments, and environmental dependencies are nothing like paddle sports or general fitness – yet our signal is aver- aged into theirs, masking the true size and structure of dive tourism. 2. Participation ≠ economic impact: SFIA/NSGA-style datasets focus on participation counts and equipment purchases. That misses the spend profiles that matter for policy – multi-day travel, boat operations, training and certification fees, conservation levies, and local employ- ment – where diving diverges sharply from most recre- ational activities. 3.No site-level pressure or ecology: Generic travel/tourism reports don’t track dives per site, mooring
7. Strategic risk: Overreliance on non-diving sources cedes narrative control. When downturns or shocks hit, we can’t credibly argue for targeted relief, fee redesign, or in- frastructure (e.g., moorings, patrols) without our own time series tied to outcomes on the water. The reality is that borrowed numbers simply aren’t built for the realities of dive operations, training, and reef-dependent livelihoods. If we want precision in policy, funding, and man- agement, we need precision in the data – defined by us, for us, and reported consistently. The problem isn’t that we don’t care, or even that we don’t collect anything. It’s that our information is scattered, incon-
PAGE TWELVE | SCUBA DIVING INDUSTRY
sistent, and invisible in the places where policy is made. Dive centers are mostly small and medium enterprises; many op- erate informally; almost none report into the same statistical plumbing as cruise lines, hotels, or fisheries. Policymakers and national statistics offices work from comparable, standardized indicators. We tend to work from anecdotes, case studies, and one-off surveys. It’s time we change that – by generating, standardizing, and sharing our own data at scale. The blueprint already exists: Sectors with consistent “seats at the table” don’t wait for others to quantify their im- portance; they do it themselves and do it every year. Fisheries submit standardized effort and catch statistics to national ministries and Regional Fisheries Management Organizations, which roll up into Food & Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) global datasets. Forestry reports into FAO’s Global Forest Re- sources Assessment and is now complemented by near-real- time monitoring á la Global Forest Watch. Tourism uses common accounting frameworks (Tourism Satellite Ac- counts) to show how spending translates into GDP, jobs, and taxes. What these systems share: Common definitions and taxonomies ▪ Regular reporting cadence (quarterly/annual) ▪ Mixed methods (surveys, administrative data, sensors, ▪ remote sensing) Quality control and transparent aggregation ▪ Public-facing dashboards and downloadable time series ▪ There’s nothing stopping dive tourism from doing the same – except that we haven’t agreed on the basics. Start small, standardize, scale: A global monitoring sys- tem for dive tourism doesn’t need to be heavy or intrusive. It needs to be consistent. The minimum viable set of indicators can be collected by any operator in under 15 minutes per month, aggregated safely and transparently, and reported back as value: benchmarking, visibility, and influence. Consider these three pillars. 1. Economic Active operators and boats ▪ Certifications issued (by level), courses taught ▪ Dives delivered and trip volumes (domestic vs. interna- ▪ tional) Direct revenue from training, guiding, and rentals ▪ Employment: full-time equivalent (FTE), percent local ▪ hires 2. Environmental Site pressure: dives per site per month; mooring use ▪ ECO PRO continued
Simple condition signals: visibility range, presence/ab- ▪ sence of key species, bleaching/stress category, crown- of-thorns sightings Incident reporting: contact/anchor damage, fuel/oil ▪ spills (counts) 3. Community Local procurement share ▪ Conservation fees paid to MPAs/parks ▪ Participation in local conservation or co-management ▪ That’s the floor, not the ceiling. Over time, national associ- ations and MPAs can integrate permit data, training agencies can provide de-identified certification aggregates, and citizen science (e.g., Reef Check, Reef Life Survey, CoralWatch, eO- ceans) can enrich site condition trends. Booking and POS sys- tems can provide anonymized, automated feeds. But none of that works without a common language: what counts as a “dive,” what defines a “local hire,” how site IDs and coordi- nates are standardized. “What’s in it for me?” A fair question: Operators are busy. Margins are tight. Forms are nobody’s favorite. So the system must return value immediately. Dive into Dr. Alex Brylske’s Book: BENEATH THE BLUE PLANET
“An in-depth resource to indulge our passion for diving.” – Wayne B. Brown, Owner & CEO, Aggressor Adventures
A fascinating look at our oceans, marine biology & more! Great for classrooms and every dive retailer’s library!
PAGE THIRTEEN | SCUBA DIVING INDUSTRY
Benchmarking that matters: How do your certifica- ▪ tion volumes, local hiring, or dive-per-site patterns com- pare to peers in your region and globally? Where are the operational bright spots you can learn from? Marketing advantage: Participation badges tied to real ▪ environmental practice (e.g., Green Fins scores) and data transparency elevate credible operators with sustainabil- ity-minded travelers and tour wholesalers. Policy leverage: Aggre- ▪ ECO PRO continued
A practical path: Phase 1: Pilot in 8–10 destinations across tropical and ▪ temperate regions with a small, shared indicator set and a lightweight portal. Phase 2: Integrate plug-ins to popular dive POS/book- ▪ ing/log systems; return operator-level benchmarking re- ports; align with Green Fins or similar programs for recognition. Phase 3: Harmonize with na- ▪
gated evidence of jobs, local hires, conservation fees, and low-impact practices strengthens your position in zoning and fee debates. De- cision-makers respond to numbers over narratives. Funding access: Many ▪
tional statistics offices and UN tourism accounting, pub- lish the first “State of Global Dive Tourism” report, and launch a public dashboard and API. From data to decisions: Why does this matter beyond pride and PR? Because deci- sions flow to where evidence lives. Marine spatial planning: ▪
grants and concessional fi- nance facilities require mon- itoring and evaluation. A standardized dataset reduces friction and makes you more eligible for support.
Source: The Journal Cell Reports Sustainability, 2025
Transparent dive pressure and incident trends support mooring installations, rotation schedules, and caps when needed – protecting sites while keeping businesses viable. Fee design: Clear visibility into conservation fee rev- ▪ enues and their link to site upkeep builds public trust and operator buy-in. Climate resilience: Aligning site condition signals with ▪ thermal stress or storm events helps prioritize restoration and closure decisions. Workforce policy: Demonstrating high local hire rates ▪ and seasonal job stability strengthens our case in tourism development plans. We are already the sector whose fortune rises and falls with ecosystem health. Self-generated, standardized data turns that fact into a policy instrument. The cultural shift we need: There’s a deeper benefit in doing this together. When a fragmented industry starts speak- ing a shared statistical language, we shift from a collection of businesses to a recognized sector. We move from reacting to policy to helping design it. And we model what sustainable
If the system is built well, reporting becomes a one-click ex- port from your booking/log software, not a monthly chore. Governance and privacy: non-negotiables: Trust is ar- chitecture. A neutral host – an industry-university-NGO con- sortium – should steward the data. Contributions must be voluntary, de-identified at the operator level, and released only as aggregates at site/region/country scales. Validation rules, outlier checks, and versioning keep the numbers credible; a data charter makes them safe. Open doesn’t mean exposed. It means reproducible methods, clear definitions, and transpar- ent indicator construction – so that when regulators or re- searchers ask “how do you know?”, we can show them. Destinations as early movers: The fastest gains will come from places that already collect pieces of the puzzle: MPAs with fee systems (Bonaire, Raja Ampat, Komodo, ▪ Great Barrier Reef) can report monthly permit/fee totals and site usage. National or regional dive associations can coordinate on- ▪ boarding and incentives. Training agencies can share quarterly certification aggre- ▪ gates by level and region. Citizen science partners can align site IDs and share ▪ trend summaries.
tourism looks like in practice: transparent, locally rooted, and science-informed. We don’t need to be perfect. We need to be consistent. If we want a seat at the table, this is the chair we build our- selves. Click/Scan for a copy of the study.
Alex’s links
PAGE FOURTEEN | SCUBA DIVING INDUSTRY
TRAVEL Vessel Incident Survival: Firefighter Principles Every Liveaboard Diver Should Know – by Barry Lipsky, President, Long Island Divers Association Barry is a NAUI Public Safety Diving Instructor & Bayport, NY Fire Department Dive Instructor
For most divers, a liveaboard is the ul- timate way to experience diving – close- knit camaraderie, multiple dives per day, and access to remote waters. But as a firefighter, I’ve learned firsthand that emergencies don’t wait for ideal condi-
Check for fire extinguishers, CO and smoke detectors, and the location of life jackets and rafts. Practice trying on the life jackets several times. Ask the crew about night-watch proce- dures. Knowing who is awake increases your margin of safety during overnight hours. Prepare for an Emergency: Make It Muscle Memory . Firefighters train repeatedly in full darkness because emergen- cies rarely happen in good lighting. You should practice the same concept. During daylight, open your hatch or door several times until the motion becomes automatic. Then practice locating it in
tions. Smoke spreads fast, disorientation happens faster, and the human body reacts instinctively – often in ways that work against survival. That is why preparedness must be part of every diver’s mindset, especially when living onboard. My goal is simple: give divers and group leaders the same self-rescue concepts
the dark – eyes closed, hand sliding along the wall or ceiling. Memorize any obstacles around your sleeping area: furniture, door lips, ceiling beams. In a real emergency, vis- ibility may be zero. Your hands must guide you when your eyes cannot. Visualize the route upright and sideways. In an event in- volving smoke, flooding, or inversion, ori- entation changes instantly. When It’s Time to Exit. If an alarm sounds or you detect smoke, time is your most valuable asset. Know what the alarm sound is and what it means. Raise the alert immediately and head for the exit – no de- lays, no gathering belongings beyond your go bag. As firefighters learn early, hesitation
firefighters use so they know how to re- spond before, during, and after a vessel in- cident. Survivability is built long before the emergency begins. Before the Trip: Build Your Personal Readiness. Every firefighter knows that success in an emergency starts with having the right tools ready at the right moment. Divers should approach liveaboards the same way. Travel with copies of your essential docu- ments sealed in a waterproof pouch. Pack a small waterproof “go bag” containing your passport, medication, phone, ID, wallet, and a personal locator beacon if you have one.
Include a bright, waterproof flashlight and keep it within arm’s reach when you sleep. In darkness or smoke, light be- comes your lifeline. This isn’t over-preparation; it’s discipline. In the fire service, we call it pre-incident planning – thinking ahead so your body already knows what to do. What to Look for Onboard. Once on the vessel, conduct your own personal safety walk-through. Firefighters always orient themselves to exits when entering any structure, and divers should do the same on a liveaboard. Identify both pri- mary and secondary escape routes. Locate stairwells, hatches, and points that lead directly to open air. Count the number of steps, doors, windows, railings, or handholds between your bunk and the nearest exit. Start by making contact with the wall and never let go all the way to the exit point. If thick smoke were present and you had to crawl, those tactile refer- ence points could save your life.
is deadly. Stay low, use a wall or railing to maintain orientation, and move deliberately. Once outside, put on your flotation device and remain clear of hazards such as flames, debris, or falling gear. If you need to abandon ship, use long whistle blasts and stay with others until rescue arrives. Final Thoughts for Retailers and Group Leaders: When retailers lead groups aboard liveaboards, they play the same role firefighters play when teaching fire safety: they empower people with knowledge that can save lives. By sharing these principles with your travelers – before departure and again onboard – you transform them from passengers into prepared, situationally aware divers. Because in any emergency, one truth holds: It’s not liability – it’s survivability.
PAGE SEVENTEEN | SCUBA DIVING INDUSTRY email Barry
TRAINING Are You Giving Money Away? – by Patrick Hammer, PADI Lifetime Platinum Course Director, CD-4325, Chicago, IL & Phoenix, AZ
Publisher’s note: Pat was awarded PADI’s first Lifetime Platinum Course Director honor. Congratulations Pat for certifying nearly 14,000 instructors! Dive stores might be missing the boat and losing thousands of dollars.
all the way to dive instructor. You don’t have to make a for- tune all at once. Think long-term and recognize the value of keeping that pool full. Not teaching Divemaster classes because you’re afraid of creating competition? That’s a mistake. Divers who want the rating will find another shop – and those shops may be- come your competitors. Why not train them yourself? Bring them onto your team. No one sells classes like an enthusi- astic new DM. And if you want to reduce your workload,
Teaching continuing education can channel thousands of additional dollars into your dive center. Here is my simple business plan.
training pro-level divers is the best way to create reliable help. I have never taught a DM or higher who put me out of business or even harmed it. I always remember the saying: “I taught you everything you know; I didn’t teach you everything I know.” Your years of experience will al- ways give you the edge. Their support will help you avoid burnout. If you pay people a fair wage, you can make money – and so can they. That is suc- cess. You don’t need huge margins on pro- grams you aren’t offering today – swimming, children’s classes, and more. A small piece of the pie is better than no pie
Most of us are already teaching CPR and AED. Put signs up in your store offering on-site training at the student’s location. Create a business card specifically promot- ing CPR classes. Plenty of businesses need this training, and if they trust you with scuba, they will trust your emergency-care knowledge too. Be sure to ask what they have been paying – you may be shocked at how much you can reasonably charge for CPR and AED training. In Illinois, teachers must maintain emer- gency-care certification, and I’ve t aught entire schools – sometimes forty teach-
Pat & Sherry Hammer
ers at a time , spread over a few days. The best part? Once they learn I also teach scuba, several have signed up for my dive programs. Be prepared to float the cost up front, be- cause schools can take time to pay. But in the long run, it’s worth it.
at all. Grow your business by expanding your training program. It is good to be busy every day. When you appear successful,
customers feel confident spending money with you. But if you look like you might be closing, they will hold back – and that can become a self-fulfilling prophecy. Everyone loves a winner, and you can be that winner. Never complain to customers about slow times or difficult stu- dents. They come to you to escape their problems – not to hear yours.
If you have a pool, is it being used every day? You need a dedi- cated person to manage the pool schedule. A swim program alone can cover your monthly bills – and still turn a profit. Start offer- ing swimming lessons. Several agencies provide swim-program materials, and if yours doesn’t, hire a qualified swim instructor and pay
A swim program is a great diver feeder program.
them well. Your pool will see more use, store traffic will in- crease, and your business will look and feel more success- ful. Swim programs are a perfect feeder system, especially with kids. We’ve had children start in swim lessons and go
Diving is fun, and you need to maintain that image. Expand your dive center and take your operation to new heights. You already have the skills to suc- ceed; you may just need a little guidance to get there. I wish you well and great success.
email Pat
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TRAVEL
Dive Travel Planning Checklist for Groups – by David Prichard and Lily Mak, Enchanted Sea Images, Inc., Dallas, TX
Where do you want to travel to (is this a new location ▪ or return trip)? When do you want to go (best time for seasonal sight- ▪ ings of desired marine life, best weather, calm seas, etc.)? How many people are going (some resorts or live- ▪ aboards have restricted accommodation availability)? How long do you want to stay (single destination or ▪ multiple locations)? What is the budget (trip price per person) of the trip? ▪ Other considerations of the trip, she said, include how many in your group will be divers versus non-divers (non- divers may need options for activities, such as beaches, wa- tercraft, swimming pools, local tours and shopping, etc.) and whether your dive group wants to be all on the same boat or if they mind splitting up into smaller boats. Are you look- ing for an all-inclusive (with/without alcohol) meal plan, or one with just meals, breakfast only, or no meals? Another detail to supply your travel agent is the diver profile of your
It’s time to plan that big dive trip your clients want within the next couple of years, but how do you or- ganize it and what should the trip include? Back in the May issue of this mag-
azine, we explained why dive destinations want specific in- formation about your group Why All These Forms? The Operational Logistics of a Dive Resort , but this article will reverse the table and raise all of the questions that “you” should be asking both your travel agent and the destination operator when organizing a dive trip. Successful dive trips are organized with the assistance of a travel agent that specializes in scuba travel to help you craft your itinerary and logistics. Therefore, your first questions should be about the qualifications of the travel agent and if they are best to advise you on a trip where your reputation and thousands of dollars of your clients’ money will be spent.
group. Do they prefer easy reef dives, or are they more adventurous and don’t mind heavier currents, deeper depths, or overhead environments? What type of marine life are they in- terested in; for example, big animal en- counters or macro subjects. As the trip organizer, what options do I have to pay for the trip? Can I issue a check to a local agency office,
After checking on their credentials (member of recognized travel asso- ciation, insured, bonded, etc.), the first question when discussing a par- ticular location is, “Have you per- sonally been there yourself?” It is best if your travel advisor has expe- rienced the location and knows the “ins and outs” of the place or at least has a close colleague in the of-
or do I need to make a bank transfer, use a credit card (trans- action fee?), or some other digital payment? Is a deposit re- quired and when is the final payment due? What is your cancellation policy and are there any charges involved? Do you offer travel insurance, or do we have to shop for that separately? Checklist Questions to Ask: Once you have the above desired trip profile put together, you can then start asking questions to both your travel agent and dive destination to fine tune your trip details. Discussions can include whether you should travel during peak season and pay a higher price, or “roll the dice” during the off-season (potential weather issues) to get a lower trip cost. If prices drop after the trip is booked, does the agency price match the new rates for you?
fice that can supply that information. This is more insightful than someone who just read the marketing materials to pro- vide the guidance required to organize the trip. An important key qualification consideration is asking if the travel agency has 24/7/365 emergency assistance to help you when unforeseen travel issues occur and how you con- tact them. If they don’t, then it will fall on you, the trip leader, to solve any problems that arise. The First Step: Before engaging a travel agent, you must first review and note your past conversations with your clients as to what destination they have expressed interest in and what they want to do during this dive vacation. Accord- ing to April Fung of Caradonna Adventures, the initial dis- cussion with a trip organizer involves the basics of:
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TRAVEL continued There are often “package” rates with itineraries that are marketed to travel agencies and offer a substantial discount compared to if you did the same trip using posted “rack rates.” But, if the package cost is still higher than your budget allows, can the agency check on an alternate accom- modation and dive operator that will lower the overall cost to meet your budget? Another set of financial questions to ask involves non- posted expenses your group may incur. Are there any hid- den costs involved? These costs can include international transaction fees, visa costs, departure or arrival taxes, marine park fees, Wi-Fi charges, and additional credit card trans- action fees (usually 3-5 percent of the transaction) for any incidental charges. It is better to know of these charges up- front instead of your group getting “nickel and dimed” on the trip. Is tipping expected for everything in this country? If so, what is expected for tipping the destination staff, dive staff, and transportation personnel? Tipping is expected at most dive destinations, and many have their own processes for providing these tips. For example, some resorts want you to provide a tip for the entire staff that will be divided ac- cordingly by the resort and ask you not to tip a staff mem- ber individually. Can a credit card be used for tipping the dive staff and, if so, which cards are accepted, is a question offered by Cheryl Patterson of Deep Blue Adventures. She said some societies prefer cash over credit cards, so it is important to know if your currency is accepted in that country or else you must plan ahead to bring that country’s currency on your trip. (Note: it is advisable to let your credit card com- panies know about your travel plans so they don’t suspect fraud and cancel your card.) Patterson mentioned a few other items that may “trip up” a dive va- cation, like if your destination’s kitchen understands the difference between vegan and vegetarian dishes, or what is involved with cer- tain dietary allergies for your group. She said some medications may be restricted in certain countries and cause an issue at the customs inspec- tion, so research what items may be allowed into that coun- try and which will be confiscated. Verify trip planning details.
Good to Know Items: Items you can request from either your travel agent or destination contact include: What travel documents and health forms do you need ▪ to travel to this destination (and when are they due)? Are all transportation services and costs included with ▪ the trip package? Will we have a “meet and greet” service at the airport? ▪ How long does it take to get from the airport to the destination? (Also, are there any stores along the way that you could stop to pick up items you didn’t pack?) Do you provide personalized travel documentation ▪ and detailed trip itinerary? Can you prepare a trip brochure or any marketing ma- ▪ terial to help sell the trip? Do you allow any last-minute itinerary changes? ▪ Do you offer additional sightseeing, cultural, educa- ▪ tional, and adventure options (including private tours or hidden gem tips) to the package? Can you suggest any backup plans to the itinerary in ▪ case of disruptions (canceled dive days due to weather, etc.) What clothing is suggested and acceptable for this lo- ▪ cation, and what is not? Should we bring insect repellant, or is it available ▪ there? Does the Wi-Fi system cover the whole resort, or only ▪ one area? If on a liveaboard, is your connectivity de- pendent on being close to a cell tower? What is the destination’s electrical voltage and what ▪ style of plug is used there? Checking on your Accommodation: Seeing the layout and photos of the rooms selected for your group is impor- tant to avoid disgruntled clients. Questions to ask can in-
clude the quality of the beds and if they can be configured to suit your guests (separate beds for people shar- ing a room). Does the room have a private bathroom (or do you have to share one)? Is there ample storage and workspace (desk, table, chairs, and lighting) in the room? Is laundry service available? Are there a lot of steps at the resort to consider for
guests who may have physical limitations. Safety is important, so does the resort have a security service and are there any health issues in the area? Is the
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TRAVEL continued
water safe to drink from the faucet or is there safe drinking water provided? Where is the nearest medical facility and decompression chamber? Does the room come with a re- frigerator, coffee maker, or microwave? Is a hair dryer and clothes iron available? What is the check-in and check-out process at the location and are early or late options available, so your group isn’t left out in the sun? For quick excursions from the resort, are there any mar- kets or restaurants within walking distance and, if not, is there local transportation or car rental that can be accessed? Do most of the people there speak your language, or will you need an interpreter? For any special occasions (such as a birthday or an an- niversary) in your group, will the destination make arrange- ments for a celebration? Will there be arrival and departure celebrations for your group? Can room upgrades be re- quested for your group, provided there is availability? For Photo/Video Dive Trips: Underwater photogra-
phers are very concerned about camera maintenance and having a safe environment where they can work on their systems. Mike Veitch, of Underwater Tribe dive center in Bali, Indonesia, said he only books destinations that have a dedicated camera room in a secure location. He said other questions he asks about a dive operation are if they have rinse tanks available that are large enough for big cameras and what the ratios of dive guides to guests and if private guides can be hired. Veitch also checks to make sure the dive operator doesn’t have short dive time limits that would inhibit photographers. The availability of Enriched Air (Nitrox) is also an important factor for added
bottom time when it comes to selecting a resort. And one final question for the trip leader to ask: “Are there perks offered (this can range from a room upgrade to a free spot on the trip) and what milestones need to be reached to earn them?”
email David
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