FROM THE PUBLISHER
January has a way of forcing honesty. The calendar turns, the noise quiets, and what remains is reality. For the dive industry, that moment matters. Not because a new year magically changes conditions, but because it gives us the space to step back, review the full picture, and ask better questions about what comes next. Over the past several years, this industry has navigated momentum, disruption, correction, and recalibration. Each phase brought its own lessons . Some were en- couraging. Others were uncomfortable. All of them were instructive . What has become clear is that growth today does not come from waiting for external forces to improve. It comes from understanding the signals in front of us and responding with intention. This issue was built around that idea. Later in the magazine, you will find our State of the Industry guide for 2026. It draws on survey data, Cline Group’s fourth quarter results, and direct input from dive professionals across retail, training, travel, and manufacturing. Its purpose is not to predict the future or offer one size fits all answers. Its purpose is to clarify where the industry stands today and highlight the patterns that are shaping what comes next. Before you reach that section, we wanted to set the context. The dive industry is no longer operating in a recovery cycle. The conditions that carried businesses forward in the post-COVID years have faded. In their place is a more deliberate market, one where customers are selective, operations are scrutinized, and outcomes are earned through execution rather than momentum. That shift can feel challenging, but it also creates opportunity for those willing to adapt . Throughout this issue, you will hear from contributors who are navigating these realities firsthand. Store owners refining their training pipelines. Operators aligning travel with education. Retailers rethinking how equipment is presented and sold. Their experiences echo what the data reinforces. Success in 2026 will favor clarity, consistency, and systems that work in real world conditions. As you read the State of the Industry section, we encourage you to approach it as a tool, not a verdict. Use it to benchmark. Use it to question assumptions. Use it to spark conversations within your team about where focus and resources are best spent this year. Our role at Scuba Diving Industry Magazine is to listen first, analyze carefully, and share insight that helps the industry move forward together. This guide is one part of that commitment. We hope it helps bring the year ahead into sharper focus. UNDERSTANDING THE SIGNALS IN FRONT OF US
William Cline, Publisher Patty Cline, Associate Publisher Amber Wagenknecht, Executive Editor Betty Orr, Senior Editor Neal Watson, Sr., Editor-at-Large Britain Cline, Advertising Sales Manager Carlos Lander, Latin America Ad Sales June Cline, Social & Podcast Producer Contributors: Gretchen M. Ashton, CA Alex Brylske, Ph.D., FL Cathryn Castle Garcia, Azores, Portugal Tec Clark, FL SCUBA DIVING INDUSTRY™ MAGAZINE JANUARY 2026 VOL. 3, NO. 1
William Cline, TX Jeff Cinciripino, CT Michael & Rachael Connors, MI Mark B. Hatter, FL Al Hornsby, Singapore Dan Orr, ID Margo Peyton, SC David Prichard & Lily Mak, TX
Rachelle Reimers, CA Kramer Wimberley, NY Mark E. Young, AL Gil Zeimer, CA
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 retailers & advertisers. Subscriptions are free to dive professionals & 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.
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William Cline, Publisher
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