FROM THE PUBLISHER
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 June Cline, Social & Podcast Producer Contributors: Alex Brylske, Ph.D., FL Cathryn Castle Garcia, Azores, Portugal William Cline, TX Deborah Dickson-Smith, Australia Lily Mak, TX Suuz Martines, NC Jeff McNutt, BVI Dan Orr, ID SCUBA DIVING INDUSTRY® MAGAZINE AUGUST 2026 VOL. 3, NO. 8 About the Cover: Photo by Martin Broen of the Cenote Dos Pisos in Yucatán, Mexico, 2021, using a Sony a7R III, in a Nauticam Housing with 15,000 lumen BigBlue Technologies video lights at ISO 6400, with a 13mm lens, f/4.5 and 1/8 second, handheld.
IT’S DEMA SHOW SEASON: WHY THAT MATTERS
As this issue is published, we will be a mere 60 days or so from the opening of the 2026 DEMA Show in New Orleans on November 3rd. Why is that such an important event? Because it sets the tone for 2027 in terms of the global diving industry. It allows us all to connect with other professionals and recharges our ‘dive bat- teries’ with fresh ideas and new products. That is the power of the DEMA Show. No other event on the planet can deliver so many com- panies and retailers under one roof for four magical days. I say ‘magical’ because that is what happens when thousands of passionate divers mingle and network, all with a common belief: Diving can change a person and, therefore, the world. That’s a big statement, but it has never been more true than it is this year. Political and social injustice and upheaval are everywhere. However, one thing can unite different countries, political parties or cultures: scuba diving. Un- derwater, we are all the same , and we share that passion over those four days this fall in New Orleans. One of the most profound experiences I have had was taking part in a sales presentation for a government tourism organization in Kuwait City, Kuwait. I hosted a room full of local divers and pros from the surrounding Gulf countries. Although not everyone spoke English, we were all scuba divers – and instant friends. That’s the power of people with a common passion. And there is no better illustration of this than the DEMA Show. If you’re a retailer, plan to bring your staff – all of them. Close for a few days and come to
New Orleans. No better corporate retreat can be found for you and your staff than the DEMA Show with dozens of seminars offering every kind of training possible in our industry. Just the energy of the show floor is something your staff will never forget. And it will help them realize they are part of an industry much bigger than their store and customer base. If you’re a company reading this, I only have one thing to say: Exhibit at DEMA . This is where the world comes together, and 100% of the attendees are qualified and looking to pur- chase goods, services and travel. Launching a new product or company? This is the place to spend your show dollars. Aside from our mag- azine and its retailer reach, there is no better place to spend your marketing dollars than exhibiting at the DEMA Show. This comes from a four-decade-long marketer who has produced almost 100,000 square feet of DEMA Show space for various clients over the years. The show works – and works really well – if you tell attendees you’re going to be there. The most effective way is next month’s Sep- tember issue – our DEMA Show special issue. In addition to our normal distribution, this issue is passed out in the registration lobby of the DEMA Show. It also includes an exhibitor list with booth numbers and DEMA’s official sponsored seminars, among many other tools to help readers get the most out of the show. Bring your staff and come by our booth 126. We will have our portable podcast studio set up and would love to feature you on one of our shows! See y’all in New Orleans!
Margo Peyton, SC David Prichard, TX Marty Snyderman, CA Richard Thomas, TX Gil Zeimer, CA
Scuba Diving Industry ® Magazine (Print: ISSN 2996-1416, Digital: ISSN 2996-1424, U.S. Trademark #99278901) 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 pros & distributed digitally to 165 countries. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Scuba Diving Industry Magazine, 1740 Airpark Ln., Plano, TX 75093. Any part of this publication may be reproduced, as long as the source is quoted “Scuba Diving Industry Magazine.” Editorial re- quests: editor@scubadivingindustry.com or 954- 358-9660. 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. AI may be used to generate graphics or edits as needed. © 2026, all rights reserved by Cline Group LLC.
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