FROM THE PUBLISHER
FILM, CDS, FAX MACHINES AND AI IN DIVING
Our cover photo was shot on film by Al Hornsby – what’s film? For many, it’s a relic of the past – like CDs, VHS tapes, and fax machines. But some of us still remember the challenge of shooting underwater photos with Kodak or Fuji film: 36 expo- sures per roll, and if the conditions were just right, you got maybe one or two great shots. The professionals had slightly better odds – but not by much. Last weekend, I had the pleasure of spending time with Stephen Frink , one of the world’s most respected underwater photographers and the publisher of Alert Diver for DAN. We were both at the Cayman Islands for the Interna- tional Scuba Diving Hall of Fame (ISDHF) , where Stephen nominated Anne Hasson, one of this year’s all-women inductee class (see pg 22). I’ve worked with Stephen for over three decades, using his images in many campaigns. So what do film, Stephen Frink, and Al Hornsby have to do with this column? Everything. Our shared history builds resilience and innovation keeps us moving forward. Just as we moved from film to digital, we’re now facing another shift: Artificial Intelligence. Some fear it. Others embrace it. But like the internet in the late ‘90s, AI is here to stay. It’s not a threat, it’s a tool. Last month, Wayne Brown explained how his company is already using AI to improve operations. His message was clear: this isn’t just the future, it’s the pres- ent. To all dive retailers and operators: learn it, embrace it, and use it. AI can improve customer service, profitability, and employee training. In last month’s column, I showed how big and bright our industry really is. That was echoed again during the ISDHF induction in Grand Cayman, celebrat- ing the past, present, and future of diving. I hope other destinations will follow Cayman’s lead and honor their local dive pioneers. We’re now in the f inal stretch to the DEMA show . If you haven’t started planning, now’s the time. See you next month with our special DEMA Show issue!
Scuba 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 pro- fessionals & distributed digitally to 165 countries. POST- MASTER 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.” For ed- itorial 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 offi- cial policy or position of Cline Group LLC or any of its af- filiates. © 2025, all rights reserved by Cline Group LLC. Wayne B. Brown, GA Alex Brylske, Ph.D., FL Tec Clark, FL Patty Cline, TX William Cline, TX Jeff Cinciripino, CT Cathryn Castle Garcia, Azores, Portugal Shelli Hendricks, Ph.D., AZ Al Hornsby, Singapore Dan Orr, ID David Prichard & Lily Mak, TX Michael Connors & Rachael Scott, MI Peter Symes, Denmark Gil Zeimer, CA William Cline, Publisher Patty Cline, Associate Publisher Amber Wagenknecht, Executive Editor Betty Orr, Copy 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 SCUBA DIVING INDUSTRY™ MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER 2025 VOL. 2, NO. 9
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