INDUSTRY NEWS
Comics with a Cause: The Superhero Strategy for Retention by Rachael Connors , Co-Owner, American Dive Zone, Kentwood, MI
I T’S A BIRD, IT’S A PLANE – no, wait... it’s DIVE MAN! Dive Man is coming to DEMA Show 2026, and he’s bringing his superhero crew: Wave Woman, Captain ADZ, Guppie, and Reef Guardian. Their mis- sion? Help dive professionals educate, recruit, and retain divers through something unexpected: a comic book.
professionals another tool to educate, recruit, and retain divers. Educate Oceanic Comics is designed to be agency neutral, with a
focus on reinforcing core training principles rather than replacing professional instruction. The comics can serve as a congratulatory gift that instructors and dive shops give students after certification, something tangible that re- inforces what they learned while getting them excited about where their diving journey can go next. Dive Man and his crew tackle subjects such
Their mission? Help dive professionals educate, recruit, and retain divers through something unexpected: a comic book.
Breathing underwater isn’t something humans are built to do, which makes every certified diver a little bit superhuman. As dive industry professionals, we have the privilege of teaching people how to unlock that superpower and explore a world most people never see.
as buoyancy, navigation, wreck diving, gas awareness, underwater communication, dive lights, equipment, conservation, dive travel, and knowing your dive limits. The format allows serious concepts to be presented in an approachable way. A
We’re in a service industry where education is fundamental to skill development and safety. So why not bring in some su- perheroes with familiar faces and memorable stories, to help divers retain what they learn in a way that is fun, unique and engaging? Here’s where Dive Man’s story begins. Dive Man’s Origin Story Dive Man is the brainchild of Richard “Rick” Hert, a scuba instructor at American Dive Zone in the Grand Rapids area of Michigan. In May 2026, after the tragic Maldives cave- diving incident claimed the lives of five visiting divers, Rick came into our shop deeply affected by the news. How could a dive end so tragically? He couldn’t stop thinking about his own students and began looking for a memorable way to reinforce one of diving’s most important lessons: respect your training, respect the environment... and know your limits. That idea became Dive Man. What started as a single comic concept designed to reinforce diver education has since grown into Oceanic Comics, the umbrella brand behind Dive Man and an expanding crew of scuba superheroes. Dive Man teaches safety and good diving practices. Wave Woman uses communication to connect divers with one another and the ocean. Captain ADZ brings experience and education to the ad- venture. Reef Guardian champions healthy oceans and con- servation. And Guppie, Dive Man’s young sidekick, represents the next generation of divers; curious, enthusiastic, and learning one skill at a time. Together, they’re helping us explore how comics can give dive
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