September 2025 Newsletter

What’s New

Let’s catch up with Scuba Travel Ventures (STV).

We continue to thrive and evolve, marking a significant milestone with our 30th anniversary in 2024. Renowned as a top-tier Dive Travel Agency, STV’s dedication to excellence, commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction continues to set us apart, allowing our team to craft unparalleled diving experiences.

Always on the cutting edge, we collaborate with leading dive resorts and liveaboards. This strategic approach secures exclusive access to special rates and coveted dive spots.

Divers can expect unmatched service, whether they’re exploring familiar reefs or discovering new, breathtaking dive locations.

Community News

Support Your Local Dive Shops

Why Your Local Dive Shop is the Heart of the Diving Community.
In a world increasingly driven by online retail and impersonal transactions, the local dive shop stands as a beacon of expertise, community, and passion for the underwater realm.

Far more than just a place to buy gear, these establishments are the vibrant core of the diving scene, offering invaluable services and fostering a thriving network of enthusiasts.

Here’s why choosing your local dive shop is an investment in your diving journey and the longevity of this incredible sport:

1. Unmatched Expertise and Personalized Guidance

Online reviews and product descriptions can only go so far. Local dive shops boast experienced staff who are not only passionate divers themselves, but also possess in-depth

knowledge of local dive sites, conditions, and the intricacies of various equipment. This translates to:

• Tailored Equipment Recommendations: They can guide you through the maze of gear options, ensuring you choose the right equipment that fits your needs, budget, and local diving environment.

• Hands-on Experience: Unlike online shopping, you can try on equipment like wetsuits, masks, and buoyancy control devices (BCDs) to ensure proper fit and comfort before you buy.

• Expert Advice on Local Diving: Get insider tips on the best local dive spots, potential hazards, and how to navigate challenging conditions, enhancing your safety and enjoyment.

2. Cultivating a Thriving Dive Community

Local dive shops are natural gathering points for divers of all experience levels. They actively cultivate a sense of community through:

• Regular Events and Workshops: From underwater photography classes to equipment maintenance tips and dive safety seminars, these events provide opportunities to learn, connect, and refine your skills.

• Group Dive Trips and Meetups: Organized excursions to local dive sites or further afield create shared experiences and camaraderie, turning casual acquaintances into lasting dive buddies.

3. Essential Services Beyond Retail

Local dive shops offer crucial services that simply cannot be replicated online:

• Tank Fills and Equipment Maintenance: They maintain expensive compressors for reliable air fills and provide essential maintenance and repair services for your valuable gear, ensuring it’s always in top condition and safe to use.

• Dive Training and Certification: Becoming a certified diver requires in-person instruction and practical training, which is the cornerstone of what local dive shops offer. They ensure you gain the knowledge and skills necessary for safe and responsible diving.

• In-person Support and Troubleshooting: If you encounter an issue with your gear or have questions about a dive plan, you have a direct point of contact for assistance, ensuring you’re never left to navigate challenges alone.

While online retailers offer convenience, they can’t replicate the holistic experience and invaluable resources provided by your local dive shop. By choosing to support these community hubs, you invest in your own diving future, connect with a vibrant community, and contribute to the health of the very environment that makes this sport possible.

So, the next time you need gear, training, or simply want to connect with fellow divers, head to your local dive shop – it’s an investment that truly goes beyond the blue.

Industry News

DEMA 2025 – Does it seem like the calendar year just zoomed along? Just 3 short months from now, the scuba diving industry will convene for the annual DEMA SHOW in Orlando, FL. The dates for this incredible show are Nov 11 – 14, 2025.

Don’t miss out! Over 500 exhibitors from over 95 countries will be there. Join as thousands of industry professionals from all around the world get ready to explore new products, place orders, forge meaningful connections, engage in expert led education, and all the camaraderie!

Visit STV at DEMA in Booth #1350. The STV Team will be there in full force. Come by or better yet, call for an appointment to learn what’s in store for you this year. Many items are being offered including Dive Trip Drawings, FAMs, Exciting Deals and Comps. Stop by, enjoy the great vibes and refreshed look inside our booth, plus afternoon refreshments.

Beneath The Sea (BTS) Dive Show is undergoing some exciting new changes for 2026. BTS 2026 is responding to their attendees’ demand for greater activity on their dive vacations. They want to take nature hikes, zip-line, raft rivers, white-water canoe, and seek the adrenaline-charged activities many of you already deliver. So Beneath the Sea is expanding to include Adventure Travel exhibitors with all the activities and locations they have to offer.

At BTS 2026, in addition to their focus on scuba diving, its art and science, they will feature these activities and hope more people will atttend.

The plan is to reach out to the Metro New York/New Jersey and New England markes to attract the active sportsman in addition to divers. Keep your eye on the BTS website and social media and watch them grow. The goal is that Adventure travel will deliver a younger, more active audience who are interested in adding scuba diving to their adventure skills.

Scuba Show – Long Beach – Since establishing Dive Training and Dive Center Business, Mark Young had been deep in the diving industry for 34 years. After much thought about retiring, Mark began thinking who to trust to continue Scuba Show and California Diving News. That’s when he came across Ross Arnold and Mark Evans, owners of Rork Media.

Rork Media publishes Scuba Diver magazine in four countries, the UK, Germany, United States and Australia, and they produce two successful and growing dive shows, GODIVING SHOW in the UK, and GODIVING SHOW in Australia.

Mark was compelled to open the dialog, which has led to their acquisition of Scuba Show and California Diving News.

Mark was most interested in their vision for Scuba Show to become more than the strong West Coast show that it is. “Our industry needs more powerful events that attract and motivate consumers and forge very important personal connections, and Ross and Mark plan to expand Scuba Show into other strong North American markets”.

Atlantic City Scuba Show – Having been inundated with requests for a Scuba Show to be held on the eastern seaboard by a multitude of major industry stakeholders, the Rork Media team recently researched prime potential locations for such an event. Washington DC and Philadelphia were ruled out due to logictical challenges. After careful evaluation, it has been confirmed that Atlantic City will be the home of the new east coast show.

Atlantic City offers the perfect blend of convenience, family appeal, and fun. It’s a safe, family-friendly destination featuring beaches, Steel Pier attractions, live shows, bars and restaurants – and yes, even casinos for adult visitors.

The venue is easily accessible, with an onsite train station connecting directly to major hubs, proximity to Philadelphia International Airport (just a one-hour drive or train ride), a local airport for regional access, and direct links via major road networks putting it within

Social Consciousness

Shark Angels – Want to join the fight to protect sharks? It might be surprising to many that sharks require conservation efforts. Numerous shark species are currently at risk of extinction due to threats such as shark finning. However, public concern is limited, often stemming from fear of sharks. Shark Angels, a dedicated organization focused on shark conservation and awareness, aims to transform fear into fascination and turn passion into proactive measures.

Globally, Shark Angels unite to concentrate on impactful actions benefiting sharks, the oceans, and our entire planet. Shark Angels advocate that understanding and tolerance are rooted in education. This is particularly relevant for sharks. Fear should not prevent us from wanting to protect or save, especially when such fears about sharks are largely unfounded.

Often misunderstood as dangerous predators, sharks are misrepresented by popular culture. Shark Angels work to correct these myths, highlighting sharks’ essential roles within marine ecosystems. Through educational initiatives and awareness campaigns, the organization engages with global communities to challenge misconceptions and encourage a well-informed perspective.

They aim to empower individuals with knowledge to cultivate genuine interest in conserving sharks. As more people join their cause, the collective impact expands, fostering hope that these magnificent creatures can flourish alongside a healthier ocean environment for future generations.

Sharks are vital in maintaining the health of our planet’s largest and most important ecosystem, illustrating the interconnected nature of our existence with theirs. As apex predators, they have been key in shaping our oceans into vibrant habitats for 450 million years.

A robust marine ecosystem supported by sharks provides one-third of the global population with nourishment and surpasses rainforests in oxygen production.

Additionally, it plays a crucial role in combatting climate change by absorbing substantial amounts of human-generated carbon dioxide and regulating global temperatures and weather patterns. Alarmingly, around 73 million sharks are killed each year, mainly for their fins used in traditional shark fin soup, pushing 90 percent of large shark species toward regional extinction.

Shark Angels relys on generous support to protect sharks and bring about positive change for our oceans, our planet and one another. Your support – however big or small – matters.

Scuba Travel Ventures recently donated Two International Airline Tickets toward this great cause. Each ticket was valued up to $1,200 for a total value of $2400 and you have the freedom to fly anywhere in the world on the airline of your choice. The winning Charity Auction Bid was $2,225.

Shark Angels is a 501c3 charitable organization. Donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. Our US tax identification number is 42-1603535.

Julie Andersen

Founder, Shark Angels

Julie Andersen’s unwavering passion for ocean conservation propelled her on an extraordinary journey, transforming from a successful advertising pro to a celebrated advocate for sharks.

Julie founded Shark Angels in 2007, a pioneering non-profit focused on their protection. Her relentless dedication has taken her worldwide, uncovering and challenging illegal shark finning operations, while her impactful voice has earned her wide acclaim.

Getting To Know

Zach Cabading – Zach is one of STV’s ecxcellent staff writers. He was involved in rewriting our website and a contributor to our Blog section. Zach is an avid cold water diver. He dives the local dive sites here in San Diego. But Zach, when needing to thaw out for the cold water diving, has also logged many dives around the world. Indonesia, Malaysia, The Maldives, and Caribbean to name a few.

Zach recieved his Bachlor’s Degree in Film Studies from UC Santa Barbara. Two months ago, Zach starting his master’s program in Marine Biodiversity and Conservation at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography.

Launched by the Center for Marine Biodiversity and Conservation in 2004, the program offers a top-notch interdisciplinary education. Their students benefit from exceptional access to world-class academic scientists, economists, and policy experts, with NOAA fisheries scientists and the Birch Aquarium just around the corner from campus. The program is deeply integrated with off-campus NGOs, agencies, Tribal, and community partners leading the charge on critical marine conservation issues in California, the US, and globally.

Zach, spends his off time volunteering with Surfrider Foundation. The Surfrider Foundation is dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of the world’s ocean, waves, and beaches, for all people, through a powerful activist network.

Stay tuned for more information in our Social Conscience section about Surfrider’s amazing environmental efforts in the next issue of our newsletter coming in November, 2026.