Here’s That Lifeline You’ve Been Waiting for, Dive Industry – Make Sure You Grab It with Both Hands
by Dave Alexander
I love dive shows.
From a business perspective, they’re perfect; not only can I catch up with my existing customers, but I can also introduce myself to prospective new ones—all in one place.
However, after 19 years in the industry (and with no current signs of escape), dive shows aren’t just about empire-building for me anymore. In fact, it’s getting harder and harder to empire-build, because I always end up spending about half the show just catching up with friends. And I love it.
Earlier this month though, as I walked the floor of Go Diving Show 2025, looking around at a sea of familiar faces, I noticed something that alarmed me: everyone was going grey. And some, who I will not name here, had maybe even gotten a little bit wrinkly.
And then it dawned on me: divers are a dying breed.
How has this happened? Well, that depends on who you ask.
Some say young people these days are more interested in cataloguing one-and-done experiences so they can document them on social media and then move on to the next adventure. The cost of starting a hobby like diving is also daunting to young people, as they simply don’t have the disposable income enjoyed by previous generations.
Others say the industry itself doesn’t do enough to encourage young people into the sport, with the finger often pointed in the general direction of the training agencies—the organisations that some say should be leading the charge. There may be some truth to this. However, I don’t think the responsibility of this task lies purely on the training agencies’ shoulders; I think everyone needs to pitch in if we want new blood in diving.
Which brings us to Mia DaPonte.
A few weeks ago, I received an email from a lady named Jill, who told me all about her daughter’s journey to become a PADI Master Scuba Diver. Mia is just 12 years old. We ran a press release about Mia’s story last week on Scubaverse.com, which you can read here.
Mia is the youngest female in the United States—and one of a very small (single-digit) number globally—to achieve this elite diver status.
So the question is… how do we get more Mias?
Well, firstly, let’s celebrate the first one.
PADI – you have a golden opportunity here. Make Mia your latest Ambassadiver and get her face and her story in front of as many people as you can. Get a press release together and send it out to as many news outlets as you can. Send that press release to as many schools as you can. Shout from the rooftops about Mia as much as you can, because her story will inspire more people her age to try scuba diving.
Manufacturers – you should be falling all over yourselves to sponsor this girl. She’s a Master Scuba Diver at the age of 12—she’s clearly serious about diving and will no doubt continue her diving journey over the coming years.
A journey, I’m delighted to announce, that will be documented on Scubaverse.com. On Monday, we will be publishing the first of an ongoing series of blogs written by Mia about her diving adventures. Welcome to the Scubaverse family, Mia!
So, back to new Mias.
To anyone reading this article, I say this: Scubaverse is here to support all young divers. If you have a story about someone like Mia who is just beginning to embark on their own diving journey, we will publish it for you. And, if—like Mia—they would like to blog about their journey too, Scubaverse would be happy to publish them.
To the industry at large, I say this: let’s grab this moment by the horns, people. It’s time to start cultivating the next generation of divers. The future is in our hands – so let’s grab it.
