A Changing Tide for Dive Travel by William Cline

March 2026 Table of Contents
category: From the Publisher (8 min read)

Geopolitical Events Reshape Travel in 2026

William Cline, Publisher, Scuba Diving Industry Magazine and President, Cline Group

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What a month. As we were preparing this issue, we lost one of the true pioneers of the dive liveaboard industry, Wayne B. Brown. His impact on dive travel, and on the people who built their businesses around it, cannot be overstated. Patty Cline and Cathryn Castle Garcia each contribute a tribute in this issue, including a closer look at Wayne’s ideas through the lens of his book and the legacy he leaves behind.

I’ve been in this industry as a professional since the 1980s. I’ve watched expansion cycles, corrections, travel surges, equipment booms, and seasons that tested even the most disciplined operators. One thing has never changed: Retailers are the foundation of diving.

That’s why every article in this issue was selected with the day-to-day realities of a dive center in mind. Not theory. Not noise. Practical ideas that can spark useful conversations in your shop, your classroom, your boats, and around the counter.

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At the same time, the dive travel landscape continues to shift.

With ongoing conflict in the Middle East, continued instability in parts of Latin America, and even challenges in the USA affecting air travel and security, planning dive travel has become more complex than at any point in recent memory. That reality led us to launch a new industry survey, alongside a parallel consumer study, to better understand how global events are influencing dive travel. The early results, highlighted on page 12, point to an important shift. This is not simply a demand issue. It is a question of timing, confidence, and how decisions are being made.

This month’s issue reflects that change. We continue to explore travel, but through the lens of the dive professional. Our features on St. Lucia (by David Prichard & Lily Mac) and a unique business model in Fiji look beyond the destination itself and focus on how retailers and group leaders evaluate, position, and sell these experiences (by Gil Zeimer).

At the same time, several contributors address the operational side of running a dive business in a more uncertain environment. Tec Clark explores opportunities within colleges and universities, Jeff McNutt continues his series on building effective employee systems, and Amber Wagenknecht and I take a closer look at the evolving role of the divemaster in today’s dive operations.

Jeff Cinciripino brings the conversation back to the retail floor with a practical discussion on discounting, while retailer Karen Mullet tackles the increasingly complex issue of employee and contractor management.

Margo Peyton, whose work has influenced generations of divers, shares her perspective on how retailers can continue to succeed in a challenging travel environment. Alex Brylske expands the conversation further with a thoughtful look at accessibility and its growing importance in dive travel. And Kramer Wimberley reminds us of the deeper connection between divers and the ocean, and why that relationship matters for the future of our industry. Finally, Dan Orr, our most-read author from the February issue, returns with a timely look at one of the most fundamental aspects of dive safety: assigning and managing buddy teams. Taken together, this issue reflects where the industry stands today. We are all navigating change. We are adapting in real time. And we are being asked to rethink not just where we send divers, but how we guide them there. Thanks for reading this issue.

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