2026 Predictions: Where the Scuba Diving Industry Is Headed

As the year turns, the scuba diving industry finds itself balancing rapid technological change with growing environmental and social responsibility. Looking ahead to 2026, several clear trends are emerging that will shape how, where, and why we dive.

Artificial intelligence will become impossible to ignore. Ai-generated underwater images and videos are already flooding social media and marketing. By 2026, divers will need to be far more discerning. Expect pushback against misleading visuals and greater demand for authenticity from destinations, operators, and publishers. Meanwhile, Ai will quietly transform how divers shop and plan. Gear selection, instructor matching, and trip planning will increasingly rely on algorithms, rewarding brands that invest in credible content and community trust. The next major leap forward may come in safety. Ai-integrated dive computers that use biometrics to flag fatigue, jet lag, dehydration, or overexertion are on the horizon. An “Ai buddy” might enhance situational awareness underwater by reporting tank pressures or alerting to more serious issues such as low blood oxygen, high heart rate, or low blood pressure.

Travel in 2026 will be more cautious and considered. Divers will pay closer attention to seasons, weather volatility, geopolitical stability, and insurance. They will look for insurance policies that truly cover delays, medical evacuation, and operator failure. Sustainability will move beyond buzzwords. Carbon offsetting, local conservation, citizen science, delivering needed supplies, and responsible food choices will define ethical dive travel. This will include avoiding vulnerable reef species and embracing the consumption of invasive ones, such as lionfish. Shifting to the business of diving, the industry is also undergoing rapid operational adjustments.

On the gear and retail side, pressures are mounting. Chip shortages, tariffs, and rising costs are forcing manufacturers and dive shops to adapt. Online purchasing will dominate 2026. However, successful dive centers will combine e-commerce with strong local communities, socialization, and education. Expect fewer disposable products. Greater emphasis will be placed on ‘buy it for life,’ repairability, customized gear, sustainable packaging, and the end of the paper logbook. These shifts in how gear is purchased and used reflect broader changes in diver attitudes and community expectations.

Socially, diving in 2026 will be less about passive observation and more about purpose. Citizen science, mission-driven tourism, local conservation, shore diving, fitness, and competitive underwater sports will all grow. As tropical ecosystems struggle, colder protected waters may become more popular. This, along with demand for high-quality thermal protection, could define the next frontier of travel and exploration. All these trends point toward a new mindset shaping the future of diving.

The future of diving is not just deeper or more digital, it’s more intentional.

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Jill Heinerth, Into The Planet