Diving Talks 2026 Sees 91% Surge in Online Audience as Lisbon Event Sets New Records

Diving Talks 2026 has reported record attendance and a sharp increase in its online audience, with organisers confirming that the international diving event attracted 737 in-person participants and 53,954 online viewers during its sixth edition in Lisbon.

Held from 23 to 25 October at Cordoaria Nacional, the event recorded a 47% increase in on-site attendance and a 91% rise in online viewers compared with 2025. More than half of those attending in person, 52.24%, travelled from outside Portugal.

The figures underline the growing international reach of a conference that has developed a distinctive position within the diving industry by combining specialist presentations, exploration stories, scientific discussion and networking with year-round digital distribution.

A Diving Event Reaching Audiences Beyond Lisbon

Unlike traditional diving exhibitions, where much of the engagement takes place during the event itself, Diving Talks has placed considerable emphasis on making its presentations and discussions accessible to audiences around the world.

Live broadcasts, recorded presentations, interviews and speaker discussions allow the event’s content to remain available long after delegates have returned home.

According to the organisers, material published following the 2025 edition generated more than 714,000 YouTube views, demonstrating the potential for specialist diving discussions to attract an audience beyond those attending in person.

The organisers expect content from the 2026 edition to build on that performance.

The conference’s international appeal was also evident in Lisbon, with participants travelling from multiple countries to share experiences across underwater exploration, marine science, diving technology, photography, safety, conservation and education.

Leading Explorers and Industry Specialists Share the Stage

The 2026 programme brought together an international selection of divers, explorers, scientists and industry representatives.

Speakers and contributors included Jill Heinerth, Paul Rose, Dorota Czerny, Edd Stockdale, Kirk Krack, Daan Verhoeven, Jim Hansson, Sami Paakkarinen and Laura Marroni.

Across three days, the programme combined traditional presentations with thematic discussions, interactive panels and shorter Lightning Talks.

A central part of the Diving Talks concept is its emphasis on original material. Speakers are encouraged to introduce new perspectives, share previously unpublished experiences or explore subjects they have not presented publicly before.

This approach has helped establish the event as a meeting place for different sections of the diving community, rather than a conference focused exclusively on recreational or technical diving.

Ocean Tales Opens the Underwater World to a Wider Audience

One of the highlights of this year’s programme was Ocean Tales, a free public event held on Friday 23 October.

The initiative brought underwater exploration, adventure, conservation and artistic expression to an audience extending beyond the established diving community.

Contributors included Daan Verhoeven, Jialing Cai, Jill Heinerth, Alison Teal, Paul Rose and Paulo Oliveira.

The programme also featured the premiere of Music for the Oceans, a project by composer Chad Cannon exploring the relationship between music and ocean awareness.

By introducing a wider public audience to underwater stories, Ocean Tales reinforced the organisers’ ambition to make diving and marine exploration relevant to people who may never have experienced the underwater world themselves.

More Than 500 Students Experience Underwater Photography

Education and attracting younger generations into diving were prominent themes throughout the event.

On Friday morning, more than 500 students visited the Diving Talks Underwater Photography Collection, where images from internationally recognised photographers were used to introduce marine environments, underwater exploration and ocean conservation.

Participating school groups included students from Casa Pia de Lisboa, with the educational programme welcoming children from different backgrounds, including deaf students.

The initiative forms part of a broader effort to improve accessibility and encourage young people to develop an interest in diving, science and marine conservation.

The event also continued its Future Divers Initiative, which examines the challenges of attracting new participants to the sport and considers how diving can become more accessible to younger generations.

Young divers were given opportunities to contribute on the main stage, adding their perspectives to discussions about the future of the industry.

Safety, Technology and Industry Collaboration

Diving technology and safety were also central to the discussions in Lisbon.

Organisations and manufacturers represented at the event included NAUI, DAN Europe, Shearwater, Bauer and EvoLogics, reflecting the importance of cooperation between training agencies, equipment manufacturers, researchers and diving professionals.

One of the most significant discussions took place during the closing panel, Anatomy of an Accident: How the Maldives Rescue/Search & Recovery Operation Was Carried Out.

Featuring Chiara Ferri, Cristian Pellegrini, Laura Marroni and Sami Paakkarinen, the panel examined the organisation and execution of a complex rescue and recovery operation.

The discussion focused on preparation, coordination, emergency response and the lessons that can be shared with the wider diving community.

By including these subjects alongside exploration and innovation, Diving Talks continued its emphasis on addressing practical challenges facing divers and the industry.

Diving Talks 2027 Confirmed for October

Following the 2026 event, organisers have confirmed that Diving Talks will return to Cordoaria Nacional in Lisbon from 22 to 24 October 2027.

The next edition will introduce changes to the exhibition experience, replacing conventional stands with branded spaces designed to encourage interaction and more meaningful conversations between companies and participants.

The organisers also intend to continue developing their programme of original presentations, international participation, youth engagement and digital content.

For founder and organiser Arlindo Serrão, the latest results represent an important milestone for an event built around knowledge-sharing and international collaboration.

“Diving Talks was never intended to be just another diving show. Our ambition has always been to create a place where extraordinary people share ideas, challenge established thinking and inspire others. The growth we achieved in 2026 demonstrates that this concept resonates with the international diving community.”

Serrão added that the event’s wider impact cannot be measured by attendance alone.

“But the most important achievement is not simply the number of people attending in Lisbon or watching online. It is the fact that the conversations we start here continue reaching people around the world throughout the year.”

With its next edition already confirmed, Diving Talks is looking to build on the growth of its international audience while strengthening the relationships between divers, researchers, manufacturers and the wider underwater community.

Further information about the 2027 event is available through the official Diving Talks website.