News
Elevating Dive Safety Culture – The Supreme Importance of Vigilance and Sound Judgement

Diver training agency PADI® is reminding the diving industry that diver safety always comes first.
“Diver safety is each and every diving professional’s first and most important priority because when it’s lacking, preventable tragedies can occur,” says Drew Richardson, CEO and President of PADI Worldwide. “Dive incidents ripple well beyond the victims. They are deep, personal tragedies also impacting families, friends, and the entire global diving community – regardless of the diving organization individuals are associated with.”
“There is generally a reasonably low risk in diving when community, training course, and safe diving practices are followed, but when they are not, the severity of a potential accident will have serious consequences that could have been entirely avoidable,” continues Richardson. “While most diving Professionals put safety first, recent incidents where fatalities have occurred were not simple slips or forgetful moments. These tragedies resulted directly or indirectly from violating course standards, abandoning sound judgement and ignoring or overriding obvious and accepted dive community practices.”
To refresh the importance of diver safety being at the forefront of every business decision, course training or supervision, PADI shares the five safety points that must never be ignored.
1. Course Safety Standards and Community Safe Diving Practices
These are central to diver safety. Incident data repeatedly show that when someone deviates from these, the potential for an incident goes up. Analyses find violations cause or contribute to many diver fatalities. The lesson is obvious: follow all course standards and diving safe practices always, all the time, to the best of your ability. They work – and the data show it.
2. Safety Overlap is Not Superfluous
Safety procedures overlap and repeat, and this is intentional and necessary. No single safety procedure accounts for all variables – and those variables include inevitable human error – so multiple procedure “layers” are applied to close the gaps and help offset unintended simple mistakes or omissions. Incidents show that skipping seemingly repetitive procedures or disregarding seemingly “minor” standards removes a safety layer that in retrospect, would have prevented a tragedy.
3. Safety is Human
Safety standards and practices work when adapted to the local conditions and to the diver’s ability, but they don’t work by themselves – nor are they intended to. They rely on conservative good judgment and reasoned application. Doing this is primarily a matter of common sense and choosing the more conservative option should always be selected when in doubt. The basics of depths, ratios, equipment, or procedures are ones that even Open Water Diver students would know are mandatory, so misjudgment from a diving professional in these areas is inexcusable.
4. Safety Procedures are Dynamic
People, weather, diving conditions and circumstances vary. Technology, diving physiology knowledge and community practices change, so Standards and Procedures change with them. Stay updated. If someone finds themselves in a perplexing situation where following standards and procedures seems difficult or even impossible, chances are it’s not. In general, there’s no reason or excuse for violating established dive training Standards and Procedures.
5. Always be “On Duty” When it Comes to Safety
Diving has an impressive safety record but as a community we should always strive to continue to improve it. The actions of diving professionals must be visible and unmistakable, reflecting what is taught and following best practices without exception. A good example of this is predive safety checks, which sometimes get overlooked outside of training; yet incident data and anecdotal reports suggest that tight checks would prevent many incidents and close calls.
By conspicuously doing predive checks as professionals, the industry can encourage other divers to do the same. PADI is providing a free Download of a Predive Safety Check poster to display in prominent places such as boats, dive centers, classrooms or pool areas. Checklists are important safety reinforcers and used in aviation, surgical practice, technical diving and in diver instruction and guiding. They are a way to promote safe diving.
“When a dive instructor neglects standards, disregards required equipment or flouts established practices, they not only increase the likelihood of an unnecessary tragedy, but they can also be difficult or impossible to defend reasonably,” says Richardson.
“These actions can also void professional insurance warranties, leaving provided coverage for defense and liability in question at best. However, when you follow standards and procedures diligently to the best of your ability, you greatly reduce risk,” continues Richardson. “And should there be an incident, your actions can be compared to these standards to defend that they were proper, reasonable and appropriately applied to the local diving conditions for the divers under your supervision.”
You can download a Predive Safety Check poster from the PADI Pro Site under Course Related Documents, which is available in 14 languages. PADI Regional Training Consultants or Quality Management staff personnel around the planet are available to assist and consult where there may be questions.
Gear News
The DYNAMICNORD SE series of neoprene wetsuits in a beautiful camouflage blue

A head-to-toe camouflage look that focuses on style and comfort
Designed to provide an unforgettable diving experience, the DYNAMICNORD SE series wetsuits offer everything you need. They feature a unique camouflage design and protect you while offering optimum freedom of movement and keeping you warm.
Sometimes, divers just want a special look. In this case, the camouflage wetsuits from DYNAMICNORD are the perfect choice. Made from extremely robust, abrasion-resistant limestone neoprene, the SE-C wetsuits are built to last. Nevertheless, the neoprene is also soft and stretchy to offer all divers a high degree of comfort.
The SE series suits are optimally sealed thanks to their back zipper with flap and their design allows you to easily close and open them by yourself. They also have reinforced shoulders and knees to protect high-wear areas and extend the life of your neoprene suit.
The SE camouflage series suits are available in neoprene thicknesses of 3 and 5mm.
To complete the camouflage look, DYNAMICNORD also offers matching essentials, such as the MC-15 two-lens mask and SC-10 snorkel. They both feature a blue camouflage design, as well as the AF-70 freediving fins, which are available in a matching shade of blue. A head-to-toe camouflage look that focuses on style and comfort.
The SE series suits in camouflage look are now available from DYNAMICNORD retailers and in the online shop.
SE-31-C/SE-32-C: 3mm Men/Women – recommended retail price: £183
SE-51-C/SE-52-C: 3mm Men/Women – recommended retail price: £238
Size Men: S-3XL incl. ML
Size Women: S-2XL
Gear News
Divers in the U.S.A. to get a free octopus with selected regulator purchases

Mares in the U.S.A. has announced an exclusive limited-time offer designed to keep divers safe and well-equipped underwater this summer dive season.
From June 15 through August 1, 2025, customers who purchase select Mares regulators will receive a free octopus—no extra costs, just added value.
Whether you’re upgrading your setup or gearing up for your next dive adventure, this promotion is the perfect opportunity to get premium Mares performance at a reduced cost.
Eligible regulators include:
- ATLAS 62X
- EPIC ADJ 82X
- ATLAS ADJ 62X TBP
- SXS 62X
- DUAL 15X
- ULTRA ADJ 82X
- DUAL ADJ 62X
- DUAL ADJ 62X – 75th Anniversary Edition
Choose from one of the following octos—free with your eligible regulator purchase:
- DUAL
- DUAL ADJ
- LOOP
- SXS
- ULTRA
- ULTRA ADJ
This promotion is available only at participating Mares dealers and while supplies last. It is not valid for purchases made through Mares.com.
Don’t spend another summer with outdated gear. Visit your nearest Mares dive center and take advantage of this incredible offer today!
To find a participating dealer near you, click here – https://www.mares.com/en_US/partner-locator.
About Mares
Founded in 1949 by Ludovico Mares in Rapallo, Italy, Mares is a worldwide leader in manufacturing innovative, high-performance scuba diving, snorkeling, and freediving equipment. From recreational divers to advanced technical enthusiasts, Mares is dedicated to enhancing the underwater experience through cutting-edge technology, comfort, and safety. Mares is a member of the HEAD Sports Group.
Find out more about Mares products at www.mares.com.
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