DEMA Board of Directors to Meet this Week

 DEMA’s Board of Directors will hold a video Board meeting on May 23, 2024, to discuss how the association can support and serve the industry and its members in the coming year. The Board meeting will begin by voting to approve the “consent agenda,” a Robert’s Rules of Order device used to obtain “general consent” intended to expedite approval of routine items.

The Board is provided all reports and other documents in advance of the Board meeting, including consent agenda items. This allows Board Members to study the documents in detail prior to the meeting so that the Board can spend its limited meeting time discussing forward-thinking items, policy, and strategic issues that demand its attention. For May’s meeting, consent agenda items include:

• February 2024 Board Meeting Minutes
• 2024 Q1 Financial Update & Manufacturers Fund Recap
• DEMA Membership Update
• DEMA Show 2024 Sales Update
• Consumer Demographics and Life Stage Study
• Blueprint for Growth: Retail Advertising Survey Results
• Manufacturing Committee: Expansion Update
• DEMA Show Committee Minutes
• DEMA Research Committee Minutes
• International Membership Committee Minutes

The Board will use meeting time to discuss DEMA Show-related matters, including future Show dates and venues, and security screening at DEMA Show. The Board will also discuss the latest developments with the DIVE BOAT Act and other lobbying efforts and the association’s objectives for 2025. The video meeting will conclude with the Board covering any new business or consent agenda items that may require further discussion.

More information on DEMA’s Board of Directors and Bylaws is available on the DEMA website. Complete minutes from past Board of Directors Meetings are available to current DEMA Members from the Member Dashboard of DEMA.org.

DEMA & Scuba Manufacturers Write to Legislators Asking for Their Support of the DIVE BOAT Act

 On May 6, DEMA, along with leading scuba manufacturers Catalina Cylinders, H2Odyssey, Head Water Sports, Highland, Light & Motion, Marelux USA, Mares, Mods Drysuit, ProAsia Design, ProShot & Tidal Sports, Scubapro, Sea Pearls, SEADIVE, Sherwood Scuba, Spacefish Army, Stream2Sea, Tektite, Thermo, and XS Scuba, sent a letter urging Congress to support the DIVE BOAT Act.

The letter urgently appeals to congressional leaders to address the adverse impacts of the Small Passenger Vessel Act (SPVA) on the U.S. dive industry, which has led to significant and unjustified insurance cost increases for dive businesses. It requests support for modifying Section 11503 of the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act with proposed changes outlined in the DIVE BOAT Act. Those proposed changes aim to ensure fair liability standards and prevent the unfair punishment of an entire industry and its consumers.

Learn more about the latest developments with the DIVE BOAT Act here and view DEMA’s letter here.

DEMA Launches Subscription Service for Quarterly Certification Census

 ** Subscription Provides Streamlined Access to Industry Insights **

For over two decades, the Diving Equipment and Marketing Association (DEMA) has been at the forefront of providing vital industry data. In an effort to streamline access to invaluable insights, DEMA is thrilled to announce the launch of its subscription service for the Quarterly Certification Census.

Since its inception in 2003, the Certification Census has served as a cornerstone report, meticulously tracking Open Water level certifications issued to those in the U.S. and U.S. territories. For purposes of this study, only certifications at the “Open Water” level are counted for the quarter in question. The definition of “Open Water” level certifications is based on the original standard for entry-level training as specified by ANSI Z86.3 which states that “entry level training” is defined as:

"The initial course of scuba instruction leading to diver certification, issued by a nationally recognized training organization. Successful completion of a course that meets or exceeds the requirements of this standard qualifies an individual to procure air, equipment, and other diving services and to engage in recreational open water diving without the direct or indirect supervision of a certified instructor of scuba diving."

This definition effectively excludes any entry-level certification or diving experience that requires supervision of divemasters/dive cons, assistant instructors, or instructors. It includes only those certifications which are considered both “entry-level” and which also allow the individual to dive independently of direct or indirect supervision.

Three subscriptions will be made available, each providing unique access and benefits to subscribers.

Members-Only Subscription - No Cost 

Current DEMA Members can subscribe at no cost to the Certification Census data being reported by NAUI, PADI, SEI and TDI/SDI. The Quarterly Certification Census data will be emailed directly to the subscriber as soon as it becomes available.

Included in the quarterly data:

• Graphical representation of the number of open water certifications and estimates from all reporting training organizations, as aggregated by DEMA’s third party administrator (TPA).
• Quarterly state by state count for the time period.
• In addition to the quarterly data, renewed DEMA Members who subscribe prior to the end of the second quarter of 2024* will gain access to certification totals from the past five years—an exclusive Member benefit. *Subsequent years will require subscribers to renew their subscription prior to the beginning of the second quarter of the year.

📧 CURRENT DEMA MEMBERS CAN SUBSCRIBE HERE.

 

Non-Members Quarterly State-By-State Subscription - $89.00

As in the past, non-members can continue to pay a non-member rate to receive the quarterly state-by-state data being reported by NAUI, PADI, SEI and TDI/SDI. The Quarterly Certification Census data will be emailed directly to the subscriber as soon as it becomes available.

Included in the quarterly data:

• Graphical representation of the number of open water certifications and estimates from all reporting training organizations, as aggregated by DEMA’s TPA.
• Quarterly state by state count for the time period.

📧 NON-MEMBERS CAN SUBSCRIBE HERE.

 

Non-Members Summary-By-Quarter Subscription - No Cost

As has been the case since 2003, non-members can receive a summary-by-quarter report each quarter at no cost.

Included in the quarterly data:

• Graphical representation of the number of open water certifications and estimates for the time period, from all reporting training organizations, as aggregated by DEMA’s TPA.

📧 NON-MEMBERS CAN SUBSCRIBE HERE.

 

For all subscribers, it is advantageous to subscribe early to the Census—only subscribers will have access to the current quarterly data.

DEMA MEMBERS: To subscribe to DEMA’s Certification Census, click here to log into your DEMA Member account (or renew/join) and complete the subscription form.