Deeper Blue

Professional Scuba Schools Worldwide has introduced a suite of new educational assets and global development opportunities tailored for dive professionals ahead of the busy summer months. The new resources aim to support instructors and streamline student education during this high-activity period. The new resources include updated Open Water skills videos that offer modern, clear and uniform demonstrations of essential diving techniques, highlighting PSS’s focus on experience-driven training.

Bonairian Darion Pietersz has achieved a significant milestone for Bonaire’s diving community, becoming the first participant to successfully graduate as a PADI Dive Instructor through the support of the Murphy Henar Foundation. Pietersz’s achievement serves as an inspiration to young Bonaireans, giving them a pathway to build careers in the diving industry. It also shows the existence of an alternative pathway to professional success on the island.

Shearwater Research announced the launch of the Limited Edition Tern TX dive computer, an exclusive release that the company says blends advanced performance engineering with a meaningful commitment to ocean conservation. Designed with inspiration drawn directly from the ocean, each unit of the Limited Edition Tern TX that is sold contributes to conservation efforts through Shearwater’s partners, reinforcing the company’s belief in giving back to the oceans that inspire divers every day.

Dive BVI is celebrating a successful season of marine conservation and youth education following a series of World Oceans Day events across the British Virgin Islands. The company welcomed residents, international visitors and students to take part in guided dives, educational presentations and youth-focused ocean stewardship initiatives on Virgin Gorda. The effort aims to improve environmental awareness and increase visibility of critical reef protection within the community.

Aker BP and DeepOcean have made offshore history by successfully completing an advanced subsea operation without sending personnel offshore. The partners used a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) to control a remote operations center (ROC) in Haugesund, Norway, making it fully remotely controlled. The team stabilized an oil well at the Idun Nord field in the Skarv area.

The US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is seeking to gather public feedback and gauge industry appetite for potential marine mineral leasing off the shore of the state of Virginia. This initial step aims to study the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) for resources that could strengthen domestic supply chains for defense, manufacturing, and emerging technologies, according to a request for information.

The Philippine Siren II liveaboard vessel was successfully removed from the reef at Bird Islet, North Atoll, and towed to Puerto Princesa City following salvage operations in Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park. The salvage vessel arrived in Tubbataha on Friday, June 19, from Navotas, Manila, and began underwater inspection and repair work on the grounded dive vessel.

The Divers Alert Network’s insurance entity, DAN Risk Retention Group, Inc., has asked a judge to determine what its insurance policy obligations might be in relation to the tragic death of a young diver trainee last August. Earlier this year, the family of Dylan Harrison filed a wrongful death lawsuit in the wake of the 12-year-old’s death during a training dive last August.

Aggressor Adventures has announced the launch of its limited-time “Red, White & Blue Special,” a promotion celebrating the USA’s upcoming 250th birthday. Inspired by the year of US independence, 1776, the offer features a symbolic 17.76% savings on select 2026 departures across participating Aggressor Adventures destinations worldwide, according to the company.

July will see the return of the Shark Trust’s citizen science initiative: The Great Shark Snapshot. It encourages divers and snorkelers all around the world to record the sharks and rays that they see during a 1-week period. This year, it takes place between July 18th and 26th. The event is back for its fifth year, and it is taking place during “Shark Month,” to coincide with a series of events that celebrate all things shark and ray.