The dust has settled in Orlando, and DEMA Show 2025 is officially in the books. The Scuba.com team spent the week walking the floor of the industry’s biggest event, and if there was one takeaway from this year’s show, it’s that the gap between “recreational” and “technical” diving is rapidly closing.
From dive computers that rival smartwatches to wetsuits engineered from recycled tires, the energy this year was all about new colors, minor updates, and genuine innovation. The show floor was buzzing with tools designed to make diving smarter, greener, and significantly more comfortable.
Now that we’ve had a moment to decompress, here is the roundup of the events and standout releases that happened at DEMA 2025.
What Attendees Did at DEMA 2025
The DEMA Show 2025 provided attendees with a packed schedule that successfully balanced hands-on gear exploration,professional development, and high-level industry networking. Beyond the exhibit floor, participants maximized their four days by engaging across three primary areas of focus.
Innovation and Gear Discovery Defined the Show Floor
Attendees spent considerable time visiting the hundreds of exhibitors, using the Show Floor as the central hub for sourcing products and discovering new technologies. They frequented the New Product Showcase to get a first look at the latest equipment before it hit the market.
Beyond business, participants also engaged in experiences like the Treasure Hunt for a chance to win dive trips and prizes, the Author’s Corner for book signings, and the Silent Auction to support industry causes. The day’s activities often concluded with the popular Happy Hour / Block Party held at DEMA Central, fostering a casual atmosphere for business connections.
A Strong Focus on Technical and Business Education
The show offered an extensive lineup of educational programming designed to sharpen professional skills and drive business growth. Attendees invested in multi-hour technical training courses, including certifications like the PSI-PCI Visual Cylinder Inspection® and brand-specific regulator and equipment service seminars. The DEMA-sponsored curriculum provided crucial insights on leadership,marketing strategies (including sessions on AI and smart bundling), and customer service.
Additionally, sessions focused on critical industry topics like dive travel management, dive safety, and in-depth seminars from the Divers Alert Network (DAN) covering everything from Understanding NOAA’s New CNS Oxygen Guidelines to PFO and Diving.
Unmatched Professional Networking Opportunities
As the industry’s largest trade-only event, DEMA 2025 delivered unparalleled networking opportunities. Attendees initiated business connections during the early morning Coffee Power Hour and strengthened relationships during structured events like the B2B Networking: Beer & Business sessions.
The show also provided unique professional support, notably the complimentary, confidential Proposition 65 Consultations with an attorney, a valuable service designed to help businesses navigate complex regulatory issues. Finally, DAN hosted its exclusive Member Social event, allowing its members and professionals to connect socially outside of the convention center.
The Tech: Smarter & Connected
Suunto Nautic & Nautic S
Suunto made a massive splash in DEMA 2025, officially entering a new era with the launch of the Nautic and Nautic S. These weren’t just incremental updates… they were next-generation computers designed to compete with the heavy hitters.
- The Nautic featured a stunning 3.26-inch AMOLED display (the largest in its class) and was built for technical diving with multi-gas and trimix support.
- The Nautic S packed that same punch into a more compact, wrist-friendly form factor, catering to divers who didn’t want to sacrifice power for size.
- The Verdict: It was a bold move from Suunto that successfully bridged the gap between daily-wear smartwatches and dedicated tech rigs.
Shearwater Swift GPS Transmitter
Shearwater continued its streak of refining the diver’s quality of life, this time by adding geolocation to the tank. They showcased the new Swift GPS, an air-integration transmitter that did more than just monitor gas pressure.
The transmitter captures GPS coordinates for entry and exit points. When divers sync their logs later, they get precise mapping of where they jumped in and where they popped up, eliminating the need for manual entry.
Divevolk Sea Link
This was easily the most “futuristic” demo of the show. Divevolk arrived with a solution to the underwater communication blackout: the Sea Link.
It’s a system that connects a smartphone (housed in their SeaTouch case) to a floating surface buoy via a tether. The result? It allowed users to livestream, FaceTime, or upload data to the cloud while underwater. For content creators and educators at the show, this was a major talking point, opening the door for real-time interaction from 30 meters down.
The Gear: Comfort & Clarity
Scubapro Hydros Pro 2 BCD
The original Hydros Pro had already developed a cult following for its travel-friendly design and Monprene durability. At the show, Scubapro revealed the Hydros Pro 2, which took that foundation and addressed the wishlist of its user base.
So, what changed? Well, the standout update was the Monorail Weight System, which made loading and ditching weights significantly smoother and more secure. It retained the modular “Smart-Pack” design, cementing its status as a top contender for the traveling diver.
Fourth Element Xenos Arc Wetsuit
Sustainability met performance in the new Xenos Arc. Fourth Element continued to push their “OceanPositive” mission by constructing this suit from Ocena, a material derived from natural rubber and recycled car tires rather than traditional petroleum-based neoprene.
Despite the eco-credentials, the suit didn’t compromise on mechanics. It featured improved thermal performance and an ergonomic cut designed for rapid donning, solving the age-old struggle of the “wetsuit dance.”
Seac’s Anti-Fog Revolution
Foggy masks have always been the bane of a diver’s existence, and Seac arrived in Orlando claiming to have fixed it for good. Their new line of masks featured a revolutionary double plasma anti-fog treatment.
Unlike standard films that wear off, this treatment was part of the lens manufacturing process itself. Seac promised a permanent fog-free experience without the need for scrubbing, burning, or toothpaste.
Safety & Signals
Big Blue STRB Strobe Line
Big Blue refreshed its branding in DEMA 2025 and unveiled the new STRB Strobe Line. Known for their high-lumen dive lights, this move signaled a deeper commitment to safety signaling. The new strobes offered high-intensity visibility (up to 1300 lumens on pro models) and impressive burn times, ensuring divers can be seen even in the most challenging conditions.
The Future Looks Bright
Every year, DEMA 2025 sets the tone for the season ahead, and judging by what we’ve seen this week, the future of diving is looking bright (and very high-tech). It’s exciting to see the industry focusing so heavily on comfort and connectivity, solving the little pain points that we all deal with on the boat.
