I Walked 20,000 Steps at DEMA — Here’s What Was Worth It
By Shannon Shuman, Owner of Sun Divers Roatan
The DEMA Show is always one of the most energizing events of the year for us at Sun Divers. It’s where the industry comes together to showcase new ideas, new products and new ways to elevate the diving experience. And where I triple my daily steps as I hunt for the coolest gear and gadgets. This year’s show highlighted major advancements across gear, training, travel and sustainability — all areas that matter deeply to our team and our divers.
Since the show is only open to those in the industry, I wanted to give my fellow gear junkies an insider’s look at the trends shaping your favorite pastime. Here are the trends that stood out most, especially through the lens of a warm-water, adventure-oriented dive center in Roatan.
1. Lightweight Travel Gear Is Having a Moment
Travel-friendly equipment dominated the show floor as more divers seek lighter luggage, easier packing, and gear that dries quickly before flights. Scubapro led this category with upgrades that feel tailor-made for Roatan-bound travelers.
- The new Navigator Lite BCD strikes an ideal balance of durability and travel weight, packing small without feeling flimsy.
- The Hydros 2 builds on the beloved modular Hydros Pro with improved components, ultra-fast drying Monprene, and an even more customizable fit.
- Scubapro’s latest lightweight regulators (see the S620 titanium models) and new modular fin systems also caught our eye, offering reduced weight with strong warm-water performance.
In addition to the new offerings from Scubapro, Oceanic featured their BioLite BCD weighing just 5.5 lbs, Aqualung’s Helix Compact Pro Regulator sets were described as “ultra-compact and lightweight”, and the most stylish (in my humble opinion) is the APEKS XL4 OCEA.
Together, these solutions make dive travel easier, more comfortable, and more enjoyable – exactly what divers want when flying in for a week of island adventures.
Don’t forget, Sun Divers customers are always eligible for a 10% discount on all Scubapro gear. Just let us know in advance of your trip to Roatan and it will be ready for you when you arrive.
2. Underwater Photography Is Becoming Foolproof
One of the most exciting shifts at the DEMA show is how accessible underwater photography has become. Whether divers are packing a compact action camera or a full camera rig, the learning curve keeps getting lower.
Action cameras continue to evolve rapidly:
- GoPro introduced models with better low-light performance, superior stabilization, and improved underwater color algorithms. Despite their advances and dominant market share, it appears their competitors are rapidly closing the gap with high quality (lower priced) alternatives.
- One of those emerging competitors, Insta360, drew attention with 360° cameras that let divers “reframe” their shots after the dive, making every angle the right angle – meaning you can point the camera anywhere during filming, and later choose exactly which angle or subject you want to feature from your entire surroundings.
Smartphone housings exploded in popularity, with DIVEVOLK, ProShot, and SeaLife leading the way. Full touchscreen control, crisp optics, and intuitive apps are making it possible for divers to capture beautiful underwater content using the device they already carry. ProShot featured a unique guarantee that protects your phone in the event of an unlikely housing flood.
For those who love high-end rigs, manufacturers rolled out improved housings, wet lenses, and lighting systems – making professional-quality results more achievable than ever.
Great underwater footage is no longer reserved for experts. It’s truly available to everyone and we are actively seeking to increase our ability to serve casual photographers in 2026.
3. Sustainability Is Shaping Gear, Apparel & Operations
Sustainability was one of the strongest themes at DEMA, reinforcing what we already value deeply as Roatan’s first PADI Eco Dive Center.
Stream2Sea: Leading the Reef-Safe Movement
Our long-time partner Stream2Sea continues to set the bar for environmentally safe personal care and gear-care products. This year, they launched two additions that we’re excited to adopt:
- Reef-Safe Gear Wash – a biodegradable alternative that allows us to eliminate another conventional detergent from our operations.
- Solid Shampoo Bar – plastic-free, travel-friendly, and tested for marine safety.
These products, in addition to the products we already use daily (defog, shampoo, sunscreen and leave-in conditioners) help us further reduce our environmental footprint while making sustainable choices more accessible for divers.
Eco-Friendly Apparel
Sun Divers was an early adopter of apparel made from recycled ocean plastics with our long-standing relationship with OCEANR for our custom rash guards. However, more brands are now producing clothing made from recycled ocean plastics, reclaimed PET, and regenerated fibers. High-quality rash guards, ponchos, and post-dive layers are increasingly being made with ocean-health in mind – a trend we plan to expand on in our retail offerings.
Greener Equipment Design
Manufacturers showcased meaningful improvements in sustainable gear construction, from recycled BCD and wetsuit linings to solvent-free glues and low-impact dyes.
Scubapro continues to lead with its Everflex YULEX® line, made from FSC-certified natural rubber instead of petroleum-based neoprene – one of the strongest examples of sustainability without sacrificing performance.
4. Color & Personalization Are the New Norm
For decades, diving was synonymous with black gear – but not anymore. Color and customization swept DEMA this year, and it’s making dive setups more expressive, practical, and fun.
Scubapro’s Hydros 2 exemplifies this shift with swappable color kits, customizable accessories, and personalized trim options. Across the industry, we saw:
- Brightly colored hoses, clips, and weight pockets
- Masks in dozens of colorways
- Modular fins with interchangeable colored blades
- Weight belts in functional, color-coded options
Personalization isn’t just about style – it makes gear easier to identify on the boat and underwater, reducing mix-ups and improving diver confidence.
5. Full-Color Dive Computers Are Becoming Standard
Another near-universal shift: monochrome screens are fading out. Full-color dive computers from Scubapro (G3), Aqualung (i770R), Garmin (X50i), Shearwater (Teric), and Suunto (Nautic S), were everywhere at DEMA.
Modern color displays offer brighter, clearer visuals, more intuitive layouts, better readability in bright Caribbean water, and improved user experience for new divers.
What was once premium technology is quickly becoming mainstream.
6. Wetsuits Are Getting Greener — and Smarter
Manufacturers are making real progress toward more sustainable wetsuit materials and digital custom-fit solutions.
- Plant-based foams, including Scubapro’s Everflex YULEX®, reduce reliance on petroleum-based neoprene.
- Recycled linings and low-impact adhesives are becoming industry standards.
- Digital fitting tools are making custom-measured suits more accessible, improving comfort and thermal performance.
It’s an encouraging direction for both divers and the ocean.
7. And Then There’s Underwater Connectivity…
A noticeable – though still questionable – trend this year was the push toward underwater communication and data connectivity.
- Garmin demonstrated surface-supported underwater messaging with the S1 Subwave Sonar Network.
- DIVEVOLK showcased live-streaming dive video through a tethered SeaLink surface unit.
- Shearwater introduced a new surface SWIFT GPS device for diver tracking.
The technology is impressive, but for recreational divers, we’re not convinced it adds meaningful value yet. Most divers come underwater to escape constant connectivity – not bring more of it with them.
Wondering what DEMA Show trends you’ll find at Sun Divers?
As a PADI Eco Dive Center, we’re committed to choosing products and partners that align with our mission – from reef-safe personal care and eco-friendly materials to smarter, lighter and more intuitive dive equipment.
As the dust from the show settles, we’re following up with all of our current and potential vendors to see what new innovatios we can bring to enhance your dive experience. We’ll keep you posted!
