Dan Orr: Why DEMA Show Matters More Than Ever | DEMA Show 2026 | Marketing Minutes

Join Scuba Diving Industry Magazine live from the final day of DEMA Show 2026 in New Orleans as Publisher William Cline and Ad Sales Manager Britain Cline sit down with Dan Orr, Chairman of the DEMA Board of Directors, diving safety expert, industry leader and longtime contributor to Scuba Diving Industry Magazine. With more than five decades of diving experience and nearly 10,000 dives, Dan shares his perspective on the state of the recreational diving industry, the importance of DEMA Show and why bringing diving professionals together is essential to the industry's continued growth. Dan also discusses his extensive work with Divers Alert Network (DAN), the Academy of Underwater Arts and Sciences (AUAS), the prestigious NOGI Awards and diving safety education. In This Episode: The Importance of DEMA Show: Why industry networking, education and face-to-face business relationships remain essential. The State of the Dive Industry: Dan's observations from the 2026 show floor and the industry's continuing recovery and growth. Diving Safety and Education: Dan's decades of experience with DAN and his ongoing commitment to making diving safer. The NOGI Awards: The history of diving's prestigious honors, which began in New Orleans, and the Academy's scholarship programs. Supporting the Next Generation: The Zale Parry Scholarship and the $50,000 AUAS/DAN Medical Scholarship. Unforgettable Underwater Adventures: From polar expeditions to two legendary shipwrecks, the Arabia in Lake Huron and the Prinz Eugen at Kwajalein Atoll. Dan also shares stories from his extraordinary diving career, including exploring a remarkably preserved 19th-century Great Lakes shipwreck and diving the German warship Prinz Eugen, which survived two atomic bomb tests before sinking in a storm. About Dan Orr Dan Orr is Chairman of the DEMA Board of Directors, President of the Academy of Underwater Arts and Sciences, a longtime diving safety advocate and a monthly contributor to Scuba Diving Industry Magazine. He previously served in a leadership role at Divers Alert Network for 23 years and continues to support the industry through consulting, education and volunteer service. Website: https://scubadivingindustry.com https://www.demashow.com/ Dan Orr: danorr@danorrconsulting.com About Scuba Diving Industry Magazine: Read our monthly print and digital magazine for diving retailers, manufacturers, training professionals, travel sellers and industry leaders. Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more interviews, industry insights and exclusive conversations from DEMA Show 2026. Like, comment and subscribe! What has DEMA Show meant to your diving business? Share your thoughts below. #DEMASHOW2026 #DanOrr #ScubaDivingIndustry #DEMA #DivingIndustry #NOGIAwards #DiversAlertNetwork #ScubaDiving #MarketingMinutes #DiveSafety