For many divers, the annual pilgrimage to California’s Scuba Show is more than a trade expo. It is the unofficial start of summer dive season, a chance to reconnect with the industry, discover new gear, book future adventures, and immerse themselves in the culture of diving for an entire weekend.
This year’s edition of the Scuba Show 2026 takes place on May 30 and 31 at the Long Beach Convention Center, bringing together hundreds of exhibitors, training agencies, liveaboards, conservation organisations, underwater photographers, equipment manufacturers, and travel specialists under one roof. Organisers describe it as North America’s largest consumer scuba diving expo, with more than 91,000 square feet of exhibit space dedicated to diving and ocean exploration.
The event arrives at an interesting moment for the dive industry. Diving has continued evolving beyond its traditional core audience, with operators and brands increasingly targeting families, younger travellers, vacation divers, freedivers, content creators, and ocean enthusiasts who may not yet be certified. That broader appeal appears central to the new vision behind the show.
Since being acquired by Rork Media, the company behind Scuba Diver magazine and Divernet, the show has expanded its ambitions considerably. According to interviews published ahead of this year’s event, the goal is no longer simply to run a successful West Coast dive expo, but to turn Scuba Show into a larger international diving event brand that connects consumers directly with the industry in multiple markets.
That expansion is already underway. Following Long Beach, organisers will launch a new East Coast edition in Atlantic City next weekend, marking the first major expansion of the brand in decades.
But Long Beach remains the flagship.
For attendees, one of the biggest attractions continues to be the ability to see the entire diving world in one place. The exhibitor floor spans dive gear manufacturers, training agencies, liveaboards, dive travel operators, conservation groups, local dive centres, underwater imaging brands, and marine organisations.
The show also continues to lean heavily into experiences rather than simply product displays. A free “Try Scuba” experience allows newcomers to take their first breaths underwater in a heated 15,000-gallon pool located directly on the show floor, while seminars and workshops run throughout the weekend covering photography, exploration, travel, safety, technical diving, marine conservation, and emerging trends within the industry.
Recent activity across the show’s social channels has also highlighted the diversity of voices and topics being promoted ahead of the event. Posts in recent days have featured cave-diving recovery operations in the Maldives, liveaboard pioneers, dive safety discussions with DAN, underwater photography, Great Barrier Reef conservation, and appearances from personalities like “Scuba Magician” Chef Anton.
That blend of education, entertainment, travel inspiration, and networking remains one of the reasons the show has survived while many traditional trade events have struggled.
In an era where almost every piece of dive equipment can be purchased online and social media delivers endless destination content daily, dive expos still offer something digital platforms cannot fully replicate: direct human connection. Divers can physically handle new equipment, speak face-to-face with expedition leaders, meet instructors, compare training philosophies, and build relationships with operators before booking expensive trips.
For the industry itself, the timing is equally important. With international dive travel continuing to rebound strongly and liveaboard demand remaining high across destinations like the Red Sea, Indonesia, the Maldives, and the Pacific, shows like this increasingly function as both consumer events and relationship hubs for businesses navigating a highly competitive travel market.
And unlike purely industry-focused trade shows, Scuba Show still feels designed around divers first.
Tickets remain relatively accessible, with under-16s admitted free and all ticket levels including access to the exhibition floor, seminars, and workshops. Organisers are clearly positioning the event as a full weekend experience rather than simply a shopping opportunity.
Whether attendees arrive looking for the latest dive computer, planning a dream liveaboard, exploring underwater photography, considering technical training, or simply wanting to spend a weekend surrounded by people who understand their obsession with the ocean, Scuba Show continues to occupy a unique place in North American diving culture.
And with expansion plans now underway beyond California, this year’s event may prove to be the start of a much larger chapter for one of diving’s longest-running consumer shows.
For more information, tickets, seminar schedules, and exhibitor details, visit Scuba Show.
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