Over the years, the Bottom Times newsletter has done so much more than just connect our ADPA members, it has introduced teams, leaders, and astounding facilities that will forever have their place to shine in our written digest. We have moved the Spotlight feature to showcase our members both big and small, and, near and far! As our community continues to grow, we will continue to support, introduce, and hopefully one day give all our members their time to shine.
If you joined ADPA in 2016, maybe you had the chance to read about Jake Emmert and the dive program at Moody Gardens. Maybe you caught the feature in 2020 highlighting the South Carolina Aquarium and their man in charge, Arnold Postell, or the one about Jeremy Haywood at the Oceanwise Vancouver Aquarium! In the past decade, we have highlighted so many: Chad Burtram, Mauritius Bell, Jenna Walker, Dave Pitalo, Andrew Solomon, Jonathan Langham and so many more!
Whether you have had the chance to meet our community in person or in our Bottom Times newsletters, know that we still have so many left to meet. If you are new to the industry or have many years under your belt and are still in need of an introduction, we got you! To get your organizational team and DSO member spotlight, feel free to email us, Felicia Silva and Allison Shafer. We cannot wait to know your story and share it with our community. Our contact info can be found below.
Allison Shafer: ashafer@calacademy.org
Felicia Silva: FSilva@georgiaaquarium.org

Next in this issue of Bottom Times…
- President’s Corner – October 2026
- 2026 Symposium
- 2026 Training Day
- Organizational Spotlight – Over the Years
- Hot Button Topics – Balancing Diver Privacy, Safety, and Institutional Risk
- 2026 Brett Dodson Scholarship Winner
- Membership Update – October 2026
- Deep Diving and Innovation to Restore the Gulf’s Mesophotic Corals







