President’s Corner – October 2026

Hello and WTTADPAPC My Friends,

As we move into the final quarter of the year, I am proud to share the tremendous progress ADPA has made across several important initiatives. The dedication of our Board of Directors, committee chairs, committee members, and volunteers continues to strengthen our organization and create value for our membership. I would like to take this opportunity to provide an update on several key priorities and accomplishments.

When I ran for President, I identified three primary goals for my term. I am pleased to report significant progress on all three.

First, we set out to increase the number of Corporate Partners supporting ADPA. Thanks to the outstanding work of Jake Emmert and the Corporate Partner Committee, we have successfully achieved our target of increasing annual Corporate Partner support by more than $5,000. This accomplishment not only strengthens the financial foundation of our organization but also helps support our second goal: expanding regional meetings, trainings, and events to better serve our members throughout the year.

Our third goal was to establish a committee focused on conducting a remuneration study and developing resources and training that help Dive Program Administrators advance both their careers and their programs. I am excited to report that I have identified a consultant to assist with this effort. We plan to begin forming the committee during the fourth quarter of this year and look forward to building valuable tools and resources that will benefit current and future ADPA members.

I would also like to recognize the efforts of Cole Drake and Bill Power for leading the ad hoc committee responsible for this year’s ADPA Statistics Survey. In addition to collecting important program metrics, the survey includes questions regarding Corporate Partner products and services. This data will help the Board better demonstrate the value our Corporate Partners receive through their support of ADPA and provide measurable feedback regarding the impact of their marketing investments. Ultimately, this information will help strengthen Corporate Partner retention and support our efforts to attract new partners.

Scholarships remain an important component of ADPA’s commitment to professional development. This year, we proudly launched the Jim Hart International Scholarship while continuing to support members through the Ed Harper and Brett Dodson Scholarships. These programs help invest in the future of dive professionals and support the growth of our community.

Our website continues to improve thanks to the ongoing efforts of Scott Chapman and the IT Committee. Their dedication behind the scenes ensures that our members have access to a modern, reliable, and continually improving online experience. Likewise, I would like to thank the Communications Committee for their continued hard work producing Bottom Times and keeping our membership informed throughout the year.

One of the most significant accomplishments this year has been the progress made by the External Affairs Committee in collaboration with the AZA Safety Committee. The updated Diving Example Practices document has been completed and submitted for review by AZA Safety Committee leadership. Pending approval, this document will become an important resource for both the AZA and ADPA communities. A great deal has changed in the regulatory landscape since the document was first created more than a decade ago, and this revision reflects those changes while incorporating current best practices from across our profession.

I would also like to thank Andrew Solomon for leading the effort to survey the membership regarding our bylaws. The survey process has been completed, and our updated bylaws are now in place, helping ensure that our governance structure continues to meet the needs of the organization.

We are also seeing continued progress in the development of the Dive Safety Officer certification course through our collaboration with DAN. Special thanks go to Jake Emmert and Charlie Lawton for their hard work and leadership on this important initiative.

Looking ahead, I am especially excited about this year’s Symposium in New Orleans. It is shaping up to be an outstanding event. Rachel Cushman and the Symposium Committee have finalized an excellent lineup of speakers and venues that promise to make this year’s gathering both informative and enjoyable. In conjunction with the Symposium, Jonathan Langham and the Professional Development Committee have organized an exceptional Training Day featuring workshops and seminars designed to provide practical skills and professional growth opportunities for our members.

As always, none of these accomplishments would be possible without the dedication and commitment of our Board of Directors, committee chairs, committee members, Corporate Partners, and volunteers. Thank you for everything you do to make ADPA such a strong and vibrant organization.

I look forward to seeing many of you in New Orleans and celebrating another successful year together.

Safe diving,

Jeff Reid out of Casper Wyoming
President, ADPA

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