We are only a few days from wrapping up 2025 and while we are making plans for the new year, it is always worth taking a look back at a very busy and productive year.

January started with a new administration in the U.S. – stewardship for the planet came under attack. We however continued on with our mission.

In January we announced our 2025 Ocean Steward Scholarships for both open water and advanced open water training.

In March we headed to the Boston Sea Rovers Show in Danvers, MA.

By May it was time to get back in the water with a quick trip to Key Largo for a few days of diving as a tune up for our Dive Pirates trip to Cayman Brac in June.

In July, SEA-CT partnered with Scuba Shack and attended the Newington Extravaganza to get our message out to the local community.

October saw us heading to the Far East for a three week trip to Indonesia and the Philippines.

A week after getting back from the coral triangle, I headed to Orlando for the DEMA Show 2025.

We wrapped up the year by sponsoring a Marine Ecosystem and Coral Awareness course in partnership with Scuba Shack and announced our year end Board of Directors Challenge – we will match all donations made in December dollar-for-dollar. Still time to donate.

Now it is time to wrap up Scuba Educational Alliance Ocean Podcast. It has been fun and rewarding but now it is time to move on from podcasting.

Thanks to all who have listened to the show.

Wishing everyone a happy and healthy new year.

Goodbye.

The US Department of Interior recently issued an order that significantly looks to expand oil and gas leases in the Gulf of Mexico, and off the coast of Alaska and California.

This expansion covers 1.27 billion acres of ocean.

Additionally, the Interior Department plans to sell more leases in 80 million acres in the Gulf of Mexico on December 10, 2025. A lawsuit has been filed to stop this sale stating that it violates the National Environmental Protection Act.

We need to protect the ocean, and expanding offshore oil and gas production is not going to do that.

This year the Diving Equipment and Marketing Association (DEMA) Show took place in Orlando, FL at the Orange County Convention Center – November 11 – 14, 2025.

The show continues to demonstrate that the dive industry is vibrant, alive and energized. Attendance at the show is back to pre-pandemic levels with a record number of qualified buyers in attendance. Business is getting done at the DEMA Show.

Listen for my recap on all of the activities.