Annual Survey of InDEPTH Magazine Readers & Subscribers (January 2026)

InDEPTH Annual Survey – Final Results, January 2026

1. What kind of in-depth content would you MOST like InDEPTH to produce more of? (please select ONE)
   • Deep analysis of incident reports and lessons learned: 42.2%
   • Training and performance science: 17.5%
   • Diver psychology and human factors: 15.7%
   • Gear testing and engineering breakdowns: 11.9%
   • Profiles of cutting-edge exploration teams: 11.7%
   • Other: 1%
     
     
2. Which format would you MOST like InDEPTH to expand into for technical diving features? (please select ONE)
   • Downloadable white papers or data sets: 34.8%
   • Technical brief podcasts: 21.6%
   • Interactive dive site maps or 3D visualizations: 16.7%
   • Long-form video documentaries: 13.7%
   • Virtual roundtables with experts: 12.7%
   • Other: 0.5%
     
     
3. How well do you feel InDEPTH currently represent the global technical diving community?
   • Very well: 48.0%
   • Somewhat well: 24.5%
   • Neutral: 17.6%
   • Needs improvement — more diverse perspectives: 5.0%
   • Needs improvement — more regional coverage: 4.9%
     
     
4. If InDEPTH could create a recurring “series,” what theme would excite you MOST? (please select ONE)
   • “Beyond Training” (performance, resilience, psychology): 26.5%
   • “Diving Disasters Revisited” (case studies): 24.5%
   • “Frontiers” (active exploration missions): 18.6%
   • “Inside the Dive Lab” (gear, testing, innovation): 16.7%
   • “Voices from the Deep” (interviews & profiles): 12.7%
     
     
5. Would you be interested in exclusive member content (e.g., early access, behind-the-scenes interviews, or training insights) for paid members?
   • Yes, absolutely: 7.8%
   • Possibly, depending on cost/value: 28.4%
   • No, I prefer open-access content: 63.8%
     
     
6. If InDEPTH launched a collaborative “Tech” video or live-stream series, which approach would you prefer? (please select one)
   • Research & decompression science updates: 43.8%
   • Case-study debriefs from actual incidents: 21.1%
   • Panel discussions with elite instructors and explorers: 19.9%
   • Equipment tech deep-dives: 9.2%
   • Open Q&A sessions with audience participation: 6.0%
     
     
7. How do you currently feel about the balance between editorial depth and readability in InDEPTH articles?
   • Perfect balance: 38.6%
   • Could use more depth and data: 20.8%
   • Could use shorter, more digestible formats: 8.9%
   • Varies by author or topic: 31.7%
     
     
8. What additional interactive or digital tools would make InDEPTH’s online experience more valuable for you? (select all that apply)
   • Interactive decompression profiles or risk models: 39.7%
   • Article-linked dive data visualizations: 38.8%
   • Training progression charts or planning tools: 32.1%
   • Reader comment threads or expert responses: 22.0%
   • Integration with dive log software/apps: 6.1%
     
     
9. Please select the certification courses you have completed (select all that apply):
   • Certified scuba diver: 88.4%
   • Certified scientific diver: 14.7%
   • Certified cave diver: 41.5%
   • Certified rebreather diver: 55.2%
   • Certified sidemount diver: 50.9%
   • Certified tech diver (excl. cave, rebreather & sidemount): 73.6%
   • Certified freediver: 17.5%
   • Competitive freediver: 1.8%
     
     
10. Are you a dive professional (e.g., instructor, instructor trainer, staff of a diving vendor or service provider)?
    • Yes: 52.4%
    • No: 47.6%
      
      
11. [ANSWERED ONLY BY DIVE PROFESSIONALS] Please select all dive professional ratings or descriptions that apply to you.
    • Freediving instructor or I.T.: 6.7%
    • Recreational scuba instructor or I.T.: 87.9%
    • Cave diving instructor or I.T.: 18.8%
    • Rebreather diving instructor or I.T.: 30.1%
    • Sidemount diving instructor or I.T.: 34.0%
    • Tech diving instructor or I.T. (excl. cave, rebreather & sidemount): 56.8%
    • Public safety diving instructor or I.T.: 10.1%
    • Scientific diving instructor or I.T.: 14.3%
    • Work for a diving vendor or service provider: 26.9%
      
      
12. How long ago was your first dive?
    • Less than 5 years: 9.7%
    • 5 to 10 years: 12.6%
    • More than 10 years: 77.7%
      
      
13. Approximately how many scuba dives have you done so far in your life?
    • Average: 2,564
      
      
14. What is your relation to GUE (dive training agency)?
    • I’ve never taken a GUE course & I’m not interested in taking one: 38.9%
    • I’ve never taken a GUE course & I’m interested in taking one: 30.1%
    • I’ve taken one or more GUE courses: 22.0%
    • I am a GUE member: 9.0%
      
      
15. Please select the group that includes your year of birth.
    • 1901-1927 (The Greatest Generation): 0.0%
    • 1928-1945 (The Silent Generation): 1.9%
    • 1946-1954 (Boomers I): 8.7%
    • 1955-1964 (Boomers II/Generation Jones): 21.4%
    • 1965-1980 (Generation X): 36.9%
    • 1981-1996 (Millennials): 26.2%
    • 1997-2012 (Generation Z): 4.9%
      
      
16. In which region is your country of residence?
    • United States (including AK & HI): 36.2%
    • Western Europe: 30.4%
    • Canada: 8.8%
    • Australia, New Zealand: 7.8%
    • Eastern Europe (including Russia): 4.0%
    • Mexico, Central America, Caribbean, Tropical Atlantic: 3.9%
    • Middle East (excluding Egypt): 3.9%
    • Africa, Madagascar: 2.0%
    • South Pacific, Indo-Pacific, Other Tropical Asia-Pacific Region (incl. Maldives): 1.1%
    • South America: 1.0%
    • China, Hong Kong, Macau: 0.9%
    • Japan, Other Non-Tropical Asia-Pacific Region: 0.0%
    • Egypt: 0.0%
      
      
17.  To which gender do you most identify?
    • Female: 14.1%
    • Male: 85.4%
    • Non-binary / Other / Unsure / Prefer Not To Say: 0.5%

206 respondents