Scuba Diver North America – 25 July 2026

Summary

Walt Stearns' July 2026 issue of Scuba Diver North America features the "Great American Dive Tour" — part three of a four-part series tied to the USA's 250th anniversary — alongside destination features on Jordan, Roatan and Raja Ampat's Batanta Island, plus a technical deep-dive on the Andrea Doria wreck. The 74-page issue covers six destinations and gear testing.

Stearns' editor's note argues that even decades of diving experience cannot replace local knowledge — a theme reinforced throughout the issue. Mark Evans and Daniel Brinckmann cover Jordan's Aqaba, Wadi Rum and Petra, calling it one of the region's most surprising dive destinations. Walt Stearns visits Roatan's Coco View Resort on a photographic mission to capture spawning indigo hamlets. Michael Salvarezza and Christopher P Weaver continue their USA tour with animal encounters including giant octopus, Goliath grouper and sharks. Don Silcock explores the waters off Batanta in lesser-known Raja Ampat. Mike Dudas tackles the Andrea Doria — 70 years after the Stockholm collision claimed 51 lives, the wreck remains "The Mount Everest of Wreck Diving." Gear testing covers the Mares Planet 88X regulator and Cressi's 80th-anniversary Thor EBS fins and Z2 mask.

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Content Guide

▸ Destinations

p.16 · Jordan: Aqaba, Wadi Rum and Petra
Mark Evans and Daniel Brinckmann on the Red Sea offshoot where desert meets pristine coral. Petra's 2,000-year-old cliffs provide the topside adventure.

p.30 · Roatan's Front Yard
Walt Stearns on Coco View Resort's diving freedom. A photographic mission for indigo hamlets that proves local knowledge is irreplaceable.

p.36 · The Great American Dive, Part Three
Salvarezza and Weaver continue the USA 250th-anniversary tour. East and west coast dives with giant octopus, Goliath grouper and sharks.

p.44 · Indonesia: Batanta
Don Silcock on a lesser-known Raja Ampat area. Running reefs that deliver everything from pygmy seahorses to mantas.

▸ Technical

p.54 · Tech: Andrea Doria
Mike Dudas on the wreck 70 years after the collision. Why "The Mount Everest of Wreck Diving" still claims divers today.

▸ Gear

p.66 · Test Extra: Mares Planet 88X
The innovative regulator rated and reviewed. Also tested: Cressi's 80th-anniversary Thor EBS fins and Z2 mask.

▸ Columns

p.50 · #AskMark
Mark Newman on ghost gear, breathing patterns and hose protectors. Practical answers for everyday diving questions.

p.52 · Divers Alert Network
The DAN team on diving with diabetes. Medical guidance every diver with diabetes and every buddy should read.

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Editor's Take

Stearns edits a North American diving magazine that knows its audience: experienced divers who already know where the Caribbean is and want to go deeper — literally and figuratively. The Andrea Doria tech feature is the standout, treating the wreck with the respect its mortality statistics demand. The Jordan destination piece is well-timed to growing Red Sea interest. The "Great American Dive" series is a clever editorial hook for the 250th anniversary, and part three delivers genuine variety. But the Roatan feature, while well-reported, covers ground that has been covered many times. The Mares regulator test is thorough but reads more like spec sheet than real-world experience. Best for: North American divers planning their next trip and anyone interested in wreck-penetration technique.

Strengths
• Andrea Doria feature treats the wreck with appropriate gravity
• Jordan destination piece is well-timed to market trends
• Great American Dive series is a strong editorial hook

Weaknesses
• Roatan feature covers well-worn ground
• Gear test reads more spec-sheet than experience

Verdict: Recommended — Solid North American diving monthly with one standout wreck feature.