The Diving Equipment and Marketing Association has formally sent a letter to members of Congress advocating in support of the DIVE BOAT Act, a critical measure designed to address the unintended consequences of the Small Passenger Vessel Act (SPVA) on the United States dive industry.
The letter was signed by DEMA and a coalition of 78 respected scuba retailers and dive industry professionals from across the nation.
The Small Passenger Vessel Act has had a massive impact on the industry, with dive businesses facing dramatic, “unwarranted” increases in insurance premiums, according to DEMA. These in turn have put significant financial strain on operators and threatened the viability of dive-related activities nationwide.
The letter calls for urgent steps to be taken and urges Congress to reconsider and amend Section 11503 of the Fiscal Year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act, incorporating the targeted revisions set forth in the DIVE BOAT Act.
The proposed amendments would create a fairer liability standard for dive boats, according to DEMA. This would ensure responsible operators are not penalized for circumstances beyond their control.
The goal of DEMA and its partners is to prevent the unfair punishment of an entire industry and its customers. This would safeguard jobs, small businesses and the recreational diving community in general, the letter states.
According to the letter:
“In the last three years, our businesses have struggled to pay paralyizing insurance cost increases. As you know, the 117th Congress included a provision in the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) called “The Small Passenger Vessel Act” (SPVA), via Section 11503. This was a part of the Congressional response to a tragic 2019 boat accident off the coast of Santa Barbara, CA on the overnight vessel MV Conception. Like you, we were heartbroken by this tragedy, and we appreciate the safety changes Congress initially enacted.”
You can view the letter DEMA sent to members of Congress here.
