DRT Shanghai 2026: A record-breaking return

• March 13, 2026
• Market Insight

Earlier this month, DRT Shanghai 2026 concluded on a remarkably high note. The scale and energy of this year’s event exceeded expectations, with packed aisles and record attendance throughout the venue.

It was widely seen as the busiest Shanghai DRT since the pandemic. From dive resorts and liveaboard operators to equipment manufacturers and underwater photography specialists, the show once again brought together the full spectrum of the diving industry. 

Classic destinations remain strong as niche markets gain momentum

Southeast Asia continues to dominate the market, and tourism authorities across the region are increasing their investments in dive tourism. The Philippines, for example, attracted strong attention this year, especially following the announcement of visa-free entry for Chinese travellers. Several new operators from the region also made their debut at the show.

Australia and Fiji continued to draw strong interest from divers visiting the HelloDive booth. While visa concerns for Australia still exist, they appear to be gradually easing. Fiji, meanwhile, has seen a noticeable rise in awareness compared to just a few years ago.

This year we also highlighted two unique experiences: the Rodney Fox Expedition for great white shark cage diving, and Vanuatu, a destination relatively new to the market but famous for its world-class wreck diving. Interestingly, when we described Vanuatu as being located “near Fiji,” many divers immediately recognised its approximate location, suggesting that awareness of Oceania destinations is steadily expanding.

At the same time, we observed growing interest in more remote and specialised destinations. Inquiries at our booth for places such as Galápagos, Mexico, and Tahiti increased significantly. Despite the long travel times and higher costs, their unique biodiversity and more challenging dive environments are increasingly attractive to experienced divers.

Diversification of the Chinese diver profile

A particularly noticeable change is the rise of family travellers. For families with older children, the focus is often on junior certifications, as diving parents are eager to introduce their kids to the underwater world. For families with younger children, however, the key requirement is balance - while parents are diving, they look for engaging activities such as snorkelling programs, marine workshops, or reliable kids’ clubs. Resorts that combine professional diving with strong family-friendly facilities are therefore gaining increasing attention.

At the same time, travel motivations are becoming more target-oriented. Many divers now plan trips around specific experiences, such as thresher sharks in Malapascua, macro photography hotspots, or technical wreck diving. In other words, the experience often defines the destination, rather than the other way around.

DRT also introduced a new ski section this year, highlighting the strong overlap between the diving and skiing communities. In China, this trend is often referred to online as “blue-white dual practice” (蓝白双修), reflecting the rise of a new generation of outdoor enthusiasts.

The power of social media influence

The growing appetite for diverse diving destinations is increasingly driven by social media and celebrity influence. We found that many divers developed a visceral yearning for Great White Shark cage diving after watching the documentary by MediaStorm, whose content reaches over 14 million followers. Similarly, destinations like Vanuatu turned out to be less unfamiliar to Chinese divers than expected, as outdoor influencers had previously shared their experiences from the region.

The strong overlap between diving and skiing communities mentioned above is also a direct result of this media power. This lifestyle has gained massive traction as influencers showcase their seamless transition from winter slopes to summer seas, a movement further amplified by PADI China’s consistent cross-promotional efforts.

Unlike traditional advertising, this social-media-driven model triggers a powerful “viral desire” among online communities to replicate these journeys. In the digital age, leveraging visually driven and authentic storytelling is no longer optional — it has become one of the most efficient engines for customer acquisition.

What we observed at this year’s DRT Shanghai signals a Chinese dive travel market that is steadily evolving. New destinations, more specialised travel motivations, and a broader outdoor lifestyle community are all shaping the next phase of growth. As the 2026 season begins to unfold, we look forward to continuing to connect our partners with this vibrant and expanding community of divers.