News & Updates

Indian Ocean Divers Association’s “Hello IODA” Roadshow Triumphs in Goa; Heads to Mumbai

July 11, 2026

Jul 11, 2026

The Indian Ocean Divers Association (IODA) has successfully concluded the fourth leg of its inaugural five-city “Hello IODA” roadshow with an energetic community gathering at Slow Tide in Anjuna, Goa on July 11th.

The ambitious multi city tour which kicked off in Kovalam before moving to Pondicherry and Bengaluru, aims to unite diving enthusiasts, professional instructors, and dive clubs across India under a singular, powerful vision: "One Ocean, One Voice, One Community."

The Goa gathering at Slow Tide, Anjuna, served as a brilliant collaborative platform, drawing passionate regional dive enthusiats. The event fostered deep discussions on raising regional standards, launching collaborative dive tourism campaigns, and pioneering localized marine conservation initiatives.
Momentum for the movement has been absolute. Across all four stops, every participating dive club, professional operator, and individual diver has officially confirmed their commitment to join the IODA initiative, signaling a massive leap forward for a unified scuba ecosystem in the subcontinent.

Backed by a prominent team incuding industry veterans, with Maldivian diving pioneer and IODA Interim Vice President Hussain Rasheed (Sendi), SG, Suraj from India. the roadshow is successfully standardizing localized community frameworks into a powerful national network.

The Final Gathering : Mumbai
Following the response in Goa, the "Hello IODA" roadshow is marching to its final destination today. The grand finale is scheduled to take place in Mumbai at the prestigious National Sports Club of India (NSCI).

The Mumbai gathering will consolidate the commitments gathered across India's coastline and urban hubs, mapping out the next strategic steps for sustainable dive tourism, standardized education, and ocean literacy in the region.

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Jul 28, 2026

Indian Ocean Divers Association (IODA) Concludes Successful "Hello IODA" Gatherings Across India and the Maldives, Sets Sights on Sri Lanka

The Indian Ocean Divers Association (IODA) has successfully wrapped up its high-profile series of "Hello IODA" community gatherings, marking a major milestone in its mission to unite the regional diving fraternity under the core vision of "One Ocean, One Voice, One Community." Following an extensive multi-city roadshow that kicked off in early July, the initiative brought together prominent dive centers, instructors, and industry leaders across South Asia to foster collaboration, elevate safety standards, and advance marine conservation. Building Momentum Across the Subcontinent The "Hello IODA" journey launched in India, starting in Kovalam and sweeping through Pondicherry, Bengaluru, and Goa before culminating in a grand finale event in Mumbai. The Indian leg successfully bridged urban diving hubs with coastal operators, drawing an enthusiastic response from regional stakeholders eager to build a cohesive network. Expanding into the Heart of the Maldives Carrying this momentum forward, the initiative extended its journey directly to the Maldives, hosting successful gatherings in both Male’ City and Rasdhoo. Prominent local dive centers, resort operators, and diving industry leaders from across the Maldivian atolls came together during these sessions. The gatherings provided an open platform for regional professionals to connect, discuss localized marine protection frameworks, share operational insights, and align with IODA’s broader regional strategy to support sustainable dive tourism. Looking Ahead: Sri Lanka and Beyond Building on the enthusiastic participation and commitments received across India and the Maldives, IODA plans to continue its regional expansion. The association has officially announced its intention to conduct upcoming "Hello IODA" gatherings in Sri Lanka and other key maritime destinations in the near future. Through these ongoing engagements, IODA continues to solidify a transnational network designed to empower local dive operators, promote environmental stewardship, and create a unified voice for the Indian Ocean diving community. For more information about IODA and upcoming events, visit indianoceandivers.org

Jul 13, 2026

Hello IODA ! India Roadshow 2026 Concludes with Spectacular Gathering in Mumbai

The Indian Ocean Divers Association (IODA) has successfully wrapped up its, multi-city "Hello IODA" India Roadshow, culminating in a wonderful event last evening, July 12th, at the National Sports Club of India (NSCI) in Mumbai. The ambitious 5-city tour kicked off on July 8th in the coastal town of Kovalam, before traveling through major coastal and urban diving hubs including Pondicherry, Bengaluru, and Goa. Moving under the unified vision of "One Ocean, One Voice, One Community," the roadshow was designed to bridge gaps, elevate safety standards, and establish strong strategic alliances across the region's rapidly growing scuba diving and marine tourism sectors. Uniting the Regional Dive Fraternity : The highly anticipated Mumbai gathering drew a good crowd of like-minded diving veterans, professional instructors, and passionate free divers. Supported locally by Mumbai’s prominent Orca Dive Club, the evening served as an open collaborative hub to discuss joint promotional campaigns, standardized safety practices, and eco-tourism initiatives. As a transnational non-profit organization, IODA has been actively working to bring regional dive professionals and marine stakeholders together into a singular, cohesive ecosystem. The India tour saw good participation from an elite delegation of dive professionals from the Maldives, alongside key representatives from the Indian, Sri Lankan, and Malaysian dive fraternities. The initiative is supported by and affiliated with some of the region's largest marine events and dive shows. Driving Collaborative Growth : Throughout the tour which partnered with local pioneers such as Bond Ocean Safari in Kovalam, Temple Adventures in Pondicherry, and Slow Tide in Goa, discussions centered on creating actionable frameworks for: Elevating Scuba Education & Safety: Standardizing high-level safety training across regional waters. Advancing Marine Conservation: Outlining collaborative community programs to foster ocean literacy and protect vulnerable marine ecosystems. Promoting Transnational Coastal Tourism: Spotlighting interconnected Indian Ocean destinations to global travelers. Looking Ahead: IODA Connect & Conclave The successful conclusion of the Indian chapter is just the beginning of a larger regional footprint. Building on this immense momentum, IODA has announced plans to host similar promotional gatherings and localized stakeholder meetups in the Maldives and Sri Lanka. These upcoming events will lay the critical groundwork for the signature IODA Connect and Conclave, a major regional industry event scheduled to take place later this year.

Jul 10, 2026

Hello IODA!” Roadshow Makes Splash in Bengaluru

The Indian Ocean Divers Association (IODA) successfully hosted the third stop of its highly anticipated 5-city "Hello IODA!" Roadshow in Bengaluru on July 10th. The gathering brought together a dynamic crowd of prominent dive center owners, freediving experts, scuba diving enthusiasts, and inland marine communities to shape the future of the regional diving ecosystem. Centering around the core vision of "One Ocean, One Voice, One Community," the Bengaluru event served as a critical hub for connecting urban diving hubs with coastal networks. Attendees engaged in strategic dialogues covering the rapid growth of the Indian scuba market, localized marine conservation initiatives, and the elevation of safety and educational standards across the subcontinent. The ambitious "Hello IODA!" roadshow initially kicked off in the coastal town of Kovalam before moving to Pondicherry, gathering incredible momentum along the way. Following the successful conclusion of the Bengaluru session, the roadshow is set to charge ahead to its final stops: 4th Stop: Goa Finale: Mumbai As a non-profit organization, IODA remains steadfast in its mission to champion and expand the regional diving footprint. By consistently conducting targeted conferences, regional forums, and anchoring presence at major dive exhibitions, IODA bridges the gap between local operators, independent dive clubs, and global industry veterans to foster sustainable coastal tourism and ocean literacy.