AZA 2025 Mid-Year Safety Summit
March 24 | Palm Springs, CA
The first day of the AZA Mid-Year Safety Summit offered a powerful series of sessions centered on aquatic safety, diving compliance, and inclusive program practices. The morning began with a hands-on Aquatic Safety Workshop, where zoo and aquarium professionals explored best practices, emerging technologies, and compliance strategies to enhance diver and guest safety.
Key sessions included a deep dive into AZA Accreditation Standards for diving, snorkeling, and emergency drills, with insights from experienced inspectors and institutional leaders, presented by George Peterson. Paul Dimeo then navigated the complex landscape of Occupational Diving Regulations, providing clarity on the distinctions between scientific and commercial standards and how they align with AZA requirements.
James Bonovich spotlighted Cutting-Edge Diving Technologies that are revolutionizing dive operations, improving efficiency, compliance, and guest engagement across departments. A thoughtful session on Equity and Inclusion in Dive Programs, presented by Ashley McCarthy, challenged participants to examine how bias impacts safety and access, and offered strategies to build more inclusive practices.The day closed with Arnold Postell providing a snapshot of past, current and future Dive Program Example Practices, giving attendees a chance to reflect on their own programs and take away actionable examples from peer institutions.
