A Special Message from Chris — Exciting Things to Come

A Special Message from Chris — Exciting Things to Come — Dive for the Love of It

Chris Donnelly Jan 21, 2026

Dear Friends,

Now that 2025 has come to a close, I want to thank you for your extraordinary loyalty and for your continuing support. What we have accomplished—because of you—is nothing short of remarkable. When we pause for a moment and remember where we stood during COVID—first with no home, then working out of a tiny space in West Chester—and compare it to where we stand today, it becomes clear just how far we have traveled.

We are now the only PADI 5 Star Career Development Center within the nearest 22 states and one of just six in the country.

We are the only Pennsylvania-licensed private scuba school; Pennsylvania is the only state in the region with a state-approved private scuba school.

After a decade of pushing, planning, and persistence, we are officially a VA-approved facility for our veterans.

None of this happened by accident.

Every success, every milestone, every breakthrough reflects upon your dedication, your loyalty and your scuba passion. I cannot thank you enough for your patronage.

So what’s in store for 2026?

If you know me, you know I love to push the limits. I love setting new goals before the old ones are even completed. I thrive on the next big, hairy, audacious goal–the next challenge, the next depth to dive.

But 2026 will be different.

This year, I am asking all of us to do something that might feel unfamiliar…

Slow down.

Immerse.

Return to the beginning.

I want 2026 to be the year we enjoy what we have built. The year we remember what drew us to the ocean in the first place. The year we return to the reasons we fell in love with diving.

There will be no new programs submitted to anyone for approval.

No new buildings to pursue.

No new boats to launch. (Well, probably not. Maybe. Who knows? We will see…)

I just want us to be. To dive. To explore.

To get lost in the same waves that sparked our passion to explore underwater.

I want less stress, more soul. More fun, more saltwater.

My own return to the beginning

I plan to explore this theme, personally. My calendar for 2026 is intentionally filled with dives that bring me back to the coastlines and shipwrecks that shaped me. The early part of the year will take me to places like Roatán for Trimix, the S.S. United States in the Gulf and the once-in-a-lifetime wrecks of Bikini Atoll. The summer will take me back to North Carolina—where I cut my teeth as a diver, then a tech diver and an original “Dive Against the Brass and Rust Debris” Expert.

After that, I will ride a motorcycle from the shop to Ocean City, NJ, then trace the entire northeastern coastline—NJ to Montauk to Gloucester, ending in Bar Harbor—diving at every stop along the way.

I am calling it Bike and Dive.

Stay tuned on Blue Crew socials for live updates along our two-week adventure.

And then? Maybe the Doria. A family trip somewhere warm? Bonaire for Tec Camp. And of course, plenty of New Jersey wrecks throughout the season.

Why am I sharing this?

Because I want you to do the same and join us along the way. Check out our travel page and join us on any number of our 2026 adventures, whether it be Roatan, St. Lawrence Seaway, North Carolina, Bikini or Bonaire.

WE LOVE TO TRAVEL

Is there somewhere else that you want to explore?

Somewhere that lights your spark again?

Bring the idea to me. If we can gather a half-dozen divers, we will build a trip and send a dive professional with you.

I want 2026 to be the year we fill our souls again.

The year we dive for the reasons that made us want to submerge in the first place.

Shifting pressures

Across many industries, I see leaders missing the mark. Everything has become numbers, metrics, KPIs, spreadsheets, targets. The stresses that workplaces pile on us steal our quality of life.

As divers, let’s escape those workplace pressures and focus on our air pressure and water pressure.

We became divers to explore, to feel alive, to share something transformative with others.

So this year, let’s stop chasing the wrong numbers. Let’s chase the right ones:

How many dives did we do?

How many adventures did we go on?

How many times did we walk away feeling as if our soul was touched by the ocean—or by someone?

So, who is ready to dive?

I am.

More than ever.

I will be returning to my roots with a lot of Atlantic Ocean diving in 2026.

Who is coming with me?

Let’s go explore.