Benchmarking Scuba Diving Resorts: 2024 Forecast & 2023 Revenues, Profits & Business Activity Profile of Dive Resorts
How are dive resorts trending? What products and services do they offer? How much commission do they pay? How many staff do they have? And more!
This 2024 dive industry market report is part of a series of eight scuba diving industry market reports from the annual State of The Dive Industry survey.
In early 2024, the Business of Diving Institute conducted the second annual State Of The Industry (SOTI) survey of the dive industry in collaboration with InDEPTH Magazine. We looked at 2023 results for dive certifications, scuba diving equipment sales, and dive travel compared to the prior year. We also surveyed expectations and forecasts for 2024.
We extend a special thank you to all those of you who participated in this effort to help the dive industry with more readily available market data. Considering the positive response and extensive participation, we intend to make it an annual study to be executed in January.
Find a complete list of 8 market reports from the State of The Dive Industry 2023 study here and subscribe to stay in the know.
Benchmarking Dive Resorts
As part of the State of The Dive Industry (SOTI) survey, we asked dive resort owners and managers to answer a few questions on the size of their dive operations and the mix of products and services they sell.
79% of respondents in the dive resort category were business owners or co-owners, while 21% were managers. They all worked full-time in the dive resort.
Survey respondents operated dive resorts in the following regions:
- 56% South Pacific, Indo-Pacific & Other Tropical Asia-Pacific Region
- 37% Mexico, Central America, Caribbean & Tropical Atlantic
- 7% Western Europe
It’s unfortunate that we didn’t get any participation from dive resorts in Egypt. Hopefully, we will next year – with your help!
You may consult the number of respondents per business category and geographic region here.
Participating in our surveys and inviting your colleagues to do so can help us provide you with better dive industry market reports.
Please subscribe and invite your colleagues to participate in our ongoing dive industry market surveys.
Sales Revenues & Profitability of Dive Resorts
Because we didn’t get enough participation from dive resorts during our first State of the Dive Industry survey last year, we can only report on 2023 results and 2024 forecasts.
Dive resorts experienced a wide range of sales results.
- 38% of dive resorts reported sales decline, while 41% had growth in revenues in 2023.
Similarly, trends in profits also varied greatly between dive resorts.
- 38% of dive resorts reported a decline in profits, while 36% increased profits in 2023.
This variance between dive resorts was to be expected since tourism trends differ greatly between geographic regions.
Once more dive resorts participate in the annual State of the Dive Industry survey, we will be able to analyze dive resorts by geographic market.
The percentages in the graphs below indicate how many survey respondents reported or forecasted a decrease, flat, or increase in revenues or profits.
Benchmarking Scuba Diving Resorts
Dive resorts were asked to identify products and services they offer to their clientele.
What percentage of your revenues come from each of the following sales channels?
Organizing dive trips can be a significant source of profits for dive shops in urban areas. Therefore, it is surprising that less than 10% of dive resort bookings are done through dive centers.
On average, what percentage of your revenues do you give for bookings in each of the following channels (typically for commissions or comp rooms)?
Please rate your level of satisfaction with the following sales channels.
Overall, the surveyed dive resorts’ level of satisfaction with PADI Travel and LiveAboard.com (SSI) is very low.
How many employees/staff members are part of your operations in each of the following categories?
How many dive professionals are part of your operations in each of the following categories?
We produced eight scuba diving industry market reports from the results of the State of The Industry (SOTI) survey of the dive industry.
The State of The Dive Industry annual market study is part of a series of scuba diving industry surveys by the Business of Diving Institute in collaboration with InDEPTH Magazine with support from DAN Europe, Shearwater, GUE, and most importantly, YOU!
Besides participating in the surveys, please let us know if you would like to add your name to the official list of “supporters who are supporting the industry!”
You can help the dive industry by taking part in ongoing surveys.
Results from our past scuba diving market studies are also available here.
Other Scuba Diving Industry Resources:
Check our dive industry books.