Benchmarking & Worldwide Trends in Certifications & Courses in The Scuba Diving Industry at All Levels by Category & Region
Market Reports from DIVE PROFESSIONALS & Dive TRAINING AGENCIES.
Recreational & technical scuba diving, freediving, swimming & first aid certification courses as reported by training agencies, dive centers, dive clubs & dive instructors.
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. Subscribe to stay in the know.
You may consult the number of survey respondents per business category and geographical region here.
Trends in The Number of Certification Courses at All Levels in The Dive Industry
In this dive industry market report, we look at all levels of training courses, including recreational scuba diving, tech diving, freediving, and oxygen provider.
- First, we will summarize worldwide results & forecasts from dive training agencies.
- Then, we will look at certification results and forecasts from dive instructors, dive centers, schools, and clubs.
In both cases, we will segment the report by category of certification and by region.
As reference points, we also include 2022 results and 2023 forecasts from last year’s SOTI market study.
1) Certification Trends Reported by SCUBA DIVING TRAINING AGENCIES
Sales Revenues of Dive Training Agencies
The participating dive training agencies reported the following about their 2023 revenues over 2022:
- 24% reported a decrease (between -5% and -15%)
- 39% had flat revenues (+/- 5%)
- 37% reported an increase (between +5% and +15%)
Strangely enough, 100% of dive training agencies are forecasting sales growth between +5% and +15% for 2024.
Profitability of Dive Training Agencies
The participating dive training agencies reported the following about their 2023 profitability over 2022:
- 29% had flat profits (+/- 5%)
- 45% reported an increase (between +5% and +15%)
- 26% reported a substantial increase (+15% & more)
No dive training agency reported a decline in profitability for 2023.
For 2024, dive training agencies are forecasting their profits as follows:
- 19% expect flat profits (+/- 5%)
- 81% expect growth in profits between +5% and +15%
1.1) Dive Training Agencies – Certification Courses By CATEGORY
Trends in The Worldwide Number of Certifications by CATEGORY as Reported & Forecasted by Dive TRAINING AGENCIES
Results obtained by dive training agencies in 2023 were much lower than what they had forecasted at the beginning of the year.
For instance, 76% of dive training agencies were expecting an increase in the total number of certifications in 2023, while only 39% of them actually experienced growth.
The post-pandemic recovery did not materialize the way the dive industry had hoped, especially in the Asia-Pacific region, as we will see in the next section.
Yet, dive training agencies are doubling down, with even more of them (81%) forecasting growth for 2024.
Entry-Level Open-Water Certifications
At the open water level, the results were disappointing. While 71% of surveyed dive training agencies were forecasting growth for 2023, and the rest were expecting a flat year, the results were quite sobering. The number of entry-level certifications declined for 32% of dive training agencies, and only 7% of them reported growth in 2023.
Since our dive industry business model is still highly tied to new divers coming in, a disappointing lack of growth in entry-level certifications is cause for concern. As we discussed numerous times on Scubanomics, we urgently need to change our business model to make a living with the diving, not with the teaching of diving and even less with the sales of dive gear.
Tech Diving Certifications
For scuba diving training agencies, sidemount had a stellar year, and rebreather diving kept growing, while the rest of tech diving was so-so.
Divemaster & Scuba Diving Instructor Courses
Many dive professionals dropped out of the industry during the pandemic, and a large percentage of them did not come back. It explains why dive training agencies were hoping for significant growth on that front in 2023, with 33% forecasting an increase and 59% a significant increase. Unfortunately, it seems like it was a forecast based on wishful thinking.
In reality, only 30% of dive training agencies reported an increase in dive professional certifications in 2023, while 26% of them reported a decrease.
There are numerous dive centers currently recruiting. Of course, the low level of pay in the dive industry during a period of high inflation does not make it easy to fill a staff roster.
Discover Scuba Diving
The ‘try scuba’ and ‘discover scuba diving’ type of experiences are tied to tourism. There were some good signs on that front in 2023, with 32% of the dive training agencies reporting growth while the others reported a flat number of participants. All dive training agencies are forecasting growth on that front in 2024.
It remains hard to make a reliable forecast on tourism with political instability and wars around the world on top of inflation and high-interest rates.
The percentages in the graphs below indicate how many survey respondents reported or forecasted a decrease, flat, or increase in the number of certifications.
Green columns represent actual results (2022 & 2023), while orange-brown represents the forecasts (2023 & 2024). Both columns for 2023 are wrapped in a black dotted line to make it easier to compare the 2023 forecast to the actual 2023 results.
Last year, the number of answers for swim lessons was too low for us to report on them, which is why we only have 2023 results and 2024 forecast for swim lessons.
Later on, below, we will look at the same categories of courses, but this time, as reported by dive professionals.
For now, let’s have a look at trends in the number of certifications by geographic region, as reported by dive training agencies.
1.2) Dive Training Agencies – Certification Courses By REGION
Trends in The Worldwide Number of Scuba Diving Certifications by REGION as Reported & Forecasted by Dive TRAINING AGENCIES
As mentioned above, the recovery in the Asia-Pacific region fell short of expectations in 2023.
For instance, in China, 100% of surveyed dive training agencies expected an increase or significant increase in the number of certifications in 2023. Unfortunately, the results were quite the opposite. 9% of them reported a significant decline, and 21% a decline, while the others reported a flat number of certifications.
The traditional, mature scuba diving markets are the ones that generated growth in certifications in 2023: USA, South America, and Western Europe.
With growth in the USA, it is a bit puzzling to notice a decline in the neighboring countries of Canada and Mexico.
Yet, optimism continues to be in the air. Dive training agencies are forecasting growth in every single market for 2024 and not a single market with a decline. Is it wishful thinking?
The percentages in the graphs below indicate how many survey respondents reported or forecasted a decrease, flat, or increase in the number of certifications.
Green columns represent actual results (2022 & 2023), while orange-brown represents the forecasts (2023 & 2024). Both columns for 2023 are wrapped in a black dotted line to make it easier to compare the 2023 forecast to the actual 2023 results.
2) Certification Trends Reported by DIVE PROFESSIONALS
On top of surveying dive training agencies for scuba diving certification courses, we also surveyed dive centers, dive resorts, dive clubs, dive schools, and independent instructors.
Unfortunately, we can only report on the USA and Western Europe markets because the sample size was too small in other regions. We are working on fixing this issue for the 2025 survey – with your help!
You can help us provide you with better dive industry market reports by participating in our surveys and inviting your colleagues to do so.
Please subscribe and invite your colleagues to participate in our ongoing dive industry market surveys.
For now, if you want numbers for other regions besides the USA and Western Europe, you have those reported by dive training agencies (above) for all regions.
2.1) Trends in The Number of Certifications as Reported & Forecasted by Dive Centers, Resorts, Clubs & Independent Instructors in The USA
In the USA, in 2023, there was growth in every category of courses, which is consistent with what training agencies reported (above). 2023 was a better year for the dive industry in the USA than in many other regions.
The categories of courses that outperformed the 2023 forecast were:
- sidemount diving
- rebreathers
- freediving
- swimming
- oxygen provider
- dive professional-level courses
Dive training professionals in the USA are optimistic about 2024, with 63% of them forecasting growth in their training revenues.
The categories of courses for which dive professionals in the USA are particularly optimistic for 2024 are as follows. The percentage is the sum of those forecasting an increase or a substantial increase.
- 72%: Freediving
- 64%: Sidemount
- 64%: Pro-level Courses (Divemasters & Instructors)
- 63%: Open Water (Entry-Level)
The percentages in the graphs below indicate how many survey respondents reported or forecasted a decrease, flat, or increase in the number of certifications.
Green columns represent actual results (2022 & 2023), while orange-brown represents the forecasts (2023 & 2024). Both columns for 2023 are wrapped in a black dotted line to make it easier to compare the 2023 forecast to the 2023 results.
2.2) Trends in The Number of Certifications as Reported & Forecasted by Dive Centers, Resorts, Clubs & Independent Instructors in WESTERN EUROPE
In Western Europe, in 2023, there was growth in every category of courses except for entry-level open-water certifications: 19% of the respondents in Western Europe reported an increase in the number of open-water certs, while 32% reported a decrease.
The categories of courses that outperformed the forecast for 2023 in Western Europe were:
- sidemount diving
- rebreathers
- cave diving
- freediving
- swimming
Dive training professionals in Western Europe are not as optimistic about 2024 as their American colleagues, with 54% of Western Europeans forecasting growth in their training revenues (63% in the USA). Furthermore, the only category of courses for which Western European dive professionals are really optimistic about is entry-level open water certs with 62% of them forecasting an increase or a significant increase.
The percentages in the graphs below indicate how many survey respondents reported or forecasted a decrease, flat, or increase in the number of certifications.
Green columns represent actual results (2022 & 2023), while orange-brown represents the forecasts (2023 & 2024). Both columns for 2023 are wrapped by a black dotted line to make it easier to compare the 2023 forecast to the 2023 results.
There are eight scuba diving industry market reports prepared 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.