Open Water Diver & Dive Against Debris eLearning Bundle
Advanced Open Water & Enriched Air eLearning Bundle
Emergency First Response
FREE – Introduction to Scuba Diving Online
Marine Debris
Shark & Ray Protection
Adopt The Blue
Open a PADI Dive Center or Resort
Ever consider running your own business and enjoying the unique lifestyle of a PADI dive shop or resort owner? Are you ready to:
- Create your dream job?
- Love what you do and be your own boss?
- Get paid to scuba dive and help others transform their lives?
- Hear people “ooh” and “ahh” when you tell them what you do for a living?
If you answered yes to any of these, then you’re ready to delve deeper into the world of self-employment by opening your own dive shop. A PADI Dive Center or Resort is the heart of the scuba diving industry. As a dive shop owner you’ll have the privilege and responsibility of introducing your community to the wonderful world of scuba diving and aquatic conservation.
How to Start Your Own Scuba Business
Starting your own business can be exciting and challenging. It takes realistic business skills to succeed, especially in today’s market, which has far more sophisticated competition and customers than ever before.
Tips for getting started
- Learn about powerful PADI benefits, including business training programs for dive center owners and managers.
- Get PADI’s: Professional Reference Collection DVD and the read The Business of Diving – A Guide to Success in the Recreational Dive Industry. This product also includes the book – Children and Scuba Diving: A Resource Guide for Instructors and Parents and a collection of key articles called – The Best of The Undersea Journal, which provide more insight into the dive business. Get this DVD through your local PADI Regional Headquarters.
- Research what it takes to start a business. In many countries, banking service providers will offer start-up advice for small businesses, as a way of promoting their business account packages. This can be particularly helpful in putting together your business plan. Take advantage of resources such as the US Small Business Administration – www.sba.gov
- Consider buying an existing dive shop versus starting a new scuba diving business. If you’re a PADI Member, check out the Classified Ads on the PADI Pros’ Site.
- Create a business plan that includes strategies for facilities you plan to use, instructional operations and processes you need, marketing and public relations, understanding your local market and demographics, investment costs and income projections.
- View PADI statistics.
- Give yourself a good timeline to open your dive shop.
- Get going! Contact the PADI Retail and Resort Association at your local PADI Regional Headquarters. Ask for the PADI Dive Center and Resort standards. Also check out the PADI dive shop member levels.