Benchmarking Dive Resorts: Business Profile of Scuba Diving Resorts

TL;DR Overview

The key findings offer essential benchmarks for industry professionals, detailing resort operational profiles, staffing, and service offerings.

The typical surveyed dive resort is large, employing an average of 7.3 Dive Instructors and 4.9 Divemasters or equivalent staff members. In terms of offerings, all surveyed resorts universally provide core services, including Try Scuba, Recreational Scuba Diving, Gear Rental/Loan, Air Fills, and Nitrox Fills up to 40%. Beyond entry-level and standard diving, technical diving services are common, with 63% of resorts offering Sidemount Diving and 45% offering Tech Diving (excluding sidemount and rebreather), though only 18% offer Rebreather Diving.

For dive shops and independent instructors, understanding resort booking channels and associated costs is critical.

Dive resorts heavily prioritize Direct-to-Consumer sales, which account for 67% of total revenues (51% from individuals and 16% from groups). Surprisingly, less than 10% (9%) of resort bookings are generated through dive centers.

When resorts rely on trade partners, commissions are substantial: Travel Wholesalers receive the highest average commission (30%), while bookings generated by dive centers command an average commission of 20%. Importantly, surveyed dive resorts reported a very low level of satisfaction with the major agency-affiliated sales platforms, specifically PADI Travel and LiveAboard.com (SSI).