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.
Considering the extraordinary amount of time this scuba market study requires (by us and by dive industry professionals answering the survey), we have opted to conduct this study once every 2 years instead of annually. Subscribe to be kept in the loop.
This post is part of our Dive Industry Compass series by the Business of Diving Institute and Darcy Kieran, author of:
Contents on This Page
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 examined the 2023 results for dive certifications, scuba diving equipment sales, and dive travel, comparing them to the prior year. We also surveyed expectations and forecasts for 2024.
We extend a special thank you to all of you who participated in this effort to help the dive industry with more readily available market data.
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 examine all levels of training courses, including recreational scuba diving, technical diving, freediving, and oxygen provider training.
- 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 certification category and 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% or 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 forecasted growth for 2023, and the rest expected 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 entering the market, a disappointing lack of growth in entry-level certifications is cause for concern. As we have discussed numerous times on Scubanomics, we urgently need to change our business model to make a living from the experience of diving, rather than from teaching diving, or even less from selling dive gear.
Tech Diving Certifications
For scuba diving training agencies, sidemount had a stellar year, while rebreather diving continued to grow, and the rest of technical diving was mixed.
Divemaster & Scuba Diving Instructor Courses
Many dive professionals left the industry during the pandemic, and a significant percentage of them did not return. 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 appears to have been 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’ types 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 challenging to make a reliable forecast for tourism due to political instability and wars around the world, alongside inflation and high interest rates.
The percentages in the graphs below indicate the number of survey respondents who 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 framed by a black dotted line to facilitate comparison between the 2023 forecast and 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 examine 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: the 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 remains in the air. Dive training agencies are forecasting growth in every single market for 2024, with not a single market expected to decline. Is it wishful thinking?
The percentages in the graphs below indicate the number of survey respondents who 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 framed by a black dotted line to facilitate comparison between the 2023 forecast and the actual 2023 results.
2) Certification Trends Reported by DIVE PROFESSIONALS
In addition to 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 next edition of this dive industry market 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, growth was observed in every category of courses, 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 the number of survey respondents who 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 framed by a black dotted line to facilitate comparison between the 2023 forecast and the actual 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 respondents in Western Europe reported an increase in the number of open-water certifications, 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 particularly optimistic is entry-level open-water certifications, with 62% of them forecasting an increase or a significant increase.
The percentages in the graphs below indicate the number of survey respondents who 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 framed by a black dotted line to facilitate comparison between the 2023 forecast and the actual 2023 results.
Other Available Information About Scuba Certifications and Courses
- Open Water Scuba Diving Certification Numbers & U.S. Market Statistics
- Number of Dive Certifications by Dive Centers & Instructors in Europe & USA by Category
You may also be interested in our annual survey, which asks scuba divers and dive instructors to recommend the dive training agencies they trust.
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!”
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