The dive industry is suffering horribly right now. I was just talking to the PSI Rep yesterday (PSI=major southeastern distributor) and he repeated what we have heard from everyone, the entire dive industry is hurting. It's not just sales but traffic. Student enrollment is WAY down.
It's caused by a mixture of the economic slump we are currently in and the fact that people are still afraid to travel.
It's caused by a mixture of the economic slump we are currently in and the fact that people are still afraid to travel.
wexwind once bubbled...
Any feedback on the state of the industry and whether or not this is a good time to buy into a retail shop / charter boat business? What are some recent industry trends? Has 9/11 helped or hindered the industry domestically in the US? Are there profits to be made or only lost?
I'm looking into buying a dive shop in a popular california dive destination spot. Location is good, they have a 40' boat and pool facility. Revenues have dropped consistently and significantly over the last couple years. Broker says this is due to owner/manager involvement issues. Seems like a pretty good price. The shop's been in business for 13 years. I used to manage/work in a dive shop in college (ten years ago) and am a PADI DM, however, have been out of the diving loop for some time.
Any advice/feedback/suggestions is welcome!
Thanks,
L