Dive Shop Closures, Certification Downturns & A Call to Action

Benjamin Hadfield   Oct 21, 2025

Dive Shop Closures, Certification Downturns & A Call to Action

Why Your Local Dive Shop Matters Now More Than Ever

The Reality of Dive Shop Closures

The dive industry in the U.S. is facing challenging headwinds. Many local dive shops are closing their doors, reducing access to training, fills, local service and community. As one commentator put it: “Many dive shops, struggling with financial pressures and competition from online retailers, have closed their doors in recent years.” insidescuba.online+2The Dive Place Online+2

According to the Dive Industry Association, Inc., there have been over 4,000 dive stores that have opened at some point in U.S. history — yet the current count (open and active) is approximately 900. Dive Industry Association, Inc. That suggests a huge attrition of shops over time.

Industry-survey data shows that 47% of U.S. dive centers reported sales growth, while 39% reported declines in the most recent year. businessofdiving.com Meanwhile the operational environment is tough: rising overhead, seasonal business dips, competition from online sales and big-box stores affect the small independent dive shop heavily.

Clearly, when we say “your local dive shop” we’re talking about a business that is under more pressure than ever — and yet, it remains vital.

Certification Trends: Entry-Level Decline, Younger Demographics Needed

If fewer new divers are entering the sport, shops have fewer “newbies” to convert and fewer gear sales from that pipeline. The data illustrate this: for example, the number of entry-level (Open Water) certifications in the U.S. has fallen from 198,000 in 2001 to 128,000 in 2023. businessofdiving.com+1 The average dive center in the U.S. issued ~154 entry-level certifications in 2022, but that dropped to ~128 in 2023. businessofdiving.com

These are meaningful declines. They show that the “new diver” market is shrinking or at least harder to reach. Yet, ironically, the global dive training/ certification market is predicted to grow (e.g., global market value reaching USD 4.15 billion in 2024) with a CAGR of ~7.2% through to 2033. Dataintelo+1 The key is: the growth is global and often in regions or segments where local dive shops don’t capture it — so the U.S. local shop must strategically pivot.

Another interesting piece: despite proximity to water, states like Florida (which many assume would lead) have fewer certifications per million citizens compared to land-locked states like Utah (1,180 certs/million) and Colorado (729/million) where Florida is ~715/million. businessofdiving.com This tells us that simply being in a coastal area isn’t enough — making diving accessible, visible, and socially compelling is crucial.

Younger Demographic Shift & The Opportunity

One bright spot: there is a shift underway toward younger divers, and adventure tourism and experiential sports are increasingly appealing to younger age-groups. The global certification market forecast anticipates growth driven by younger “adventure seekers”. Amra and Elma LLC+1

But: the challenge remains that this younger demographic often engages online, through experiences, social media and other channels — and may need more encouragement to get off screen and into the water. If your local dive shop can capture that transition (screen → dive), it would be a major role in the sport’s future.

Gratitude, Community & Why We’re Different

At Stuart Scuba, we are truly grateful to our dive community. In a time when many shops are closing and new diver certification is declining, we’re fortunate to be growing — and we know that growth is thanks to you.

We’re grateful for:

• Every tank fill that comes through our doors — your support keeps our air-compressors running and the shop alive.
   

• Every certification you complete, whether Open Water, Advanced or Tech — because it means you trust us with your journey, and it strengthens the local dive ecosystem.
   

• Every conversation, story, laughter, 2 tank dive or event — because diving is more than gear and gas; it’s about community, connection and shared wonder.
   

• Every time you bring a friend, post a positive experience, or buy your gear locally — because these acts reinforce that local dive shops matter.
   

How Divers Can Help Keep Their Local Dive Shops Going

Your local dive shop isn’t just a business — it’s a lifeline for the sport we love. Every diver has the power to make a real difference in keeping these shops healthy and thriving. Here’s how you can help:

1. Get Your Fills and Service Locally

Tank fills, Nitrox, and gear servicing are the heartbeat of every dive shop. When you bring your cylinders in or get your reg inspected locally, you’re not just maintaining your gear — you’re keeping skilled technicians employed and compressors running.

2. Take Courses and Specialty Training

Whether it’s Advanced Open Water, Rescue Diver, or a new specialty like Nitrox or Photography — taking classes through your local shop helps instructors stay active and divers stay learning. Training is what keeps a dive community vibrant and safe.

3. Shop Local Whenever Possible

Yes, you can buy a mask or dive computer online. But when you buy through your local dive shop, your dollars go right back into the diving community that keeps the sport alive — your instructors, your service technicians, your fellow divers.

And here’s something many people don’t realize: in most cases — and almost always with major manufacturers like Garmin, Shearwater, Atomic, Zeagle, Oceanic, Cressi, and many more — prices are set by the manufacturer using what’s called a MAP (Minimum Advertised Price). That means the cost of your dive computer, regulator, or BCD will be the same price at your local shop as it is online.

So why order it from a faceless website when you can:

• Get it immediately — no waiting, no shipping delays, no lost packages.
   

• Avoid paying for shipping, which often cancels out any imagined “deal.”
   

• Have a place for service, education, and warranty support — right in your community.
   

• Get expert advice and fitting help from people who dive where you dive and know what actually works in your conditions.
   

Buying locally doesn’t just support your shop — it supports you. Because when your dive computer needs a firmware update, your BCD needs servicing, or your mask strap breaks before a trip, your local dive shop will be there to get you back in the water.

Shopping local means investing in the same people who invest in you every time you walk through the door.

 

4. Join Shop Dives and Social Events

Dive shops thrive on participation. Attend a “Free Tank Fill Friday,” join a local reef cleanup, or come to a social night. You’ll meet new buddies, swap stories, and build the connections that make diving so much more than a solo sport.

5. Spread Positivity and Gratitude

The dive world needs less negativity and more encouragement. Post photos, celebrate others’ accomplishments, thank your instructors, and share your good experiences online. Positivity inspires others to dive — and that ripple effect helps the whole industry.

6. Leave Reviews and Tell Your Friends

A short Google or Facebook review can be worth its weight in gold. If you had a great experience, share it! Word of mouth brings new divers through the door — especially younger people looking for something real and exciting.

7. Bring Someone New Into Diving

Nothing strengthens a dive community like growth. Invite a friend to a Discover Scuba class, or gift an experience to a teen or family member. You might just introduce them to a lifelong passion — and your local shop will thank you.

Why Your Local Dive Shop Matters to You

Your local dive shop is more than a storefront — it’s the anchor of your underwater life. It’s where you got certified, where your gear was tuned before that first big trip, where you met your dive buddies, and where the ocean first started to feel like home.

A Place of Connection

It’s where divers gather to share stories, plan trips, laugh about near-misses, and celebrate that perfect dive. It’s the one place where everyone “gets it” — the love of bubbles, the peace of descent, the joy of seeing something wild and alive under the surface.

A Hub for Learning and Growth

Dive shops are where experience is passed down. New divers learn from seasoned ones. Old-school divers get inspired by fresh enthusiasm. It’s a cycle that keeps our community alive and growing.

A Center of Trust and Safety

When you take a class or have your gear serviced locally, you’re placing your safety in hands you can shake. You know your instructor, your tech, your shop owner — they’re not a faceless brand, they’re part of your dive family.

A Catalyst for Adventure and Conservation

Your local shop is the bridge to travel, exploration, and ocean stewardship. They’re the ones who organize reef cleanups, lead dive trips, and spread awareness about marine life and conservation.

A Reminder of Why We Dive

In an age of screens and speed, your dive shop brings you back to something authentic — saltwater, sunlight, and shared excitement. It’s a reminder that we dive not just to escape the world above, but to reconnect with something deeper below.

 

In Closing: Let’s Be Positive & Forward-Looking

The dive industry has its challenges. Shops are closing. Entry-level certifications are down. The younger generation may still be hooked on screens and not yet underwater. But we’re not discouraged. Far from it. We’re energized. Because we believe in the power of what we do — getting people into the ocean, exploring, learning, connecting.

To our divers: thank you. Your loyalty, your enthusiasm, your willingness to bring others along matters. You’re supporting Stuart Scuba — but you’re also supporting the broader dive community.

To younger potential divers: we see you. We hear your desire for adventure, your love for experience, your drive for connection and purpose. Dive is one of the most immersive, transformative ways to explore the planet and yourself. We’d love to get you in the water.

To fellow dive shops and industry: we’re all in this together. When one shop thrives, the whole ecosystem grows. Let’s share ideas, lift each other up, and keep the positivity flowing — because diving is too wonderful to be dragged down by negativity.

Let’s keep the local dive shop alive. Let’s get more divers underwater. Let’s forge the next generation.

Thank you for being part of this journey.