Diving Tourism Market Report 2024

This Diving Tourism industry report covers market characteristics, size and growth, segmentation, regional and country breakdowns, competitive landscape, market shares, trends and strategies for this market. It traces the market’s historic and forecast market growth by geography.

The diving tourism market size has grown rapidly in recent years. It will grow from $3.67 billion in 2023 to $4.06 billion in 2024 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.8%. The growth during the historic period can be attributed to higher disposable incomes, a growing interest in adventure tourism, increased awareness of marine conservation, the development of dive training programs, and enhanced travel infrastructure.

The diving tourism market size is expected to see rapid growth in the next few years. It will grow to $6.19 billion in 2028 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.1%. The growth expected in the forecast period can be attributed to the expansion of eco-friendly diving practices, the rise of virtual reality dive experiences, the emergence of niche underwater adventure tourism, the impact of marine conservation policies, and improved global connectivity that makes travel easier. Key trends anticipated include increased dive tourism in emerging markets, a higher demand for remote and unexplored dive sites, growth in underwater cultural heritage tourism, a surge in sustainable diving initiatives, and the influence of social media in promoting unique dive destinations.

The growing popularity of water sports activities is anticipated to drive the expansion of the diving tourism market. Water sports activities include a range of recreational and competitive pursuits conducted on or in water, such as surfing, sailing, boating, kayaking, and water skiing. The increasing appeal of these activities is driven by rising adventure-seeking trends, improved access to aquatic destinations, and heightened awareness of fitness and wellness benefits. Diving tourism complements water sports by offering specialized underwater experiences that attract enthusiasts, broaden adventure options, and support marine environment conservation and sustainable management. For example, in October 2021, a report from the New York State Parks, managed by the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP), a US-based state agency, revealed that the number of registered recreational boats in New York increased by 6,051, reaching 439,508 in 2021, with 431,229 registered specifically for recreational use. Consequently, the rising interest in water sports activities is expected to boost the diving tourism market.

Major players in the diving tourism market are focusing on strategic investments and brand expansion to attract more tourists, promote sustainable practices, and enhance the long-term appeal and health of diving tourism destinations. These initiatives aim to offer exceptional underwater experiences while advancing sustainability and marine conservation efforts. For instance, in February 2023, Red Sea Global (RSG), a Saudi Arabia-based real estate development firm, introduced two new brands, WAMA and Galaxea, to provide remarkable guest experiences at RSG destinations. The WAMA brand focuses on water sports such as stand-up paddleboarding and sailing, utilizing the region's natural beauty. The Galaxea brand, named after a local coral species, offers diving experiences that highlight the area's marine biodiversity, including endangered species and ancient coral formations. Both brands emphasize sustainable tourism practices, with Galaxea collaborating with the Saudi Water Sports and Diving Federation and PADI International to maintain high standards in diving facilities.

In April 2024, Ocean First, a US-based scuba diving company, acquired Weaver’s Dive & Travel Center for an undisclosed sum. This acquisition allows Ocean First to enhance its wholesale travel services and expand its youth science camps, research initiatives, and K-12 marine science education programs. Weaver’s Dive & Travel Center, also based in the US, specializes in customized, exotic dive adventures and services.

Major companies operating in the diving tourism market are PADI Travel Ltd, Aggressor Adventures LLC, Emperor Divers, Equator Diving, Worldwide Dive and Sail International Ltd, Pro Dive International, PT. AquaMarine Diving - Bali, Blue O Two Limited, Sea Bees Diving, Regaldive, Divebooker.com, Scuba Junkie, Caradonna Dive Adventures Inc., Aquatic Adventures Inc., Bluewater Travel Inc., Deep Blue Adventures Inc., Dive Butler International Limited, LiveAboard.com, Undersea Hunter Group, Dive The World International Co. Ltd., Explorer Ventures Liveaboard Fleet, Liveaboard Adventures, Nautilus Liveaboards, Scuba Travel, Liquid Diving Adventures.

Europe was the largest region in the diving tourism market in 2023. The regions covered in the diving tourism market report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa.

The countries covered in the diving tourism market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

Diving tourism involves travel and leisure activities centered around scuba diving and underwater exploration, where individuals or groups visit various dive sites to experience marine life and underwater environments. It appeals to those interested in underwater adventures and marine conservation. While diving tourism supports local economies, it also requires careful management to protect delicate ecosystems.

The main types of diving tourism include deep diving, drift diving, wreck diving, and free diving. Deep diving entails exploring underwater environments at significant depths beyond typical recreational limits, usually requiring advanced training and specialized equipment. Tourists vary by type, including both domestic and international visitors across different age groups, such as 10 to 20, 20 to 30, 30 to 40, and 40 and above. It caters to different applications, including professional divers, recreational divers, and new divers, and serves various end users such as solo travelers, friends, couples, and families.

The diving tourism market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides diving tourism market statistics, including diving tourism industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a diving tourism market share, detailed diving tourism market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the diving tourism industry. This diving tourism market research report delivers a complete perspective on everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenarios of the industry.

The diving tourism market includes revenues earned by entities by provide services such as guided dive tours, dive training and certification, liveaboard diving, and marine conservation tours. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. Only goods and services traded between entities or sold to end consumers are included.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD, unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.


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