Just to see what input people have I'll propose this scenario. I, living in north Georgia lack a really good place to go diving that's not terribly far away. Suppose I have access to a potentially great dive spot in the form of a quarry located near Lake Oconee and I-20 for those who are familiar. What would be involved in such an undertaking? Basically for starters... just a bare-bones, break-even operation. I realize the costs (most anyway) of setting up such a location. My questions are more of what people think the response would be to such a place (i know of no such dive locations in georgia) and what other costs would be involved. Also, as far as having a dive shop on site... what would be the procedures in setting up a shop? This is all hypothetical. At least for the time being. It sure would be nice to be able to dive several times a week though and worth the effort.
Opening a dive site/shop...
- Thread starter jamiei
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Your post is best answered by someone who's been there and done that. I will say this about my own personal observation ... Mike is the rare shop owner who actually dives. Out of the dozens of shops I hang around in my area not a single owner dives regularly. In the rare case where the owner has help they may dive for teaching purposes - but most actually hold out for the infrequent trip to a fantastic destination - which is pretty much the same thing as being landlocked waiting for vacation opportunities.
My point is opening AND successfully operating a shop has an adverse effect on your opportunities to get wet for pleasure. In my observation anyway.
My point is opening AND successfully operating a shop has an adverse effect on your opportunities to get wet for pleasure. In my observation anyway.
XtremeSea1
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The best advice I could give is...
Don't think of it as opening a dive shop. Just a guess but I'd bet you're passionate about the sport. This passion could cloud your judgement. Treat it as a business and don't become emotionally attached to the idea. You'll know if it's a good idea after you do the math.
Don't think of it as opening a dive shop. Just a guess but I'd bet you're passionate about the sport. This passion could cloud your judgement. Treat it as a business and don't become emotionally attached to the idea. You'll know if it's a good idea after you do the math.
I would think that marketing would be a biggee.
Buy it...incorporate and put it in the name of the corporation..contact dive shops and enter into agreements for them to use it for training. Be open a few days a week. Write off everything. Get good insurance. Have a good lawyer to help you set up.
I know the guy who owns Gilboa pretty well. He is working long hours and investing big big money. He is also doing a real big business.
He is also opening a shop on the property. This is a touch situation because a huge percentage of his divers are students brought there by there instructor. Having some things available is a convenience but if it was a full service shop (competition) why would anyone bring their students there.
There is a saying that says to make a small fortune in the dive business you must start with a large one. In reality it's is worse than that.
From what I have seen if you have a GOOD dive site and run it well you can keep the place full. Under those conditions it is even possible to make money selling air which is a big loss for a small shop away from water. Gilboa just ordered a 140ish cu ft/min compressor.
DiverBuoy is right if you like diving be careful about going into it for a business. Last year I was ready to give it up because I was never diving except to teach. Now I take at least one weekend a month to cave dive no matter how many students I have.
He is also opening a shop on the property. This is a touch situation because a huge percentage of his divers are students brought there by there instructor. Having some things available is a convenience but if it was a full service shop (competition) why would anyone bring their students there.
There is a saying that says to make a small fortune in the dive business you must start with a large one. In reality it's is worse than that.
From what I have seen if you have a GOOD dive site and run it well you can keep the place full. Under those conditions it is even possible to make money selling air which is a big loss for a small shop away from water. Gilboa just ordered a 140ish cu ft/min compressor.
DiverBuoy is right if you like diving be careful about going into it for a business. Last year I was ready to give it up because I was never diving except to teach. Now I take at least one weekend a month to cave dive no matter how many students I have.
Mike I don't know how anybody makes a living in the dive business. Especially inland from oceans and in the north.
Maybe a full service [water, equiptment, training, and repair] will generate enough cash for a few people, but not very many.
If I had a quarry big enough to dive I'd make it available for students [as I said earlier] stock it with fish and let people fish the remainder of the time and stick a couple of condos up. Don't fill it with junk, landscape the hell out of it and hope to sell out in a few years.
Mike Williams (the owner of Gilboa is making a living). The same is true fo Tina Haigh (the owver of Haigh Quarry) Both places sometimes have hundreds of divers on a Sat. or Sun. Both sell gas and food. Gilboa has camping and bunk houses. Haigh charges $20.00 per day to dive. Gilboa is $10 to dive $6 to camp and $10 for the bunk house. These places have some volume to work with.
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