ZuBlu
ZuBlu is a UK-based dive travel agency and online booking platform founded in 2017, aggregating 700-800+ handpicked dive resorts, liveaboards, and charter yachts across 100+ global destinations and serving consumer scuba divers through a hybrid self-serve and expert-advisor booking model.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersDartmouth, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What ZuBlu does
ZuBlu is a privately held, commission-based dive travel agency and online booking platform founded in 2017 and headquartered in Dartmouth, United Kingdom. The company aggregates 700-800+ handpicked dive resorts, liveaboards, and charter yachts across 100+ global destinations, providing scuba divers with a single marketplace to search, compare, and book ocean-focused holidays. Its core product surface includes the Dive Resorts, Liveaboard, and Charter Yachts booking engines, alongside a Collections browsing framework, a Destination Finder Wizard for preference-based trip matching, a Special Offers deals section, and add-on modules for Ecoventures eco-tourism, Guest Concierge service, and Tailored Itineraries.
Underlying technology is a web-based booking platform with integrated customer communication tools including live chat, WhatsApp, and email, supported by a curated content library of destination guides and marine life information. The company does not disclose proprietary AI/ML or model-driven personalization; matching and itinerary creation are positioned as expert-advisor-led rather than algorithm-led.
ZuBlu earns revenue primarily through commissions from dive resorts and liveaboards on each booking, with resort nightly rates ranging from approximately US$90 to US$1,780 and liveaboard daily rates from US$159 to US$937. The go-to-market motion is hybrid: a self-serve website front-end feeds a 24/7 expert travel advisor and concierge team that handles personalized planning, logistics, transfers, and quotes. Customer segments span families, couples, groups, solo divers, luxury travelers, value-conscious divers, learning divers, underwater photographers, and technical divers, indicating a broad persona-based segmentation within a unified B2C travel vertical.
ZuBlu firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- ZuBlu
- Legal name
- ZuBlu
- Website
- https://zubludiving.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- ZuBlu is a UK-based dive travel agency and online booking platform founded in 2017, aggregating 700-800+ handpicked dive resorts, liveaboards, and charter yachts across 100+ global destinations and serving consumer scuba divers through a hybrid self-serve and expert-advisor booking model.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
ZuBlu industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Dive Travel Agency
- NAICS
- Travel Agencies (561510), Travel Agencies (56151), Tour Operators (56152), Tour Operators (561520), Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (48721)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Island, Beach & Resort Travel Agencies (THAKAFAL)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Online Booking & Reservation Platforms (B2B/B2C) (THALAMAA)
Keywords
Where ZuBlu is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Dartmouth
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Markets served
ZuBlu business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Travel Agency Commission: ZuBlu earns commissions from dive resorts and liveaboards for bookings made through their platform. The company acts as an intermediary between customers and dive operators, taking a percentage of each booking transaction.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Budget-friendly dive resorts |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Mid-range dive resorts |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Luxury dive resorts |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Liveaboard diving packages |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
ZuBlu product offering
Product offeringCore offering
ZuBlu operates as a dive travel agency and online booking platform connecting individual divers with a curated global inventory of dive resorts, liveaboards, and charter yachts across 100+ destinations. The company acts as an intermediary earning commissions on bookings, supplemented by expert travel advisors, a destination matching wizard, and end-to-end guest concierge service that handles tailored itineraries, transfers, and trip logistics.
Product overview
ZuBlu operates as a unified dive travel booking platform offering multiple interconnected service lines: the core platform enables direct booking of 800+ dive resorts, liveaboards, and charter yachts worldwide; the Collections feature provides curated browsing by traveler type and experience level; the Destination Finder Wizard offers intelligent trip matching with expert advisor support; and supplementary services include Ecoventures eco-tourism experiences, Guest Concierge support, and Tailored Itineraries planning. Special Offers provides discounted deals, and the platform aggregates TripAdvisor ratings and offers DiveAssure insurance integration for a comprehensive booking experience.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Dive Resorts Booking Search, compare, and book accommodations at 700+ (described elsewhere as 800+) handpicked dive resorts across major dive destinations worldwide, with pricing from approximately US$90 to US$1,780 per night. Targeted at individual divers, couples, families, and groups planning dive holidays.
- Liveaboard Booking Multi-day dive safari bookings on liveaboard vessels that access remote dive sites not reachable from shore, with prices ranging from approximately US$159 to US$937 per day and trips lasting 5–14 days. Suited to experienced divers seeking itineraries such as Indonesia, Maldives, Galapagos, Bahamas, and Red Sea.
- Charter Yachts Private yacht charter booking service for dive travel, offering personalized sailing experiences in dive destinations such as the Maldives and Fiji for affluent divers and groups.
- Ecoventures Eco-tourism experiences combining scuba diving with marine conservation activities, allowing travelers to explore and restore marine ecosystems in destinations such as the Maldives. Aimed at sustainability-minded divers.
Companies that use ZuBlu
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments9 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
ZuBlu technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
Feature2 records
ZuBlu partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Reef World Green FinscoreZuBlu is partnered with Green Fins, an initiative promoting sustainable diving practices. The partnership supports environmental conservation in dive tourism by encouraging eco-friendly diving practices among their partner resorts and liveaboards, and promoting reef protection awareness among customers.
- International Trade CouncilminorZuBlu holds membership in the International Trade Council, an organization supporting businesses engaged in international trade and commerce.
- Future of Tourism CoalitionminorZuBlu participates in the Future of Tourism Coalition, working with other tourism industry stakeholders to develop sustainable and responsible tourism practices.
- DiveAssurecoreZuBlu partners with DiveAssure to offer dive insurance protection to customers. DiveAssure provides specialized dive accident and travel insurance coverage, promoted on the ZuBlu platform as a recommended add-on for bookings.
- TripAdvisorcoreZuBlu displays TripAdvisor ratings and reviews for partner resorts and liveaboards, providing third-party verified customer feedback to help travelers make informed booking decisions.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
ZuBlu competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- PADI Travel: Owned by PADI (the world's largest diver certification body), PADI Travel is a leading dive-focused booking platform. Directly comparable to ZuBlu as a specialized dive travel marketplace offering resorts, liveaboards, and dive experiences worldwide with similar target audience of certified divers.
- Liveaboard.com: Specializes in booking dive liveaboards globally, offering similar inventory of multi-day dive safari vessels. Direct competitor in the liveaboard segment of ZuBlu's offering, with overlapping customer base of experienced divers.
- Scuba Travel: UK-based dive travel agency offering curated dive holidays, liveaboards, and resort bookings worldwide. Directly comparable to ZuBlu with similar business model of commission-based bookings and expert advisor service for diving customers.
- Dive Worldwide: UK-based specialist dive travel agency offering personalized dive holidays to worldwide destinations. Operates similar commission-based travel agency model with curated inventory and tailored itineraries, competing directly with ZuBlu.
- Dive The World: Long-established UK dive travel agency offering diving holidays, liveaboards, and dive courses worldwide. Directly comparable niche dive travel agency with overlapping inventory and target customer base of recreational and certified divers.
- Aggressor Adventures: Operates a fleet of liveaboard dive yachts globally and sells direct to consumers. While primarily an operator rather than a marketplace, it competes with ZuBlu's liveaboard offering and represents the type of inventory partner/direct competitor in dive travel.
Regional players
- Emperor Divers: Specializes in Red Sea dive holidays and liveaboards, primarily serving UK and European divers. Compares to ZuBlu as a dive travel specialist but with regional concentration in Egypt/Red Sea versus ZuBlu's global 100+ destination footprint.
Broad incumbents
- Booking.com: Part of Booking Holdings, the world's largest online travel agency with broad hotel and destination coverage. While not dive-specialized, Booking.com carries many dive resort listings and represents the broader incumbent threat to ZuBlu's accommodation booking business.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
ZuBlu social profiles
Digital presenceZuBlu financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
ZuBlu leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
ZuBlu funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds5 records
Investors4 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
ZuBlu M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about ZuBlu
What does ZuBlu do?
ZuBlu operates as a dive travel agency and online booking platform connecting individual divers with a curated global inventory of dive resorts, liveaboards, and charter yachts across 100+ destinations. The company acts as an intermediary earning commissions on bookings, supplemented by expert travel advisors, a destination matching wizard, and end-to-end guest concierge service that handles tailored itineraries, transfers, and trip logistics.
Is ZuBlu a public or private company?
ZuBlu is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was ZuBlu founded?
ZuBlu was founded in 2017. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is ZuBlu based?
ZuBlu is headquartered in Dartmouth, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does ZuBlu make money?
One revenue line is on record: travel Agency Commission.
Who are ZuBlu's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are PADI Travel, Liveaboard.com, Scuba Travel, Dive Worldwide, Dive The World and Aggressor Adventures. Emperor Divers is listed as a regional player. Booking.com is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does ZuBlu have an API?
No public API is recorded for ZuBlu.
What industry is ZuBlu in?
ZuBlu's product category is Dive Travel Agency. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAKAFAL, Island, Beach & Resort Travel Agencies, with a secondary code of THALAMAA, Online Booking & Reservation Platforms (B2B/B2C). Its NAICS code is 561510.