What Eastern Watersports does

Eastern Watersports is a privately held, owner-operated recreational watersports business headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland, founded in 2014 and operating 4-5 physical locations across the Chesapeake Bay corridor, including Charly's Waterfront (Essex), Baltimore Peninsula, Quiet Waters Park (Annapolis), Cunningham Falls, and a retail/offsite-rental store. The company's core operations span four interconnected verticals: jet ski and paddlesport rentals (kayaks, paddleboards, canoes), PADI- and SDI-certified scuba training delivered through an SDI 5 Star Professional Development Center, organized international dive travel packages to destinations including the Bahamas, Philippines, Little Cayman, and Fiji, and Maryland-licensed youth summer camps. Revenue is generated through a diversified mix of usage-based rentals (hourly to weekly paddlesport rates of $27-$400), professional-services scuba instruction ($175-$749 per course), a recurring season pass membership program ($299-$3,999 annually), transaction-fee dive travel packages ($2,600-$6,199), and equipment service and maintenance (regulator/BCD repair, cylinder hydrostatic testing, and a Grade E certified air fill system with 30,000 cubic feet of storage).

The company's technical infrastructure centers on certified training curricula, a fleet that includes Sea-Doo GTX 130 jet skis described as the highest horsepower for rent in the Baltimore area, and an industrial-scale air fill operation capable of 4500 PSI filling and partial pressure blending. Its go-to-market is direct-to-consumer: customers book online, by phone, or via walk-in, with customer acquisition driven by Google search, a 4.7-star Google rating across 77 reviews, email newsletter, and community word-of-mouth. Eastern Watersports holds no outside funding, operates without disclosed enterprise customers, and runs its scuba service department through a core partnership with Divers Den, while pursuing secondary certifications and partnerships with PADI, SDI, Hillcrest Swim Club, Aqua Cat Liveaboard, and Divers Paradise Miami.

Name

Eastern Watersports

Legal name

Eastern Watersports

Website

https://easternwatersports.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Eastern Watersports is a privately held Maryland watersports operator (founded 2014) running jet ski and paddlesport rentals, PADI/SDI scuba training, international dive travel packages, and youth camps across four to five Chesapeake Bay locations, serving recreational consumers and certified divers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Watersports Rental and Instruction Services

NAICS

Recreational Goods Rental (532284), Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (4872), Marinas (713930)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Equipment Rental & Leasing (7350)

akta.pro primary industry

Scuba Diving & Freediving Centers (Training, Guided Dives) (THAAAKAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Dive & Snorkel Equipment Rental, Retail & Boat Services (compressors, gear hire) (THAAAIAL), Marine Recreation Rentals & Tours Retail Counter (On-site Sales) (CRAMAIAM)

Keywords

• Watersports rental services
• Scuba diving instruction
• Paddlesport rentals
• Dive travel packages
• Summer water camps

Headquarters

HQ city

Baltimore

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Scuba Training and Certification: PADI and SDI certified scuba training programs including Open Water Diver, Advanced Diver, Rescue Diver, Divemaster, and specialty courses. Revenue from course fees including eLearning, pool sessions, checkout dives, and certification processing.
2. Equipment Rentals: Hourly, daily, weekend, and weekly rentals of kayaks, paddleboards, canoes, and jet skis. Includes on-site and off-site rental options with equipment delivery and pickup services for off-site weekend rentals.
3. Season Pass Memberships: Annual membership programs offering unlimited paddleboard, kayak, and catamaran access across all locations. Includes guest passes, discounts on classes and tours, and purchase credits toward new equipment.
4. Dive Travel Packages: Organized group dive trips to international destinations including Bahamas, Philippines, Little Cayman, and Fiji. Includes accommodation, meals, dives, and activities bundled into package pricing.
5. Equipment Service and Maintenance: Scuba equipment repair and maintenance services for regulators, BCDs, dive computers, cylinders, and gauges. Includes air fills, cylinder hydrostatic testing, and VIP inspections.
6. Lessons, Tours, and Events: Paddleboard yoga, kayak lessons, sunset tours, full moon paddles, and private beach parties. Additional revenue from SUP hockey and pet-friendly paddling events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Eastern Watersports rents recreational watersports equipment and delivers scuba diving instruction and organized dive travel. Its core operations span jet ski and paddlesport (kayak, paddleboard, canoe) rentals at four-to-five Maryland locations, PADI/SDI-certified scuba training from beginner through technical and public safety levels, summer youth camps, and ancillary services including equipment repair, air fills, and cylinder testing. Revenue is generated through usage-based rental fees, course tuition, annual membership passes, and bundled international dive travel packages.

Product overview

Eastern Watersports is a water sports rental and instruction company operating in the Chesapeake Bay area of Maryland. The company offers a diversified portfolio of recreational services organized around four core offerings: Jet Ski Rentals (featuring Sea-Doo GTX 130 jet skis), Paddlesport Rentals (kayaks, paddleboards, and canoes across multiple locations), Scuba Training and Travel (PADI/SDI-certified courses through an SDI 5 Star Professional Development Center, plus international dive travel packages to Bahamas, Philippines, Little Cayman, and Fiji), and Youth Camps (summer water camp and combined scuba x watersports camp). Additional services include equipment maintenance and repair, air fills, cylinder service, equipment rentals, seasonal memberships (Season Pass and Paddling Pass with unlimited use privileges), tours and events (sunset paddles, moonlight tours, paddleboard yoga), lessons, and private event hosting. The company operates five locations across Maryland including Charly's Waterfront, Baltimore Peninsula, Quiet Waters Park in Annapolis, Cunningham Falls, and retail/store locations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Jet Ski Rentals Hourly jet ski rentals featuring Sea-Doo GTX 130 watercraft — the highest horsepower jet skis available for rent in the Baltimore area — at Charly's Waterfront (Essex, MD). Includes safety training, DNR testing, and rental agreement; weekday rates start at $120 with a $200 refundable security deposit and a 2-hour minimum on weekends and holidays.
• Paddlesport Rentals Hourly, daily, weekend, and weekly rentals of kayaks (sit-in, sit-on, tandem, fishing), 10'6" and 11' paddleboards, and canoes at Quiet Waters Park (Annapolis), Baltimore Peninsula, Cunningham Falls, and the retail store, including delivery and pickup for off-site weekend rentals. Rates from $27/hr single kayak to $400/week.
• Scuba Training (PADI & SDI) PADI Dive Center and SDI 5 Star Professional Development Center delivering the full range of recreational, technical, and public safety scuba courses — from Open Water Diver through Divemaster and specialty certifications — using standardized curricula delivered at company pool, quarry, and open water sites.
• Open Water Scuba Diver Course Foundational PADI/SDI scuba certification course at $749 total, including eLearning access, all pool sessions and open water checkout dives, full scuba equipment provision, and lifetime certification card processing.
• Advanced Open Water Diver Course Intermediate scuba certification course at $395 with five adventure dives (Deep, Navigation, Night/Limited Vis, Wreck), specialty gear, small-group instruction capped at 4 students, and certification card.
• PADI Specialty Courses Specialty diving courses priced $175-$325 covering Boat Diver ($200), Deep Diver ($325), Dry Suit ($250), Night Diver ($275), Full Face Mask ($175), Search and Recovery, Altitude Diver, Underwater Navigator, and Wreck Diver.
• Technical Diving Courses Advanced technical courses including Mixed Gas/Tri-Mix, Extended Range/Deep diving beyond recreational limits, Cave Diving, Wreck penetration, and Ice Diving/Extreme Environments.
• Public Safety Diving Courses Emergency-response diver training including Emergency Response Diver, Tender, Ice/Surface Rescue Ops, Drysuit Ops, Full Face Mask Ops, Ice Diving Ops, and Swift Water Ops for first responders and rescue personnel.
• Dive Travel Packages Organized, all-inclusive group dive trips to international destinations including Bahamas Aqua Cat Liveaboard, Philippines Magic Ocean, Little Cayman Beach Resort, and Fiji Volivoli Beach Resort.
• Aqua Cat Liveaboard — Bahamas 7-night Bahamas liveaboard dive cruise with up to 26 dives, all meals, kayaks, paddleboards, and shore excursions. Double Diver $3,995; Single Occupancy $6,199.
• Philippines Magic Ocean Trip 10-night Philippines dive package at Magic Ocean resort with 3-4 boat dives daily, unlimited house reef diving, all meals, and flights included. Double Diver $3,700; Single Diver $4,500; Non-Diver $2,600.
• Little Cayman Beach Resort Trip 7-night Little Cayman resort package with 17 boat dives, all-inclusive meals, pool, and hot tub. Pool View Double Diver $3,195; Ocean View Double Diver $3,795.
• Volivoli Beach Resort — Fiji 10-night Fiji resort package with 20 boat dives, unlimited shore diving, paddleboards, kayaks, and beach BBQ. Luxury Ocean View Double Diver $5,499; Superior Ocean View Double Diver $4,999; Non-Diver $4,399.
• Full Access Season Pass Annual membership program offering unlimited access to paddleboards, kayaks, and catamarans across all Eastern Watersports locations, plus 20% off classes and tours, 5 free guest passes, and purchase credits toward new equipment. Tiers: Individual $499, Couple $649, Family $849, Corporate $3,999.
• Paddling Pass Membership Discounted annual membership limited to kayak and paddleboard access at all locations. Tiers: Individual $299, Couple $449, Family $649, Corporate $2,999.
• Scuba Equipment Rentals Rental of Scubapro BCDs, 7mm wetsuits, Steel 72 and Aluminum 80 tanks (Air and Nitrox), and regulator packages with octo and gauges for certified divers.
• Scuba Equipment Service Certified maintenance and repair for regulators, BCDs, dive computers, cylinders, inflator systems, and gauges — including first/second stage testing, BCD cleaning and conditioning, Nitrox service, and computer battery replacement.
• Air Fills Compressed air cylinder refills for scuba, paintball, air guns, air rifles, and PCP/SCBA using Grade E certified air, membrane system, partial pressure blending, 4500 PSI capability, dual booster compressors, and 30,000 cubic feet of air storage.
• Cylinder Service Scuba tank maintenance including Visual Inspection (VIP), hydrostatic testing, wire brushing, tumble rust removal, oxygen cleaning, and burst disc replacement.
• Summer Water Camp Licensed Maryland Youth Camp (#03YC12956) offering week-long (9am-3pm) water sports day programs for ages 6-17, covering kayaking, paddleboarding, sailing, swimming, team building, and paddleboard hockey. $350/week or $85/day drop-in.
• Scuba x Watersports Camp Combined scuba and watersports week-long camp pairing morning pool-based snorkeling and SCUBA at Hillcrest Swim Club with afternoon kayaking, SUP, and sailing at Charly's Waterfront. $700/week.
• Tours and Events Organized water activities including Sunset Social paddles, Row & Glow Kayak Tours, Moonlight Paddle ($35), Paddleboard Hockey ($10), and Wags & Whiskey pet-friendly events ($35).
• Paddleboard Yoga Yoga sessions conducted on paddleboards at Charly's Waterfront, plus SUP Paddle & Sound Healing sessions, with classes starting at $15.
• Paddleboard and Kayak Lessons Instructional lessons for paddleboard and kayak including introductory lessons, skills development courses, and private instruction.
• Sailing Program Sailing instruction and experiences available as part of summer camp and standalone programs at Quiet Waters Park, Baltimore Peninsula, and Cunningham Falls.
• Beach Party and Private Events Private event hosting on the water for parties and celebrations, including a 15% discount for Season Pass members at Hammerman Location.
• Seasonal Vessel Storage On-site seasonal storage for kayaks, paddleboards, and catamarans at the retail store location, priced $99-$300 depending on vessel size.

Quantifiable outcome

• Season pass pays for itself in 3 visits compared to standard $100+ daily rental rates

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Divers DencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Divers Den for scuba training operations, equipment service center, and dive travel coordination. Divers Den operates the service department, cylinder testing, and air fills while Eastern Watersports handles retail and rentals. Together they deliver comprehensive scuba services including certifications, equipment maintenance, and organized dive trips.
• Scuba Diving International (SDI)coreOthersPrimary scuba training agency providing curriculum, certification processing, and 5-star professional development center designation. SDI is described as having a modern approach to dive education and technology.
• PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors)coreOthersSecondary certification agency enabling PADI course offerings and Dive Center designation. Instructors are fully equipped to teach and certify in PADI system for divers who prefer this route.
• Hillcrest Swim ClubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Scuba x Watersports Camp program. Campers do morning snorkeling and SCUBA sessions at Hillcrest Swim Club pool, then are transported to Charly's Waterfront for afternoon watersports activities.
• Aqua Cat LiveaboardminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBahamas-based luxury liveaboard dive vessel featured as a destination in Eastern Watersports' organized dive travel program.
• Divers Paradise MiamiminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership enabling customers to complete open water checkout dives in Miami, expanding training location options for students.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Boatsetter: Peer-to-peer boat and watercraft rental platform with listings across the US including Maryland waters. Overlaps directly with Eastern Watersports' jet ski and recreational boat rental categories in the Mid-Atlantic market.
• Sailo: Boat rental marketplace focused on sailing and motor yachts with Chesapeake Bay coverage. Comparable peer for the recreational boating rental side of Eastern Watersports' business, including sailing programs.
• GetMyBoat: Peer-to-peer watercraft rental marketplace operating globally, including the Chesapeake Bay. Directly competes with Eastern Watersports' jet ski, kayak, and paddleboard rental offerings by aggregating individual boat-owner supply in the same region.

Regional players

• SamBoat: European-headquartered peer-to-peer boat rental marketplace with growing US presence. Comparable business model peer for watercraft rental aggregation, relevant as a regional/international competitor in the boat rental category.
• Scuba Schools International (SSI): International scuba training and dive center network with overlapping course and certification offerings. Comparable as an ecosystem/training peer rather than direct retail competitor, but its affiliated dive centers operate in adjacent geographies.
• True Chesapeake Oyster Co. Maryland-based hospitality and waterfront experience operator in the Chesapeake Bay region. Comparable as a regional experiential/waterside operator competing for the same affluent Chesapeake Bay leisure customer, though in dining rather than watersports.

Others

• PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors): Global scuba certification agency and largest dive center network. Ecosystem participant rather than direct competitor — Eastern Watersports is a PADI Dive Center — but PADI's own retail/travel offerings overlap with the company's scuba services.
• Scuba Diving International (SDI): Scuba certification agency under which Eastern Watersports holds 5 Star Professional Development Center status. Ecosystem participant providing curriculum and certification infrastructure, not a direct retail competitor.
• National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI): Scuba certification agency operating worldwide dive center network with training, retail, and travel services. Comparable ecosystem peer whose affiliate dive centers offer similar training products to Eastern Watersports.

Emerging players

• Divers Direct: Scuba equipment retailer and dive center operator offering training, equipment service, and travel packages. Comparable as a multi-line dive operator serving a similar customer base to Eastern Watersports' scuba division.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/eastwatersports
• Facebookfacebook.com/easternwatersports
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/eastern-watersports

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Eastern Watersports