Extended Horizons Scuba Maui

What Extended Horizons Scuba Maui does

Extended Horizons Scuba Maui is a privately-held, founder-owned scuba diving operation founded in 1983 by Erik and headquartered in Lahaina, Hawaii. The company operates as a PADI 5-Star Dive Center and Green Star facility, offering guided boat dives (to Lanai and Maui's coastline across 40+ sites including Cathedral dives, lava tubes and the Carthaginian shipwreck), shore dives along West Maui reefs, night dives at Black Rock and Mala Ramp, and a full PADI certification ladder from introductory Discover Scuba through professional Divemaster training. The portfolio also includes EcoDiving experiences, Project AWARE-aligned conservation specialty courses (Coral Reef Conservation, Dive Against Debris, Sea Turtle Awareness, Shark Conservation, Fish Identification), and an expanding set of online PADI courses delivered via eLearning with instructor-led Zoom sessions. Extended Horizons staffs roughly 10 personnel including owner-operator Erik (USCG 100-ton captain, PADI and SDI instructor), Director of Operations Victoria (USCG 100-ton captain, published underwater photographer), a Women Divers Hall of Fame inductee (Pauline Fiene, marine biologist), and additional instructors and divemasters with marine biology, conservation biology, and anthropology training.

The company's commercial model is direct-to-consumer tourism and recreation. Booking channels include a FareHarbor-embedded online reservation system, phone and text (808-667-0611), email, walk-ins, and a Square-powered e-commerce storefront for gift certificates and merchandise. Revenue is generated unit-by-unit per diver or per course, with a 5:1 guide-to-diver ratio maintained across all guided dives and gear included at no extra charge. Pricing spans $179 per person for 1-tank certified shore dives up to $999 per person for the Rescue Diver course, with revenue mix spread across Lanai boat charters, Maui's coastline diving, certification courses, specialty/conservation courses, gear-inclusive rentals, and gift certificate sales. Customers are predominantly individual tourists and Maui residents across four personas: non-certified/first-time divers, certified divers seeking guided experiences, advanced/continuing education divers, and rusty/lapsed divers returning to the sport. The business is concentrated exclusively in Hawaii (Maui and Lanai), relies on TripAdvisor and Yelp reviews as the primary demand-generation channels, and holds partnerships with National Geographic Society, NautilusLive.org (2022 #shoretoabyss expedition support), Project AWARE, Mala Kai Foundation, and the National Association of Interpretation. Boat dive products are currently listed as 'Returning 2026' on the company's website, indicating an operational pause on that segment.

Name

Extended Horizons Scuba Maui

Legal name

Extended Horizons

Website

https://extendedhorizons.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Extended Horizons is a founder-owned PADI 5-Star dive center in Lahaina, Hawaii, founded in 1983, offering guided boat and shore dives, full PADI certification courses, and conservation-focused EcoDiving to tourists and residents in Maui and Lanai.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Recreational Scuba Diving Services

NAICS

Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (487210), Tour Operators (56152)

SIC

Water Transportation (4400)

akta.pro primary industry

Dive Centers & Scuba Training (PADI/SSI, certifications) (THAAAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Diving Experiences (Scuba Dives, Dive Trips, PADI/SSI Courses) (THAJAJAD), Dive & Snorkel Guides / Dive Masters (Boat-Based & Shore-Based) (THAAALAC)

Keywords

• Scuba diving tours
• PADI certification courses
• Guided shore dives
• Boat dive charters
• Marine conservation education

Headquarters

HQ city

Lahaina

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Scuba Diving Tours: Guided scuba diving experiences including boat dives to Lanai and Maui coastline, shore dives, and night dives. Revenue generated per person per dive or package. Additional revenue from equipment rentals, Nitrox upgrades, and steel tank upgrades.
2. Scuba Certification Courses: PADI certification courses from beginner (Open Water) to professional (Divemaster) levels. Revenue generated per person for course packages. Includes eLearning, classroom, pool, and ocean dive components.
3. EcoDiving and Conservation Courses: Conservation-focused diving experiences and PADI Specialty certifications. One or two-tank workshop-style dives with citizen science components. Includes Peak Performance Buoyancy, Dive Against Debris, Coral Reef Conservation, Sea Turtle Awareness, Shark Conservation, Fish Identification courses.
4. Retail and Gift Certificates: Online dive store selling gift certificates and merchandise. Revenue from sale of gift certificates for dive experiences and branded merchandise.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Extended Horizons Scuba Maui operates a PADI 5-Star Dive Center in Lahaina, Hawaii, selling guided scuba diving experiences and PADI scuba certification courses. Core products include two-tank boat dive charters to Lanai and Maui coastline, guided shore dives along West Maui reefs, and night dives at Black Rock and Mala Ramp, supported by full PADI training from Discover Scuba through Divemaster and conservation-focused EcoDiving specialty courses. All guided dives are delivered with a 5:1 guide-to-diver ratio and interpretive naturalist guides certified by the National Association of Interpretation.

Product overview

Extended Horizons is a PADI 5-Star scuba diving operation offering guided dive experiences and certification courses across boat dives, shore dives, and night dives in Maui and Lanai, Hawaii. The product portfolio centers on dive tours (boat dives to Lanai Cathedrals and Maui coastline, shore dives along West Maui reefs, night dives at Black Rock and Mala Ramp) supported by PADI certification programs ranging from introductory Discover Scuba through professional Divemaster training. Conservation-focused EcoDiving and specialty conservation courses (Dive Against Debris, Sea Turtle Awareness, Coral Reef Conservation, Shark Conservation) integrate citizen science with diving. The company also offers online PADI courses via eLearning with instructor-led Zoom sessions, gear rental, gift certificates, and private charter options. A 5:1 diver-to-guide ratio differentiates the service with emphasis on interpretive naturalist guiding.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Boat Dives Two-tank dive charters to Lanai and Maui's coastline featuring over 40 dive sites including Cathedral dives, lava tubes, coral reefs, and shipwrecks. Includes morning Lanai trips, afternoon wreck dives, Maui coastline dives, and Honolua Bay excursions for certified recreational divers.
• Shore Dives Guided shore dives along West Maui's reef ecosystem at depths of 20-40 feet, offered in 1 or 2-tank options with morning and afternoon sessions for certified divers and mixed groups of certified and non-certified participants.
• Night Dives Night scuba diving experiences at Black Rock and Mala Ramp with underwater lights revealing nocturnal marine life including octopus, lobsters, crabs, and eels. Offered as 1-tank or 2-tank twilight/night dive combos for certified divers.
• Discover Scuba Diver Introductory half-day scuba diving experience for beginners ages 10+, featuring a short classroom session followed by an ocean dive. Does not include certification but counts toward future PADI Open Water certification.
• Open Water Certification Course (Referral and Full) PADI Open Water certification delivered in two formats: a 2-day Open Water Referral course (academic and pool work done elsewhere, four ocean dives on Maui) and a 3-day Full Open Water Course (classroom, equipment training, ocean diving). Both yield a lifetime PADI Open Water certification valid worldwide; class sizes capped at 4.
• Advanced Open Water Course PADI Advanced Open Water certification course comprising required Deep and Navigation dives plus a choice of Adventure Dives. Can incorporate conservation specialties and offers a boat upgrade option.
• Rescue Diver Course PADI Rescue Diver course focusing on problem prevention and management underwater. Includes Emergency First Response/CPR certification if needed; delivered as a 2-day shore course.
• Divemaster Course PADI Divemaster course representing the first level of professional PADI training, mentoring and supervising scuba diving activities and assisting with diver training.
• PADI Specialty Courses (Enriched Air/Nitrox, Peak Performance Buoyancy, Night Diver, Deep Diver, Wreck Diver, Digital Underwater Photography, Underwater Navigation, Side-Mount, Search & Recovery, Boat Diver) A bundle of PADI specialty certification courses offered to certified divers seeking specific skills: Enriched Air (Nitrox), Peak Performance Buoyancy, Night Diver, Deep Diver, Wreck Diver, Digital Underwater Photography, Underwater Navigation, Side-Mount Diver, Search & Recovery, and Boat Diver. Each specialty focuses on a specific competency and yields a PADI specialty certification.
• Refresher and ReActivate Course Scuba skills tune-up for certified divers returning after a break. Includes an informal Refresher Shore Dive option or PADI ReActivate comprehensive review with eLearning access.
• EcoDiving Conservation-focused guided dives with workshop-style topics including buoyancy, agility, air consumption, coral reef ecology, reef cleanup, sea turtle education, shark education, and fish identification. Offered as 1 or 2-dive packages with mid-morning start times.
• Conservation Specialty Courses (Coral Reef Conservation, Dive Against Debris, Sea Turtle Awareness, Shark Conservation, Underwater Naturalist, Fish Identification, Reef Check EcoDiver) A bundle of PADI and Project AWARE conservation-focused specialty courses including Coral Reef Conservation, Dive Against Debris, Sea Turtle Awareness, Shark Conservation, Underwater Naturalist, Fish Identification, and Reef Check EcoDiver. These combine citizen science data collection with specialty certification.
• Online PADI Courses (Enriched Air Diver, Peak Performance Buoyancy) Self-paced online PADI Enriched Air Diver and Peak Performance Buoyancy courses delivered through PADI eLearning with instructor-led Zoom sessions for course completion and specialty card issuance.
• Private Charters Customizable private boat charters available by request for personalized diving experiences, with pricing varying by request.
• Gift Certificates Digital gift certificates for Extended Horizons diving experiences sold through the Square-powered online dive store at extended-horizons-shop.square.site.

Quantifiable outcome

• 5:1 guide-to-diver ratio maintained on all guided dives - the best ratio on Maui
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• National Geographic SocietyflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Extended Horizons was chosen by National Geographic Society to support their #shoretoabyss 2022 Expeditions in Hawaii. This partnership validates the company's expertise and reputation as a premier dive operator in Hawaii.
• NautilusLive.orgflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Chosen alongside National Geographic Society to support NautilusLive.org's #shoretoabyss 2022 Expeditions, supporting underwater exploration and research efforts.
• PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors)coreTechnology or IntegrationOperates as a PADI 5-Star Dive Center and Green Star facility. Offers full range of PADI certification courses from Open Water to Divemaster and specialty certifications.
• Mala Kai FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupports the Day-Use Mooring Program managed by Mala Kai Foundation. Extended Horizons spearheaded installation of the first 14 moorings on Lanai in the late 1990s to prevent anchor damage to reefs. Accepts donations earmarked for Lanai and Maui moorings.
• Project AWARE FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial Project AWARE Partner, participating in Dive Against Debris clean-ups and promoting ocean conservation. Offers Project AWARE specialty certifications including Sea Turtle Awareness and Shark Conservation.
• National Association of InterpretationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn a first for Maui scuba shops, Extended Horizons guides are routinely certified by the National Association of Interpretation, providing superior interpretive guiding services.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Maui Dive Shop: Hawaii's largest full-service dive retailer and operator with multiple stores on Maui, offering boat dives, shore dives, and PADI certifications targeting the same Maui tourist and resident diver base as Extended Horizons Scuba Maui.
• Bubbles Below Maui Scuba: Long-running Lahaina-based scuba charter operating since 1987 offering two-tank boat dives off West Maui and Lanai, directly competing for the same certified-diver customers Extended Horizons serves.
• Poseidon Diving Maui: Maui dive operator offering guided boat and shore diving plus PADI certifications in Kaanapali/West Maui, overlapping with Extended Horizons' core boat-dive and certification products on the same coastline.
• Lahaina Divers: Dive shop historically based in Lahaina offering shore and boat dives plus scuba certifications, directly comparable to Extended Horizons in location (Lahaina), product mix, and customer base.
• Splashers Dive Shop: Aloha Tower-based Honolulu scuba shop offering PADI certifications, dive tours, and shore/boat diving; competes for the broader Hawaii recreational scuba market rather than the Maui-specific anchor base.

Regional players

• Jack's Diving Locker: Kona, Big Island PADI 5-Star Dive Center offering boat dives, certifications, and manta ray night dives — directly comparable business model and PADI 5-Star positioning but in a different Hawaiian island market than Extended Horizons.
• Big Island Divers: Kona-based PADI dive operator offering guided boat and shore diving plus certifications, mirroring Extended Horizons' dive-center product mix but serving the Big Island market rather than Maui/Lanai.

Broad incumbents

• Atlantis Adventures Hawaii: Large established Hawaii operator of submarine and reef-viewing excursions across multiple islands; comparable underwater tourism product category and broader Hawaiian visitor base than Extended Horizons' specialty dive focus.

Others

• Pacific Whale Foundation: Maui-based nonprofit eco-tour operator running ocean wildlife (whale/dolphin/turtle) cruises and reef education; adjacent rather than direct competition, with the same conservation/education brand voice that aligns with Extended Horizons' EcoDiving positioning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ExtendedHorizons
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/extended-horizons-scuba-inc

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

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 Extended Horizons Scuba Maui