What Dive Gear Express does

Dive Gear Express LLC is a Florida-based, locally-owned specialty retailer and authorized dealer of scuba diving equipment, focused exclusively on experienced sport and technical divers. The company operates a dual-channel model combining a global e-commerce storefront (DiveGearExpress.com) with a 6,900 sq ft physical showroom, warehouse, and training facility in Pompano Beach, Florida. Founded in 2003 and incorporated as an LLC in 2010 under principal member-manager Mark E. Derrick, the business began as a single-brand technical diving website and has since expanded to offer ~40+ premium brands including Apeks, Dive Rite, Poseidon, Shearwater, Garmin, Mares XR, OMS, rEvo, and Faber.

The company's core offering spans BC systems, regulators, dive computers, rebreathers, tanks/valves, exposure suits, lights, scooters, hardware, and educational materials, with configuration services for technical diving setups (doubles, sidemount, stage/bailout, hogarthian/GUE-DIR). A house brand, DGX Gears, supplies proprietary harnesses, backplates, regulators, valves, and accessories, and the company assembles DGX Custom regulator packages that integrate brand-name first and second stages with curated hoses, hardware, and routing. The team is composed entirely of certified divers including technical, rebreather, and instructor ratings, supporting IANTD Platinum Premier Full Service Technical Facility status and on-site technical diving instruction.

Revenue is generated primarily through direct-to-consumer hardware sales (unit pricing, no subscription), supplemented by equipment service and repair, gas blending, and technical diving instruction. Distribution is global direct-to-consumer shipping complemented by the local showroom; pricing ranges from accessory items at $15 to premium regulator packages at $1,249+, with a Minimum Advertised Price policy and price matching. The company holds a registered USPTO/WIPO trademark, is a voting member of DEMA, and operates a business membership with the Divers Alert Network.

Name

Dive Gear Express

Legal name

Dive Gear Express LLC

Website

https://divegearexpress.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Dive Gear Express is a Florida-based, locally-owned specialty retailer and authorized dealer of scuba diving equipment, serving experienced sport and technical divers globally through its e-commerce storefront and Pompano Beach showroom, with house-brand DGX Gears products and DGX Custom regulator configurations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Scuba Diving Equipment

NAICS

Sporting Goods Retailers (45911)

akta.pro primary industry

Diving & Snorkeling Retail (Scuba Gear) (CRAMAIAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

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

Keywords

• Scuba diving equipment
• Technical diving gear
• Regulator packages
• Scuba equipment retail
• Dive gear sales

Headquarters

HQ city

Pompano Beach

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Scuba Equipment Retail Sales: Primary revenue stream from direct-to-consumer retail sales of scuba diving equipment including regulators, BCs, computers, exposure suits, tanks, rebreathers, lights, tools, and accessories. Products are sold as one-time purchases with no subscription component. They also offer equipment service and repair for brands they sell.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Dive Gear Express is an e-commerce and local dive shop retailer that sells new scuba diving equipment (regulators, BCs, dive computers, exposure suits, tanks, rebreathers, lights, fins/masks, hardware, manuals) and configures custom regulator packages under its DGX Gears and DGX Custom brands. It complements retail with factory-trained equipment service/repair and technical diving instruction for experienced sport and technical divers, shipping orders worldwide from its Pompano Beach, Florida facility.

Product overview

Dive Gear Express is a scuba diving equipment e-commerce retailer and local dive shop specializing in technical and experienced sport diving gear. The company operates primarily as an online retailer (DiveGearExpress.com) with a 6,900 square foot showroom and warehouse in Pompano Beach, Florida. Their product portfolio spans multiple core categories including: (1) BC Systems from DGX Gears, Dive Rite, OMS, and XR brands including harnesses like the DGX Ultimate Hogarthian Harness ($79) and accessories like the DGX Long Hose Retainer Bar ($15); (2) Regulators from DGX Gears, Dive Rite XT, Apeks XTX, and Poseidon Xstream brands with pre-configured packages (Basic, Streamlined OW, Long Hose, Doubles Sets, Sidemount Sets, Stage & Bailout, Oxygen Accelerated Deco); (3) Dive Computers from Garmin, Shearwater, Apeks, Mares XR, and Halcyon; (4) Rebreathers including Poseidon Se7en+ eCCR, Dive Rite O2ptima, and rEvo III with components and consumables; (5) Steel and Aluminum tanks from Faber; (6) Gas blending equipment including Haskel boosters; (7) Dive lights and cameras; (8) Exposure suits and accessories; (9) Technical diving manuals and books. They also offer equipment service/maintenance and technical diving instruction. The company was founded March 1, 2003, operates as Dive Gear Express LLC (organized 2010 in Florida), and is led by Mark E. Derrick. They hold IANTD Platinum Premier Full Service Technical Facility status and are authorized dealers for numerous dive equipment manufacturers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• DGX Gears: House brand of regulators, harnesses, backplates, and accessories sold exclusively through Dive Gear Express. Includes DGX Gears D6 Regulator, DGX Gears XTRA Regulator, DGX Gears FIRST Regulator, DGX Gears BCI Regulator, DGX Ultimate Hogarthian Harness, DGX Long Hose Retainer Bar, DGX Premium O2 Valves, DGX Premium Nitrox Ready Valves.

Products and services

• DGX Gears Regulators DGX Gears brand regulator systems including XTRA, D6, FIRST, and BCI models configured for streamlined diving, sold to certified sport and technical divers.
• Dive Rite XT Regulators Dive Rite XT series regulators including XT2 and XT4 models offered in multiple configurations for technical diving.
• Apeks XTX Regulators Apeks XTX series regulators including DST/XTX50 configurations sold to certified divers.
• Poseidon Xstream Regulators Poseidon Xstream high-performance regulators featuring servo-assisted upstream demand valve technology, approved to 200m depth, starting at $999.00.
• DGX Custom Regulator Packages Pre-assembled, in-house configured regulator packages using brand-name first and second stage regulators, premium hoses, gauges, adapters, stainless steel hardware and accessories, in Basic 1st+2nd, Streamlined OW (Florida Rig), Long Hose, Doubles Sets, Sidemount Sets, Stage & Bailout, and Oxygen Accelerated Deco configurations, priced from $349 to $1,249+.
• DGX Gears BC Systems DGX Gears brand buoyancy control device systems including back-inflation wings and complete BCD packages for technical diving.
• Dive Rite BC Systems Dive Rite branded buoyancy control devices including TransPac, TransPlate, and Hydro Lite BCs.
• OMS BC Systems OMS (Ocean Management Systems) brand buoyancy control devices and accessories.
• DGX Gears Ultimate Hogarthian Harness Continuous 2-inch webbing harness designed for classic hogarthian (GUE/DIR) minimalist diving configuration, includes hardware and choice of 1.5-inch comfort or 2.0-inch traditional crotch strap, priced at $79.00.
• DGX Long Hose Retainer Bar Machined Delrin accessory that holds the long hose in position in hogarthian regulator configuration without a light battery canister on the harness waistband, 6 inches long, priced at $15.00.
• Dive Computers Dive computers from Garmin (Descent G, Mk, X Series), Shearwater (Tern, Teric, Peregrine, Perdix, Petrel 3, NERD), Apeks DSX, Mares XR Sirius, and Halcyon Symbios.
• Rebreathers Closed-circuit rebreathers including Poseidon Se7en+ eCCR, Dive Rite O2ptima components, and rEvo III components, plus consumables, O2 sensors, absorbents, and accessories.
• Steel and Aluminum Tanks SCUBA cylinders in steel and aluminum materials including Faber brand tanks with various capacities and pressure ratings, plus DGX, Thermo, and specialty valves.
• Gas Blending Equipment and Boosters Gas blending equipment, fill stations, and Haskel gas boosters for filling nitrox and trimix mixtures for technical divers.
• Dive Lights and Cameras Dive lights including secondary, primary, video and photo lights, strobes, marking lights, and Kraken underwater housings, lenses, and trays.
• Exposure Suits and Accessories Exposure protection including rashies, gloves, footwear, shorts, drysuits, drysuit inflation systems, SI TECH valves and seals, and G-Dive drysuit seals.
• DiveX Scooters (DPV) Diver propulsion vehicles (DPVs) for enhanced underwater mobility for technical diving.
• Fins, Masks, Snorkels and Bags Diving fins and boots, standard and vision-correcting masks, snorkels, and gear/regulator bags.
• Manuals and Technical Books Educational materials including general diving, technical diving, and rebreather diving books, IANTD materials, TDI and ERDI manuals, and open-circuit and constant PO2 dive tables.
• Equipment Service and Maintenance Factory-trained equipment service department providing regulator, rebreather, and other equipment repair with approximately two-week turnaround based on service queue backlog.
• Technical Diving Instruction Technical diving courses taught at the Florida facility by closed-circuit and open-circuit technical diving instructors, including gas blending instruction (IANTD Gas Blending Instructor on staff).

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Diving Equipment and Marketing Association (DEMA)minorOthersVoting member of DEMA, the major trade association for the recreational scuba diving industry.
• IANTD Platinum Premier Full Service Technical FacilitycoreOthersDive Gear Express meets the standards of the International Association of Nitrox and Technical Divers as an IANTD Platinum Premier Full Service Technical Facility. They have an IANTD Gas Blending Instructor on staff.
• Divers Alert Network (DAN)minorOthersBusiness member of DAN, the Divers Alert Network, a leading scuba diving safety organization.
• Multiple Dive Equipment Brands (Authorized Dealer)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized dealer for first quality, brand name scuba diving equipment including: Apeks Diving, Dive Rite, Garmin Descent, Poseidon Diving Systems, Shearwater Research, Mares XR, OMS, Dive Xtras, Kraken Sports, rEvo Rebreathers, Faber (tanks), and many others totaling approximately 40+ brands.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Scuba.com: One of the largest online scuba equipment retailers in the US, offering a broad multi-brand assortment including regulators, BCDs, and dive computers with global shipping. Closest direct competitor by product category and DTC model, though broader in customer focus including entry-level.
• Mike's Dive Store: UK-based online dive equipment retailer with curated multi-brand assortment and global shipping. Comparable e-commerce-led model carrying regulators, BCDs, and technical diving gear across premium brands.
• LeisurePro: Long-established online dive equipment retailer carrying regulators, BCDs, computers, and accessories across major brands with both new and used gear. Directly comparable e-commerce-first model serving experienced and recreational divers.
• Divers Supply: Multi-channel dive retailer combining physical locations with online sales of scuba equipment, training, and travel services. Comparable omnichannel retail model serving a similar customer base in the US market.

Emerging players

• Backscatter: Specialty retailer focused on underwater photo, video, and lighting equipment, with overlap on dive lights, camera housings, and strobes. Comparable in niche authority and content-driven marketing, though narrower in category focus.

Others

• Dive Rite: Manufacturer of technical diving equipment including regulators, BCDs, and rebreather components that Dive Gear Express is an authorized dealer for. Comparable product portfolio for technical divers and a potential channel partner or competitor depending on Dive Rite's direct-sales posture.
• Shearwater Research: Premium dive computer manufacturer (Perdix, Teric, Peregrine, Petrel) sold through Dive Gear Express as an authorized dealer. Strongly comparable as a technical-diving brand, and a potential DTC threat as the manufacturer expands its own sales channels.
• Poseidon Diving Systems: Swedish manufacturer of high-end regulators and the Se7en+ rebreather carried by Dive Gear Express. Comparable premium technical-diving positioning and a manufacturer partner with potential DTC overlap.

Regional players

• Simply Scuba: UK-based online dive retailer offering multi-brand scuba equipment with international shipping. Comparable DTC assortment and configuration-style offerings, though primarily serving European customers.

Broad incumbents

• Amazon: Broad e-commerce incumbent carrying a wide selection of dive equipment, regulators, and accessories from multiple brands. Comparable as a sales channel for commoditized dive gear, but lacking Dive Gear Express's technical advisory depth and curated configuration services.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/divegearexpress
• Facebookfacebook.com/DiveGearExpress
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dive-gear-express-llc

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 Dive Gear Express