National Association of Underwater Instructors
NAUI is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit founded in 1960 and one of the oldest international scuba diving certification agencies. It delivers entry-level through technical and professional diving certifications to recreational divers, dive professionals, dive centers, and institutional clients globally through its affiliated instructor network and NAUI CORE digital platform.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1960
- HeadquartersTampa, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What National Association of Underwater Instructors does
National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI Worldwide) is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit membership organization founded in 1960 and headquartered in Riverview, Florida. It operates as one of the oldest and largest international scuba diving certification agencies, delivering training programs that span entry-level recreational diving, technical diving, public safety diving, scientific diving, apnea, first aid, and dive professional leadership pathways. NAUI distributes its certifications through a global network of affiliated dive centers and independent certified instructors, supplemented by the NAUI CORE digital platform for member management, e-learning, and certification verification, plus a mobile app for on-the-go credential access. Institutional customers citing NAUI include Walt Disney World Resort, the U.S. Navy SEAL Teams, and NASA's Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory.
NAUI monetizes through three primary revenue streams: recurring professional diver and dive center membership dues, training and certification card fees (with course pricing set by individual dive centers rather than centrally), and a direct-to-consumer e-commerce store selling branded merchandise and training materials. The organization also operates program initiatives such as Armed Forces Programs (including DoD SkillBridge), a Diversity Scholarship, an Environmental Impact program, and a Mobile Training Team. GTM is channel-led: NAUI recruits and supports affiliate dive centers and instructors globally and runs the Corporate Alliances program with partners such as Divers Alert Network, 4Ocean, COARE, and STEPDive. Marketing is executed through the NAUI website and Sources blog, social media channels, the NAUI Community Forum, and the annual DEMA Show plus the NAUI Awards Ceremony.
National Association of Underwater Instructors firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- National Association of Underwater Instructors
- Legal name
- National Association of Underwater Instructors
- Website
- https://naui.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1960
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- NAUI is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit founded in 1960 and one of the oldest international scuba diving certification agencies. It delivers entry-level through technical and professional diving certifications to recreational divers, dive professionals, dive centers, and institutional clients globally through its affiliated instructor network and NAUI CORE digital platform.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
National Association of Underwater Instructors industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Scuba Diving Certification and Training
- NAICS
- Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620), Educational Support Services (611710)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Scuba Diving & Freediving Centers (Training, Guided Dives) (THAAAKAD)
Keywords
Where National Association of Underwater Instructors is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Tampa
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
National Association of Underwater Instructors business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Membership Fees: NAUI offers professional diver membership and dive center affiliate membership programs with annual renewals, providing members with certification administration, resources, and professional support.
- Training and Certification: Revenue generated through training course fees, instructor certifications, and diver certification cards. NAUI provides entry-level through leadership and technical diving courses.
- NAUI Store: Online merchandise store selling branded apparel (hats, towels), water bottle accessories, training materials, and educational products.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
National Association of Underwater Instructors product offering
Product offeringCore offering
NAUI is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit that develops and issues internationally recognized scuba diving certifications and delivers the underlying training curriculum through a global network of affiliated dive centers and instructors. Offerings span entry-level recreational, continuing education, technical, leadership (instructor), first aid, apnea/freediving, public safety, and scientific diving programs, backed by the NAUI CORE digital platform and the NAUI Mobile App for member services, e-learning, and certification verification.
Product overview
NAUI (National Association of Underwater Instructors) is a scuba diving certification and training organization operating as a unified platform combining certification management, educational programs, and member services. The core product suite consists of NAUI CORE (online certification and course management platform) and the NAUI Mobile App for mobile access, supported by the NAUI Store for training materials and merchandise. Training programs span entry-level recreational diving through advanced technical certifications including Technical Diver Training, Leadership Programs, First Aid, Apnea, Public Safety Diving, and Scientific Diving courses. Additional services include diver certification verification, dive center locator, and special initiatives such as Diversity Scholarship, Armed Forces Programs, Mobile Training Team, and Environmental Impact initiatives. The organization serves individual divers, dive professionals, dive centers, and institutional clients including Walt Disney World Resort, U.S. Navy SEAL Teams, and NASA's Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Scuba Diving Certification Training Programs
- NAUI Leadership and Instructor Certification Programs
- NAUI First Aid Certification Courses
- NAUI Technical Diver Training
- Apnea (Freediving) Training
- Public Safety Diving Training
- Scientific Diving Training
- NAUI CORE Platform
- NAUI Mobile App
- NAUI Store (Merchandise and Training Materials)
- NAUI Branded Merchandise
- Mobile Training Team
Companies that use National Association of Underwater Instructors
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
National Association of Underwater Instructors technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
National Association of Underwater Instructors partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered notable, core and regional.
- STEPDivenotableCollaborative partnership to develop and launch an innovative dive training series specifically designed for young divers, expanding NAUI's reach to new generations.
- COAREnotablePartnership providing exclusive seminar giveaways and support for NAUI member education and professional development programs.
- Divers Alert Network (DAN)coreDAN partnership provides diving safety resources, insurance information, and support services for NAUI members. DAN is featured on NAUI's website as a trusted partner for diver safety and insurance.
- DAN EducationcorePartnership for diver education and safety training resources, providing members with access to DAN's educational materials and safety programs.
- Department of Defense SkillBridgenotableMilitary career transition program allowing service members to receive commercial diving training and certifications during their final military service months.
- 4OceannotableOcean conservation partnership focused on marine debris removal and environmental impact initiatives. Joint efforts include beach cleanups and ocean conservation advocacy.
- SCUBA LATINA and Tarpoon Skin Diving CenterregionalPartnership to expand NAUI training in South Florida, with SCUBA LATINA and Tarpoon Skin Diving Center serving as authorized training providers.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
National Association of Underwater Instructors competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- SDI/TDI (Scuba Diving International / Technical Diving International): SDI/TDI is a certification agency group offering recreational (SDI) and technical (TDI) diving credentials through an affiliated instructor and dive-center network. It overlaps with NAUI most directly in technical diving and instructor-training markets.
- PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors): PADI is the world's largest for-profit scuba certification agency, issuing the majority of recreational diver certifications globally. It competes head-to-head with NAUI on entry-level, continuing education, and professional ratings, and is the primary benchmark for global market share in dive training.
- SSI (Scuba Schools International): SSI is another large global recreational scuba certification agency with a similar dive-center/instructor-network model. It competes directly with NAUI across entry-level through professional diver ratings and digital training platforms.
- BSAC (British Sub-Aqua Club): BSAC is a UK-based member-led scuba training organization with a long heritage, offering recreational diver and instructor certifications through affiliated clubs. It is a direct peer in nonprofit/club-based dive training models, particularly relevant to NAUI's European footprint.
- CMAS (Confédération Mondiale des Activités Subaquatiques): CMAS is an international federation of national underwater federations issuing scuba and freediving certifications. It is comparable to NAUI in its federation/network model and competes for recognition among European and government-affiliated divers.
Regional players
- ACUC (American Canadian Underwater Certifications): ACUC is a Canadian-based scuba certification agency with cross-recognition in international markets. It is comparable to NAUI as a smaller, regional certification body competing for instructor and dive-center affiliations in the North American market.
Emerging players
- RAID (Rebreather Association of International Divers): RAID is an international scuba certification agency offering recreational and technical programs through affiliated dive centers. It competes with NAUI for dive-center affiliations and end-diver certifications, particularly in resort and technical markets.
- AIDA (Association Internationale pour le Développement de l'Apnée): AIDA is the international governing body for freediving and breath-hold diving competitions and education. It is comparable to NAUI specifically in the apnea/freediving certification segment where NAUI also offers credentials.
- GUE (Global Underwater Explorers): GUE is a niche, standards-driven agency focused on technical, cave, and rebreather diving. It overlaps with NAUI in the technical diving and instructor-training segments where NAUI is also strongest.
Others
- Divers Alert Network (DAN): DAN is a nonprofit dive safety organization providing insurance, emergency hotlines, and research for the diving community. It is comparable to NAUI as a closely allied ecosystem participant — explicitly partnered with NAUI — that serves the same diver population with complementary services rather than competing certifications.
Market position
Strengths1 record
Weaknesses1 record
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
National Association of Underwater Instructors social profiles
Digital presenceNational Association of Underwater Instructors financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
National Association of Underwater Instructors leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
National Association of Underwater Instructors funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
National Association of Underwater Instructors 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 National Association of Underwater Instructors
What does National Association of Underwater Instructors do?
NAUI is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit that develops and issues internationally recognized scuba diving certifications and delivers the underlying training curriculum through a global network of affiliated dive centers and instructors. Offerings span entry-level recreational, continuing education, technical, leadership (instructor), first aid, apnea/freediving, public safety, and scientific diving programs, backed by the NAUI CORE digital platform and the NAUI Mobile App for member services, e-learning, and certification verification.
Is National Association of Underwater Instructors a public or private company?
National Association of Underwater Instructors is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was National Association of Underwater Instructors founded?
National Association of Underwater Instructors was founded in 1960. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is National Association of Underwater Instructors based?
National Association of Underwater Instructors is headquartered in Tampa, United States, in the North America region.
How does National Association of Underwater Instructors make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Membership Fees are the primary driver. The others are training and Certification and NAUI Store.
Who are National Association of Underwater Instructors's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are SDI/TDI (Scuba Diving International / Technical Diving International), PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors), SSI (Scuba Schools International), BSAC (British Sub-Aqua Club) and CMAS (Confédération Mondiale des Activités Subaquatiques). ACUC (American Canadian Underwater Certifications) is listed as a regional player. Emerging players are RAID (Rebreather Association of International Divers), AIDA (Association Internationale pour le Développement de l'Apnée) and GUE (Global Underwater Explorers). Divers Alert Network (DAN) is listed as an others.
Does National Association of Underwater Instructors have an API?
No public API is recorded for National Association of Underwater Instructors.
What industry is National Association of Underwater Instructors in?
National Association of Underwater Instructors's product category is Scuba Diving Certification and Training. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAAAKAD, Scuba Diving & Freediving Centers (Training, Guided Dives). Its NAICS code is 611620 and its SIC code is 8200.