What Ocean Enterprises does

Ocean Enterprises is a privately held, full-service scuba diving center founded in 1979 and headquartered at 7710 Balboa Avenue in San Diego, California. The company operates as a PADI 5-Star Instructor Development Center (IDC), delivering the complete PADI certification pathway from entry-level Open Water Diver through professional Divemaster and Open Water Scuba Instructor, alongside specialty certifications (Enriched Air Nitrox, Dry Suit Diver, Avelo RAD) and supporting training in CPR/First Aid and emergency response through partnerships with EFR and DAN. Underlying technology is largely conventional: PADI eLearning for online theory, a physical training facility with pool sessions and open-water dives at La Jolla Shores, and a mechanical Avelo Dive System for next-generation buoyancy-controlled instruction.

The business serves a diversified customer base spanning individual recreational divers, aspiring diving professionals, federal and state government agencies and military personnel, public safety dive teams, corporate and school programs, and youth through the Junior Dive Academy sub-brand. Revenue is generated across six streams: PADI certification course fees, multi-brand equipment retail (PADI, Aqualung, ScubaPro, Mares, Suunto, Bare, Sealife, Apex), equipment rentals with usage-based daily pricing, factory-authorized repair and servicing, dive travel bookings via oceanenterprisestravel.com, and a dedicated government/military sales channel supported by a GSA Advantage Contract maintained since 2003.

Distribution combines a single physical retail showroom, a repair department, an e-commerce storefront, walk-in registrations, and a named direct sales team (Mike Swan, Maylen Sevilla, Mario Kurn) for institutional procurement. The company employs 11-50 staff including two PADI Platinum Course Directors and multiple Master Instructors and IDC Staff Instructors with backgrounds spanning commercial diving, US Navy contracting, Swiss Air Force instructing, and technical diving — credentials that underpin a 99% reported PADI Instructor Exam pass rate and a cumulative certification track record of more than 1,000 divers per senior instructor.

Name

Ocean Enterprises

Legal name

Ocean Enterprises, Inc.

Website

https://oceanenterprises.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Ocean Enterprises is a 45+ year-old, PADI 5-Star IDC dive center in San Diego offering scuba certification courses, equipment retail, rentals, repairs, and travel — serving recreational divers, military/government agencies, corporate programs, and youth through its Junior Dive Academy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Scuba Diving Education and Equipment Services

SIC

Services-Equipment Rental & Leasing, Nec (7359)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Dive & Snorkel Equipment Rental, Retail & Boat Services (compressors, gear hire) (THAAAIAL), Diving & Snorkeling Retail (Scuba Gear) (CRAMAIAF)

Keywords

• Scuba diving courses
• Scuba certification training
• Diving equipment sales
• Scuba gear rentals
• Diving repair services

Headquarters

HQ city

San Diego

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Scuba Certification Courses: PADI certification courses from beginner (Open Water Diver) through professional levels (Divemaster, Instructor Development). Revenue generated through course fees, eLearning materials, and certification processing fees. Courses include recreational, specialty, and professional pathways.
2. Equipment Sales: Retail sales of scuba diving equipment including wetsuits, dry suits, regulators, BCDs, fins, masks, computers, and accessories. Multiple premium brands carried including PADI, Aqualung, ScubaPro, Mares, Suunto, and others.
3. Repair and Servicing: Factory-authorized scuba equipment repairs including regulator service, BCD repairs, and full dive gear servicing. One of the largest scuba repair departments in Southern California with fast turnaround.
4. Equipment Rentals: Daily and multi-day rental of scuba gear including BCDs, regulators, wetsuits, tanks, fins, masks, dry suits, and complete packages. Also includes air fills and nitrox fills.
5. Travel Services: Dive travel services through oceanenterprisestravel.com offering organized dive trips and excursions.
6. Government/Military Sales: Sales to Federal & State Government Agencies, Military Personnel, Public Safety Dive Teams, and Commercial accounts with GSA Advantage Contract pricing and tax-exempt purchasing.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Ocean Enterprises is a PADI 5-Star IDC Dive Center in San Diego providing scuba certification courses from beginner through professional instructor levels, alongside retail sales of diving equipment, daily and multi-day gear rentals, factory-authorized repair services, and dive travel packages. The company also operates a dedicated government and military sales program supported by a GSA Advantage Contract.

Product overview

Ocean Enterprises is a 5-Star PADI Dive Center offering a comprehensive suite of scuba diving products and services centered around PADI certification training programs. The core offering consists of progressive certification courses (Open Water Diver, Advanced Open Water Diver, Rescue Diver, Divemaster) and professional instructor development (IDC, IDC Staff Instructor, Master Instructor). Specialty courses include Enriched Air Nitrox, Dry Suit Diver, Deep Diver, Wreck Diver, Night Diver, and the innovative Avelo RAD system. Supporting services include scuba equipment repair (regulator service, BCD repairs), equipment rentals (tanks, BCDs, wetsuits, dry suits), military/government sales, and corporate/school scuba programs. The Junior Dive Academy provides youth aquatic education, while PADI Materials and eLearning products complement in-person training. Together, these form an integrated full-service dive center covering beginner to professional-level education, equipment sales and service, and specialized diving programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Junior Dive Academy: Youth aquatic adventure program offering ocean snorkeling, pool-based scuba experiences, and marine science education for kids ages 8 and up.

Products and services

• Open Water Diver Course Entry-level PADI scuba certification course teaching fundamental dive skills, equipment setup, breathing, buoyancy, and underwater comfort through PADI eLearning, pool sessions, and four open water dives at La Jolla Shores. Targeted at beginner recreational divers.
• Advanced Open Water Diver Course Intermediate PADI certification course featuring five adventure dives including deep and navigation dives, with specialty options like peak performance buoyancy, night diving, and fish identification to build confidence and refine underwater skills. For divers holding an Open Water certification.
• Rescue Diver Course Professional-level PADI course teaching problem prevention, emergency response techniques, and rescue skills above and below the surface to build confidence and crisis management abilities.
• Scuba Review (PADI ReActivate) Skill refresh program for certified divers returning to the water after a hiatus, featuring a personalized pool session review with optional PADI ReActivate eLearning for scuba concept refresher.
• Divemaster Course First professional-level PADI certification enabling divers to supervise diving activities, assist with dive classes, and guide certified divers, with emphasis on leadership, dive theory, watermanship, and problem-solving skills.
• Enriched Air Nitrox Specialty PADI specialty certification teaching the use of nitrox breathing gas with higher oxygen content, enabling longer dives and shorter surface intervals through online learning and classroom practical sessions.
• Dry Suit Diver Specialty PADI specialty certification teaching proper drysuit use, air control, and buoyancy maintenance in cold-water environments through eLearning, pool training, and open water dives.
• Avelo RAD Course Specialty certification course teaching use of the Avelo Dive System with revolutionary integrated buoyancy control and high-pressure water tank technology for near-perfect buoyancy control and minimal effort underwater.
• PADI Instructor Development Course (IDC) Comprehensive PADI instructor training program preparing Divemasters to become PADI Open Water Scuba Instructors through hands-on teaching practice and standards mastery.
• Junior Dive Academy Youth aquatic adventure program for ages 8 and up featuring ocean snorkeling, pool-based scuba experiences, marine science education, and summer day camps with themes like Cetacean Migrations and Sea Lions & Seals.
• Corporate and School Scuba Programs Be a Diver Corporate and School program offering pool sessions, team building activities, and Emergency First Response first aid training for companies and educational institutions, with employee discounts on certifications and gear.
• Scuba Equipment Repair Services Factory-authorized scuba equipment repair services including regulator service, BCD repairs, and full dive gear servicing, delivered by factory-trained technicians with over 40 years of regulator expertise.
• Scuba Gear Rentals Daily and multi-day equipment rental service offering buoyancy compensators, regulators, wetsuits, tanks, fins, masks, dry suits, and complete dive packs with 24-hour and additional day pricing, plus air and nitrox fills.
• Military and Government Sales Government and commercial sales program serving Federal and State agencies, military personnel, and public safety dive teams with GSA Advantage Contract pricing, Most Preferred Customer pricing, and tax-exempt purchasing for federal and out-of-state agencies.

Quantifiable outcome

• 99% PADI Instructor Exam pass rate
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, secondary and minor.

• PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOcean Enterprises is a PADI 5-Star IDC Dive Center and 5-Star IDC Center authorized to deliver all PADI certification courses from beginner through professional instructor levels. This is their primary training certification partner providing course materials, standards, eLearning platforms, and professional development for their instructor team.
• Avelo Dive SystemcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOcean Enterprises offers exclusive Avelo Dive System certification courses featuring revolutionary integrated buoyancy control technology. They are an authorized Avelo training provider with certified instructors for the RAD (Revolutionary Aquanautic Diving) course.
• Emergency First Response (EFR)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerOcean Enterprises offers EFR Primary Care (CPR) and Secondary Care (First Aid) courses as well as EFR Instructor training. Required prerequisite for Rescue Diver certification and popular as standalone workplace safety training.
• DAN (Divers Alert Network)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerOcean Enterprises offers DAN DFA (Diving First Aid) and DAN Emergency Oxygen (EO2) courses. DAN training is recognized as the most comprehensive first aid course in the dive industry.
• GSA (General Services Administration)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOcean Enterprises maintains a GSA Advantage Contract (since 2003) allowing Federal, State, and City agencies to purchase dive equipment through government procurement channels with preferred customer pricing and tax-exempt purchasing options.
• Ocean Enterprises FoundationsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliated non-profit foundation supporting military veterans and injured service members through scuba training and ocean therapy programs. Kym Larsen serves as Veteran Liaison coordinating training with veteran organizations.
• REEF (Reef Environmental Education Foundation)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOcean Enterprises hosts free monthly REEF Fish Identification courses every 3rd Wednesday at 6:00pm, allowing divers to become citizen scientists while learning to identify local fish and invertebrates.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/OEScubaDiving
• Facebookfacebook.com/OceanEnterprises

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 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 Ocean Enterprises