Subsea Services
Subsea Services is an independent Santa Barbara, CA consulting firm providing professional diving and underwater technology services — including ANSI-compliant training, legal expert witness work, ROV pilot staffing, and technical documentation — to government, education, research, entertainment, and commercial clients since 1989.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1989
- HeadquartersSanta Barbara, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Subsea Services does
Subsea Services is an independent consulting firm headquartered in Santa Barbara, California, founded in 1989 by Don Barthelmess to provide professional services for diving and underwater technology. The firm operates as a single-entity consulting practice delivering a broad suite of services rather than a single platform product: legal expert consulting and witness services, customized ANSI-compliant commercial diving and hyperbaric training, SCUBA certification through Instructor Trainer level (including Divers Alert Network courses), advanced technical diving training, technical manual and procedures development, project management, ROV pilot and technician staffing, underwater photography and videography, and multimedia/web/educational technology content production.
The underlying technology is conventional marine operations equipment — SCUBA systems, hyperbaric chambers, ROVs (marketed in partnership with Hydrovision Ltd. of Aberdeen, Scotland since 1992, and its sister company Seaeye Marine), and surface/underwater imaging gear — supplemented by domain-specific instructional and documentation expertise. The firm has no software platform, no proprietary data assets, and no AI/ML capability; value is delivered through credentialed personnel, with the founder/principal Don Barthelmess as the primary relationship and delivery contact.
The business model is professional-services based: project-by-project consulting engagements and customized training programs sold via direct outreach, referrals, and industry partnerships (NAUI, Hydrovision, DAN, the Association of Commercial Diving Educators, and the International Diving Schools Association). Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed, with engagements structured as multi-year contracts. The customer base spans federal, state, and local government (NOAA, US Navy Underwater Construction Team, NPS, City of Santa Barbara), higher education (UCSB, Santa Barbara City College, Maine Maritime Academy, Northern Marianas College), marine research (MBARI, Hyperbaric Research and Treatment Center), entertainment (SeaWorld, Busch Entertainment, Walt Disney World), energy (Oceaneering International, Sempra Energy), legal and insurance (Schwabe Williamson & Wyatt, Forensis Group, Liberty Mutual), publishing (Dive Training Magazine, Best Publishing), and trade associations.
Subsea Services firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Subsea Services
- Legal name
- Subsea Services
- Website
- https://subseaservices.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1989
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Subsea Services is an independent Santa Barbara, CA consulting firm providing professional diving and underwater technology services — including ANSI-compliant training, legal expert witness work, ROV pilot staffing, and technical documentation — to government, education, research, entertainment, and commercial clients since 1989.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Subsea Services industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Underwater Technology and Diving Consulting Services
- NAICS
- Support Activities for Water Transportation (4883)
- SIC
- Oil & Gas Field Services, Nec (1389)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Underwater Salvage & Diving Operations (UWILD, Cutting, Welding) (IMAJANAD)
Keywords
Where Subsea Services is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Santa Barbara
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Subsea Services business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Professional Consulting Services: Consulting fees for diving and underwater technology expertise, including legal expert consulting, witness services, project management, and technical consulting
- Training Services: Customized training programs for commercial diving, hyperbaric operations, SCUBA certification, and technical diving
- Multimedia and Content Services: Surface and underwater photography/video, multimedia production, web design, and educational technology services
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom consulting and professional services |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels3 records
Subsea Services product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Subsea Services is an independent consulting firm that delivers professional services for diving and underwater technology. Offerings include customized ANSI commercial diving and hyperbaric training, SCUBA and technical diving certifications through Instructor Trainer level, legal expert consulting and witness services, technical manual writing, project management, ROV pilot and technician staffing, and underwater photography/video production. The firm serves government, education, research, commercial diving, and entertainment clients.
Product overview
Subsea Services is an independent consulting firm providing professional services for diving and underwater technology since 1989. The company operates as a single-service consulting organization rather than a platform architecture, offering a comprehensive suite of diving and marine services. Core offerings include specialized training programs (commercial diving, SCUBA certification through Instructor Trainer level, and technical diving), legal expert consulting and witness services, project management, technical manual development, ROV pilots and technicians, and multimedia production services. All services are delivered by personnel with over 35 years of specialized diving and marine experience.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Legal Expert Consulting and Witness Services
Quantifiable outcome
- 35+ years continuous operation in diving and underwater technology consulting
Companies that use Subsea Services
Customer profileNamed customers26 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Subsea Services technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Subsea Services partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- NAUI (National Association of Underwater Instructors)coreSubsea Services partnered with NAUI to deliver ITC 2004 (Instructor Training Conference). The partnership involves hosting NAUI instructor training programs including business of diving, legal aspects, teaching theory, and preventing accidents. NAUI provides certification authority while Subsea Services provides training facilities and instruction.
- Hydrovision Ltd.coreSubsea Services has worked with Hydrovision Ltd. since 1992 in the development and marketing of their ROV product line. Hydrovision, based in Aberdeen Scotland, is a leading manufacturer of ROVs and support equipment for the subsea industry. Subsea Services assists in product development and serves as a marketing partner in the North American region.
- Divers Alert Network (DAN)minorDivers Alert Network is a scuba diving and dive safety association. Subsea Services offers DAN courses as part of their training offerings and maintains an affiliate relationship with DAN for certification purposes.
- Santa Barbara Sea CenterminorThe Santa Barbara Sea Center, operated by Santa Barbara Nature & History Associates, received a donated Offshore Hyball ROV System from Hydrovision Ltd. for educational display. Subsea Services facilitates this partnership as part of their Hydrovision relationship and local marine education outreach.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Subsea Services competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Oceaneering International: Large, publicly traded subsea engineering and ROV/diving services firm. Comparable because it operates in the same subsea services market and is also a named client of Subsea Services; however, Oceaneering is a much broader incumbent spanning vessels, ROVs, and tooling rather than a specialist consulting practice.
- Subsea 7: Global subsea construction and inspection, maintenance and repair (IMR) contractor. Comparable as a large incumbent in subsea services that competes for and consumes diving/ROV expertise of the type Subsea Services provides.
- Fugro: Global geo-data specialist with subsea services, ROV operations, and hydrographic survey capabilities. Comparable broad incumbent competing for underwater inspection and survey work.
- Helix Energy Solutions (formerly Cal Dive International): Established offshore contractor providing commercial diving, ROV, and subsea construction services. Comparable as a buyer and competitor for commercial diving and subsea work, though at much larger institutional scale than Subsea Services.
Direct peers
- International Diving Services: Commercial diving services firm also listed as a Subsea Services client. Comparable small specialist serving commercial diving operators with similar underwater operations.
- Underwater Surveys, Inc. Small commercial diving and underwater survey firm listed as a Subsea Services client. Directly comparable niche operator offering hydrographic and underwater inspection services.
- Diving Systems International: Commercial diving equipment and training provider. Comparable as a small specialist serving the same commercial diving training and equipment ecosystem in which Subsea Services operates.
- American Divers, Inc. Commercial diving company named on Subsea Services' client list. Closely comparable in scale and service mix as a small commercial diving contractor.
- Underwater Technology Services: Subsea technology services provider and listed Subsea Services client. Closely comparable small specialist in underwater inspection and intervention work.
Emerging players
- ROVCO (part of Subsea-Vision group): Specialist ROV inspection and hydrographic survey provider. Comparable because it operates at the intersection of ROV piloting and subsea services that Subsea Services supports via its Hydrovision/Seaeye channel.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Subsea Services social profiles
Digital presenceSubsea Services financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Subsea Services leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Subsea Services funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Subsea Services 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 Subsea Services
What does Subsea Services do?
Subsea Services is an independent consulting firm that delivers professional services for diving and underwater technology. Offerings include customized ANSI commercial diving and hyperbaric training, SCUBA and technical diving certifications through Instructor Trainer level, legal expert consulting and witness services, technical manual writing, project management, ROV pilot and technician staffing, and underwater photography/video production. The firm serves government, education, research, commercial diving, and entertainment clients.
Is Subsea Services a public or private company?
Subsea Services is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Subsea Services founded?
Subsea Services was founded in 1989. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Subsea Services based?
Subsea Services is headquartered in Santa Barbara, United States, in the North America region.
How does Subsea Services make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Professional Consulting Services are the primary driver. The others are training Services and multimedia and Content Services.
Who are Subsea Services's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Oceaneering International, Subsea 7, Fugro and Helix Energy Solutions (formerly Cal Dive International). Direct peers are International Diving Services, Underwater Surveys, Inc., Diving Systems International, American Divers, Inc. and Underwater Technology Services. ROVCO (part of Subsea-Vision group) is listed as an emerging player.
Does Subsea Services have an API?
No public API is recorded for Subsea Services.
What industry is Subsea Services in?
Subsea Services's product category is Underwater Technology and Diving Consulting Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAJANAD, Underwater Salvage & Diving Operations (UWILD, Cutting, Welding). Its NAICS code is 4883 and its SIC code is 1389.