Name

Subocea

Legal name

GEOSUB VOYAGES

Website

https://subocea.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Dive Travel Services

NAICS

Travel Agencies (561510), Tour Operators (56152)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Island, Beach & Resort Travel Agencies (THAKAFAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Diving Experiences (Scuba Dives, Dive Trips, PADI/SSI Courses) (THAJAJAD), Dive Centers & Scuba Training (PADI/SSI, certifications) (THAAAIAA)

Keywords

• Scuba diving travel
• Dive cruises
• Diving safaris
• Custom dive packages
• Group dive travel

Headquarters

HQ city

Marseille

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Dive trip sales: Subocea generates revenue by selling custom dive travel packages including cruises, stays, safaris, and expeditions. Packages are sold as per-person pricing (e.g., 450€ to 8990€ per person depending on destination and trip type). Revenue is primarily one-time transaction-based, combining package elements such as diving activities, accommodation, transfers, and meals. Some packages include optional upgrades (private cabin, superior deck, equipment rental, photo workshops) that generate additional upsell revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Subocea is a French scuba diving travel agency that designs and sells custom dive travel packages to 50+ destinations worldwide, including live-aboard diving cruises, land-based dive resort stays, and multi-destination dive safaris. The company serves individual divers and groups (clubs, companies, families) from France, Belgium, Switzerland, and Luxembourg, with 15 expert advisors providing personalized itinerary planning, group logistics, and bundling with insurance and conservation programs.

Product overview

Subocea is a scuba diving travel agency operated by GEOSUB VOYAGES (based in Marseille, France) offering a comprehensive portfolio of diving vacation products. The core offering consists of three main product lines: Croisières Plongée (live-aboard cruise diving packages), Séjours Plongée (land-based resort diving packages), and Safaris Plongée (multi-destination expedition diving). These are complemented by specialized sub-products including Expéditions by Subocea (exclusive expert-led expeditions with photography), Croisières Sciences Participatives OSI (citizen science cruises with PADI AWARE), and Croisières Gastronomiques Michel Portos (gourmet culinary cruises). Additional services include Voyages TEK (technical diving), Voyage en Apnée (freediving), Séjours Formation (PADI certification courses), Voyage en Groupe (group bookings), and Voyage Sur-Mesure (custom itinerary planning). The company also provides insurance partnerships with ASSURINCO and MUTUAIDE ASSISTANCE for trip protection. Operating from France, Belgium, Switzerland, and Luxembourg, Subocea serves over 61,000 divers annually across 40+ global destinations with 15 expert advisors and 26 years of experience.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Croisières Plongée (Diving Cruises) Live-aboard diving cruise packages offering multi-day immersive underwater experiences across major dive destinations including Egypt, Maldives, Indonesia, Philippines, Oman, and Micronesia, with guided dives, accommodation, and meals aboard specialized dive vessels.
• Séjours Plongée (Diving Stays) Land-based diving vacation packages pairing accommodation at partnered dive resorts with daily guided dives, suitable for various skill levels across Mediterranean, Caribbean, Indian Ocean, and Pacific destinations.
• Safaris Plongée (Diving Safaris) Multi-destination diving expeditions combining land and sea exploration with cultural experiences, offered in destinations like Indonesia, Tanzania/Zanzibar, South Africa, Philippines, and French Polynesia.
• Expéditions by Subocea Exclusive expedition packages featuring expert-led adventures in remote destinations (Philippines, Lanzarote, Dominica) with professional photography accompaniment, small groups, and itineraries outside standard tourist areas.
• Voyages TEK (Technical Diving Trips) Technical diving packages designed for advanced divers, including specialized equipment and training for deep or mixed-gas diving excursions.
• Voyage en Apnée (Freediving Trips) Specialized apnea/freediving vacation packages emphasizing intimate underwater encounters, freedom of movement, and spiritual depth exploration in various marine destinations.
• Voyage en Groupe (Group Travel) Customized group diving travel services for clubs, companies, families, and friends with dedicated logistics support, tiered pricing starting at 10 divers, and tailored itineraries.
• Séjours Formation (Training Vacations) PADI certification and continuing education diving packages that combine vacation travel with professional diving training from beginner to instructor levels.
• Voyage Plongée Sur-Mesure (Custom Diving Travel) Bespoke diving travel planning service matching individual preferences for destinations, dive themes, and frequency with personalized itineraries and single-point-of-contact advisors.
• Croisière Sciences Participatives OSI Participatory science cruise in partnership with PADI AWARE Foundation and Objectif Sciences International, enabling divers to contribute to global shark and ray population monitoring while diving in the Maldives.
• Croisières Gastronomiques Michel Portos Gourmet diving cruise experience combining exceptional Red Sea diving with culinary workshops, live demonstrations, and gala dinners led by Michelin-starred chef Michel Portos.
• L'Essentiel by Dune Curated essential diving experience package offering access to premium dive sites with streamlined logistics at competitive value.

Quantifiable outcome

• 61,000+ divers served historically
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 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

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ATR – Agir pour un Tourisme ResponsablecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Subocea joined ATR – Agir pour un Tourisme Responsable in 2024, aligning with a network of tourism operators committed to responsible and sustainable travel practices. This membership reflects Subocea's environmental values and provides credibility for its sustainability commitments.
• Sulubaai Foundation (Sulubaai France)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Sulubaai Foundation is an NGO created in 2012 in Palawan, Philippines, focused on marine biodiversity protection and restoration through coral restoration, creation of marine protected areas, and environmental education. Subocea partners on the 'Mangroves Philippines' project under UN SDG framework, contributing 0.75% of each booking price plus planting 1 tree per client, approximately 3,500 trees per year. Sulubaai France was created in 2018.
• PADI AWARE FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSubocea partners with PADI AWARE Foundation on science-participatory cruises that contribute to the Global Shark and Ray Census. These citizen science programs monitor shark and ray populations and support marine conservation, combining diving experiences with research activities and education.
• Objectif Sciences International (OSI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOSI is the scientific partner for Subocea's participatory science cruises. Participants make a donation corresponding to the supported program amount, which funds OSI's field research, education, and conservation missions. The NGO relies on volunteers for data collection and outreach.
• ASSURINCOminorOthersSubocea has designed two insurance products with the ASSURINCO insurance cabinet, specifically adapted to dive travel: Multirisque (Contract No. 7061), Multirisque with Epidemic/Pandemic Extension (Contract No. 7064), and Multirisque Premium (Contract No. 7062). These cover trip cancellation, price guarantee, baggage, and trip interruption.
• Mutuaide AssistanceminorOthersMutuaide Assistance provides 24/7 medical assistance during travel for Subocea customers. Contracts include Assistance Rapatriement (Contract No. 7063) and Multirisque with Epidemic/Pandemic Extension (Contract No. 7064). Available 7 days a week, 24 hours a day.
• Extra Divers SifahcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExtra Divers Sifah is a dive center based in Jebel Sifah, Oman, managed by a Franco-German couple. The center offers diving from a direct quay access and provides Subocea's Oman expedition itineraries. Known for colorful reefs, two wrecks, and exceptional marine life including seahorses, stingrays, turtles, and seasonal whale sharks.
• SeaOmancoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSeaOman is a dive operator based between Al Mouj Marina and The Mysk Hotel in Muscat, Oman. They operate speedboats for day trips to Daymaniyat Islands and Fahal Island. Subocea uses SeaOman for the Oman expedition itinerary's final diving days.
• Dune Maldives (Dune World)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDune Maldives operates the liveaboard vessels (Théia, Black Manta) and dive logistics for Subocea's Maldives cruises. They provide local dive expertise, boats, and crew for science-participatory and standard cruise programs in the Maldives.
• OVHminorOthersOVH is the web hosting provider for Subocea's website (dune.quai13.net/subocea.com).
• Michel PortosminorOthersChef Michel Portos (double Michelin-starred) partners with Subocea for gastronomic dive cruises in Egypt. He designs exclusive culinary workshops, collaborative cooking experiences, and a gala dinner aboard DUNE cruise boats.
• DUNE (Dune World / Dune SA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDune (Dune World) is Subocea's primary operating brand and partner, providing the fleet of liveaboard cruise vessels (Dune Aurora, Silky, Titan, Longara, etc.), dive centers (DUNE Mexico, Dune Maldives), and a network of curated dive itineraries. Subocea By DUNE represents the integration of these two brands.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• PADI Travel: Online dive travel marketplace owned by PADI, booking dive resorts and liveaboards globally. Competes for the same dive travel booking with broader geographic reach, though primarily self-serve vs. Subocea's advisor-led model.
• Liveaboard.com: Specialized online booking platform for liveaboard dive cruises worldwide. Direct competitor in the scuba dive travel aggregation space, though more transactional/OTA vs. Subocea's custom itinerary focus.
• Dune World: Parent and sister brand to Subocea. Dune World operates the liveaboard fleet (Aurora, Silky, Titan), dive centers in Maldives/Mexico, and the integrated DUNE/Subocea cruise program. Most directly comparable as the underlying operating platform.
• Aggressor Adventures: US-based liveaboard dive cruise operator with global fleet serving Caribbean, Pacific, and Indian Ocean destinations. Directly competes for scuba cruise bookings with similar product (multi-day dive cruises, all-inclusive packages) and target customer (certified recreational divers).
• M/Y Blue Horizon: Liveaboard dive cruise operator running Red Sea, Egyptian, and Sudan itineraries — destinations where Subocea sells heavily. Direct competitor in Egypt/Red Sea dive cruises.
• Blue Safari: Maldives-focused liveaboard and dive resort operator offering cruises and stays. Comparable as a destination dive travel specialist targeting recreational divers seeking premium itineraries.

Broad incumbents

• Voyageurs du Monde: Major French specialty tour operator offering tailor-made travel worldwide, including adventure and nature segments. Comparable as a French specialty travel agency with custom itinerary model, though broader than dive-only focus.
• Cercle des Vacances: French luxury tour operator offering custom and themed travel worldwide. Comparable as a French-language premium travel agency with custom itinerary design, though broader portfolio than dive-only.
• Voyage Privé: French private sales club for luxury travel and hotel deals. Comparable as a French-language travel intermediary reaching premium consumer segment, though more transactional vs. dive-specialized.

Regional players

• Trèsors de Méditerranée: French travel agency specializing in Mediterranean and European coastal experiences. Comparable as a French specialty travel agency curating niche experiences, though Mediterranean-focused vs. Subocea's global dive reach.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/subocea
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/subocea

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 Subocea