DIVE FACTORY GmbH

What DIVE FACTORY GmbH does

DIVE FACTORY GmbH is a privately held Swiss diving center headquartered in Gretzenbach, Solothurn, founded in 1983. It operates as Switzerland's first PADI 5-Star Career Development Center (CDC), the highest tier of PADI dive center certification, on a 450m²+ facility that houses a dive shop, theory room, equipment service workshop, and air/Nitrox filling station. The company delivers the full PADI curriculum from introductory Discover Scuba programs through professional instructor certification (Divemaster, IDC, IDC Staff Instructor, Course Director), supported by a team of 45+ PADI-certified professionals including two Course Directors and multiple IDC Staff Instructors.

The business operates as a one-stop diving ecosystem combining education, retail, technical services, travel, and medical coordination. Revenue streams include PADI course fees (beginner through professional), equipment retail and rental (partnered with MARES), air and Nitrox fills, cylinder testing and inspection, equipment repair, and organized group dive travel packages priced from CHF 2,395 (Egypt solar eclipse) to approximately CHF 14,900 (Galapagos), distributed in partnership with WeDive Travel AG. Supporting services include dive medicine coordination (Lungenfachzentrum Fiechter, Pneumologie Zentrum Aarau), DAN Europe dive insurance referrals, and AWARE/Sharkproject environmental programming.

The go-to-market is community-led and direct-to-consumer, anchored by the #divefactoryfamily brand and recurring events (monthly Plauschtauchen, Dive-Höck, Waldfest, Fernweh Apero), with a 5.0/5.0 Google rating from 54 verified reviews. Technology is conventional SaaS: edoobox.com booking, Google Analytics, Facebook Pixel, Twilio SMS/voice, Pingen.com mailings, and Amazon S3 storage. The company is led by Managing Director Samuel von Rotz, with Sandra Krüsi heading the dive store and Anna von Rotz running marketing and format management. No external investors, M&A activity, or public listing have been identified.

Name

DIVE FACTORY GmbH

Legal name

DIVE FACTORY GmbH

Website

https://divefactory.ch

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

DIVE FACTORY GmbH is a Swiss diving center in Gretzenbach and Switzerland's first PADI 5-Star Career Development Center, offering PADI courses from beginner to professional instructor level, equipment retail, travel packages, and dive medicine coordination through a 45+ person team.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Scuba Diving Instruction

akta.pro primary industry

Scuba Diving & Freediving Centers (Training, Guided Dives) (THAAAKAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

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

Keywords

• Scuba diving instruction
• PADI certification courses
• Diving equipment retail
• Dive travel services
• First aid training

Headquarters

HQ city

Gretzenbach

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. PADI Diving Courses: Revenue from teaching PADI diving courses ranging from beginner (Schnuppertauchen, Open Water Diver) through professional levels (Divemaster, IDC for Instructor certification), including specialty courses (Dry Suit, Nitrox EAN, Night Diving, Deep Diving, Underwater Photography, Sidemount, etc.), Kids courses (Bubblemaker, Junior OWD), and Emergency First Response training.
2. Dive Equipment Retail and Rental: Sale of diving equipment (masks, snorkels, fins, regulators, BCDs, wetsuits, dive computers) through the on-site Tauchshop. Rental of diving equipment also offered. Partners include MARES.
3. Air and Nitrox Gas Sales: Sale of compressed air and Nitrox (EAN) fills for diving cylinders.
4. Cylinder Testing and Inspection: Cylinder testing and inspection services (Flaschenprüfung) for scuba tanks.
5. Revision and Repair Services: Maintenance and repair services for diving equipment.
6. Dive Travel Packages: Organized group dive travel packages including liveaboard safaris (Egypt Red Sea, Scotland Scapa Flow, Maldives, Galapagos, Mozambique) and resort diving. Partnered with WeDive Travel AG for travel organization. Pricing from CHF 2,395 to CHF 14,900 per trip.
7. Travel Advisory Services: Personalized dive travel consultation services offered directly at the dive center, including WeDive travel planning support. New service introduced at DIVE FACTORY.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

DIVE FACTORY GmbH is a Swiss PADI 5-Star Career Development Center (CDC) — the first in Switzerland — operating since 1983 from Gretzenbach. It delivers the full range of PADI diving courses (from Discover Scuba through Divemaster and Instructor levels), sells diving equipment through its on-site Tauchstore, organizes dive travel, and provides AED and first-aid training.

Product overview

DIVE FACTORY GmbH operates as a comprehensive diving center providing an integrated portfolio of services centered around PADI-certified diving education and experiential diving services. The core offering consists of PADI diving courses spanning from introductory Discover Scuba programs through professional instructor certifications, with the company distinguished as Switzerland's first PADI 5-Star Career Development Center (CDC). Supporting the educational programs is a full-service dive center offering equipment sales, air/Nitrox fills, cylinder testing, and repair services. The company extends its portfolio with organized group dive travel experiences including liveaboard safaris, environmental protection initiatives, medical examination coordination, and insurance services through partnerships. The product ecosystem is unified around delivering complete diving experiences from initial training through ongoing diving activities and travel adventures.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• PADI Diving Courses Certified PADI diving courses ranging from entry-level Discover Scuba and Open Water Diver through Advanced, Rescue, specialty ratings, Divemaster, and Instructor-level certifications. Designed for adult recreational divers seeking to begin or progress their diving credentials.
• Tauchstore (Dive Equipment Retail) On-site retail store selling diving equipment and accessories to divers. Customers include students of the dive center and outside divers seeking equipment from a specialty retailer.
• Dive Travel Organized dive trips and dive holidays arranged by DIVE FACTORY GmbH for certified divers. Used by recreational divers who prefer group/expedition travel over independent trip planning.
• AED and First-Aid Training Certified AED and first-aid training courses for businesses, organizations, and community groups needing workplace or member safety certifications.
• Kids Diving Programs Introductory and junior diving experiences designed for children, purchased by parents/guardians seeking safe entry-level exposure to scuba diving.

Quantifiable outcome

• 5.0 out of 5.0 stars from 54 verified Google reviews, indicating exceptional customer satisfaction.

Named customers4 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

Integration1 record

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• PADIcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPADI is the world's leading scuba diving training organization. DIVE FACTORY operates as a PADI 5-Star CDC (Career Development Center), the highest center level in Switzerland, offering the full range of PADI courses from beginner to professional instructor. PADI provides curriculum, certification standards, and marketing materials. DIVE FACTORY is also the first CDC in Switzerland.
• WeDive Travel AG (wedive.ch)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWeDive Travel AG is DIVE FACTORY's primary travel partner for organizing and booking dive travel packages worldwide. WeDive handles the logistics, flights, and booking administration, while DIVE FACTORY organizes group trips and provides staff leadership. DIVE FACTORY also offers in-store WeDive travel consultation. WeDive is the contractual partner for travel arrangements, with DIVE FACTORY acting as group organizer.
• DAN EuropecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerDAN Europe is the leading diver accident insurance provider in Europe. DIVE FACTORY actively promotes DAN Europe dive insurance on its website and in-store, serving as a referral partner. Insurance is a mandatory requirement for joining DIVE FACTORY's organized dive trips.
• Pneumologie Zentrum AarauminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPneumology center in Aarau specializing in dive medicine and lung examinations. Recommended by DIVE FACTORY for required medical diving examinations (Tauchuntersuch).
• Lungenfachzentrum FiechterminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLung and dive medicine specialist based in Gretzenbach, offering direct on-site Tauchuntersuch (diving medical examination) appointments at the DIVE FACTORY dive center, simplifying the medical clearance process for students.
• PADI AWARE FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPADI AWARE Foundation is the environmental arm of PADI focused on ocean conservation and reef protection. DIVE FACTORY participates in AWARE courses (e.g., Tauchen gegen den Müll, Project AWARE) and promotes marine conservation as part of its environmental philosophy.
• SharkprojectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSharkproject is an international shark conservation organization. DIVE FACTORY is a partner advocating for shark protection, promoting the organization's mission to protect the world's shark populations through education and action.
• Extra Divers El QuseirminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDive center in El Quseir, Egypt, where DIVE FACTORY groups have extended their stays after liveaboard safaris. Long-standing relationship with DIVE FACTORY groups staying at the Mövenpick Resort.
• Red Snapper BalsthalminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner dive school in Balsthal offering diving instruction, dive work services, and operating as a diving club. DIVE FACTORY and Red Snapper share mutual referrals and collaborative diving community activities.
• Infinite Drop High DivingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDIVE FACTORY is the official partner of the Cliffdiving Championship as safety divers, accompanying high divers at events and providing safety coverage during their jumps. Demonstrates community involvement and event expertise.
• Sporttaucher AarauminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDiving club in Aarau open to all diving enthusiasts. DIVE FACTORY encourages customers to join for club activities including group diving, underwater rugby, fondue events, and social gatherings, creating a community bridge.
• TC Aarau (Tauchclub Aarau)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerTC Aarau maintains visibility reports of Swiss lake conditions (Sichtweiten der Schweizer Seen), shared with DIVE FACTORY customers to help prepare for diving conditions across Switzerland.
• Sea ShepherdminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSea Shepherd Greece event hosted at DIVE FACTORY's 200-BAR in Gretzenbach on January 30, 2025, featuring a presentation on Sea Shepherd's marine conservation work in Greece, followed by a Buddys-Apero social event.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights10 records

Direct peers

• Euro-Divers: Euro-Divers is an international dive center chain operating multiple resort locations with similar PADI course, retail, and excursion service offerings; comparable to DIVE FACTORY in business model (training + retail + guided dives) though it operates in resort destinations rather than a single domestic facility.
• Scuba Schools International (SSI): SSI is a direct competitor training agency offering parallel Open Water through Instructor certification programs; comparable to DIVE FACTORY because Swiss divers often choose between PADI-affiliated and SSI-affiliated dive centers for the same recreational and professional pathways.
• NAUI Worldwide: NAUI is an established alternative scuba training agency offering equivalent recreational and professional certifications; comparable to DIVE FACTORY because it represents one of the alternative agency pathways a Swiss dive center could affiliate with instead of PADI.
• WeDive Travel AG: WeDive Travel AG is DIVE FACTORY's primary travel partner and organizes the liveaboard and resort trips DIVE FACTORY sells; it is directly comparable as a Swiss-based dive travel operator targeting the same German-speaking Swiss diver audience.

Emerging players

• Two Fish Divers: Two Fish Divers is an Indonesia-based dive center chain offering PADI courses, fun dives, and resort diving; comparable to DIVE FACTORY in integrated course-and-excursion model though geographically focused on Southeast Asia rather than Switzerland.

Broad incumbents

• PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors): PADI is the world's largest scuba training organization and the franchisor/curriculum authority behind DIVE FACTORY's CDC status; comparable as the umbrella incumbent that defines the standards, certifications, and brand framework within which DIVE FACTORY operates.
• CMAS (Confédération Mondiale des Activités Subaquatiques): CMAS is a global federation of national diving federations offering an alternative certification pathway; comparable to PADI in DIVE FACTORY's competitive context as an incumbent training authority that any Swiss dive center could partner with instead of PADI.

Others

• MARES: MARES is a major diving equipment manufacturer whose products DIVE FACTORY retails and services; comparable as an upstream supplier/partner whose brand and product roadmap directly affect DIVE FACTORY's retail revenue and equipment service offering.
• DAN Europe: DAN Europe is DIVE FACTORY's dive accident insurance partner and the leading provider of diver insurance in Europe; comparable as an ecosystem enabler whose mandatory insurance products are bundled into DIVE FACTORY's course and travel offering.

Regional players

• Tauchschule Bodensee: Tauchschule Bodensee is a German dive school on Lake Constance, immediately adjacent to the Swiss market DIVE FACTORY serves; comparable as a regional German-speaking competitor offering overlapping PADI/SSI courses, equipment retail, and lake-based dive experiences.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/divefactory.ch
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/divefactory
• Instagraminstagram.com/divefactory.ch

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 DIVE FACTORY GmbH