ECO DIVE CENTER

What ECO DIVE CENTER does

Eco Dive Center is a privately held, family-owned scuba diving school and retail operation headquartered at 4027 Sepulveda Blvd in Culver City, California, founded in 2004 by co-owners Ron and Beth Beltramo. The company operates as a PADI and SDI 5-Star Instructor Development Center, delivering roughly 28 certification courses spanning beginner (Scuba Diver, Open Water), advanced (Advanced, Rescue, Nitrox, Deep, Wreck, Sidemount), technical (Tec 40/45/50, rebreather) and professional tiers (Divemaster, Instructor Development Course), alongside a full-line scuba equipment retail showroom with platinum-level dealer status across brands including Scubapro, Mares, Oceanic, Shearwater, Garmin, Atomic Aquatics, BARE and TUSA.

The business runs five revenue streams: equipment retail sales (with price-match guarantee and free certification bundling), certification course tuition ($185-$910), local island boat charters to Catalina/Anacapa/Santa Cruz/Farnsworth/oil rigs via partnerships with six Southern California dive boats ($209-$245 per trip), tropical group dive travel to Fiji, Maldives, Red Sea, and La Paz organized by in-house travel agent Beth Beltramo, and ancillary services including equipment rentals, repairs, and tank fills (air and Nitrox). The company ships equipment globally via a BigCommerce e-commerce platform.

The company employs 62+ people across 32 instructors, 8 captains, 12 lifeguards, and 10 in-store sales crew, and supports a community program — the Eco Explorers Dive Club — with monthly Dive Club Nights, weekly beach dives, Women's Dive Day, and annual coastal clean-up events. It has received the Project AWARE Foundation Environmental Achievement Award and California Green Business Network certification (2018), with ongoing kelp restoration and solar-powered operations reinforcing an environmental positioning that differentiates it from competing LA-area dive shops.

Name

ECO DIVE CENTER

Legal name

Eco Dive Center

Website

https://ecodivecenter.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Eco Dive Center is a family-owned, Culver City-based PADI/SDI 5-Star scuba school and retail showroom, founded in 2004, serving Southern California consumers with 28 certification courses, equipment sales, local charters, and tropical group dive trips.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Scuba Diving Training & Retail

NAICS

Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (713940)

SIC

Water Transportation (4400)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Guided Diving & Snorkeling Excursions (boat/shore trips) (THAAAIAB), Dive & Snorkel Equipment Rental, Retail & Boat Services (compressors, gear hire) (THAAAIAL), Diving & Snorkeling Retail (Scuba Gear) (CRAMAIAF), Diving Experiences (Scuba Dives, Dive Trips, PADI/SSI Courses) (THAJAJAD)

Keywords

• Scuba certification courses
• Scuba equipment retail
• Dive boat charters
• Tropical dive travel
• Technical diver training

Headquarters

HQ city

Culver City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Equipment Retail Sales: Scuba diving equipment sales including regulators, BCDs, dive computers, fins, wetsuits from brands like Scubapro, Mares, Oceanic, Shearwater, Garmin, Atomic Aquatics, BARE, TUSA. Discounted prices with price-match guarantee.
2. Certification Courses: PADI and SDI certification courses from beginner (Scuba Diver, Open Water) through professional (Divemaster, Instructor Development Course). Pricing ranges from $505 to $910+ for main certifications.
3. Boat Diving/Charters: Local island day trips to Catalina, Anacapa, Santa Cruz Islands. Boat tickets at $219 for 3 dives, advanced trips to Farnsworth Bank at $245.
4. Group Travel/Tropical Trips: Organized group dive travel to tropical destinations including Fiji, Maldives, Red Sea, La Paz, Mexico. Managed by in-house travel agent Beth with 20 years experience.
5. Equipment Rentals: Rental gear included with certification courses; stand-alone rentals for certified divers. Air fills and tank rentals at fill station.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Eco Dive Center is a Southern California-based PADI and SDI 5-Star Instructor Development Center that sells scuba diving certification courses from beginner through instructor level, retails discounted scuba equipment from major brands in a physical showroom and online store, operates local single-day boat diving trips to Catalina and the Channel Islands via partner vessels, and organizes group tropical dive travel expeditions. The integrated offering combines training, equipment, charters, and travel into one membership-style community anchored by the Eco Explorers Dive Club.

Product overview

ECO DIVE CENTER is a Southern California-based scuba diving center offering a unified platform of retail, training, and travel services. The core offering combines PADI and SDI certification courses spanning beginner through professional levels (28 total courses including Scuba Diver, Open Water Diver, Advanced Diver, Rescue Diver, Divemaster, and Instructor Development Course), a full retail showroom of discounted scuba equipment from brands including Shearwater, Oceanic, Mares, Scubapro, and BARE, local single-day boat diving trips to Catalina and Channel Islands aboard partner vessels, tropical group dive travel expeditions, and the Eco Explorers Dive Club community events program. Equipment rentals, repair services, and tank fills support the training and retail operations. The business model emphasizes price competitiveness through platinum-level dealer status and a lowest-price guarantee.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Scuba Diver Certification Course One-weekend entry-level scuba certification limited to 40ft maximum depth for first-time divers, includes eLearning code, rental gear, and an island boat ticket to Catalina or Anacapa Island.
• Open Water Diver Certification Course Two-weekend certification course (the company's most popular offering) enabling independent buddy diving to 60-100ft depth, includes eLearning code, rental gear, and two island boat tickets.
• Advanced Diver Certification Course One-weekend advanced certification with 5 dives (beach, pool, and boat), trains divers for depths up to 100ft at walls, pinnacles, wrecks, and caverns.
• Rescue Diver Certification Course One-weekend certification teaching self-rescue, buddy rescue, and emergency response skills; includes boat ticket and serves as the gateway to professional-level training.
• Enriched Air/Nitrox Diver Certification Home-study certification (no water required) enabling divers to use enriched air mixes for extended bottom times in the 40-100ft range; priced at $190 PADI / $185 SDI / $195 TDI.
• Divemaster Professional Certification Entry-level professional certification training divers to lead dives, supervise activities, and assist instructors; part of the pathway to becoming a dive instructor.
• Instructor Development Course (IDC) Combo course bundling Assistant Instructor (AI), Open Water Scuba Instructor (OWSI), and Emergency First Response Instructor (EFRI) certifications for those seeking to teach scuba.
• Technical Diver Courses (TEC 40/45/50) Technical diving certification program including TEC 40, TEC 45 (120-145ft depth), and TEC 50 (140-165ft depth) for advanced technical diving skills.
• Sidemount Diver Certification Specialty certification teaching side-mounted tank configuration for improved flexibility and gas management underwater.
• Wreck Diver Certification Specialty certification for penetration diving in wreck environments; covers planning, techniques, and hazards specific to wreck diving.
• Deep Diver Certification (100-130ft) Specialty certification for diving to technical depths of 100-130ft; prepares divers for advanced planning and specialized techniques.
• Search & Recovery Diver Certification Specialty certification teaching underwater search patterns and recovery techniques for lost objects.
• Scuba Diving Equipment Retail Full-line scuba equipment retail operation offering discounted gear from top brands including BCDs, regulators, dive computers, wetsuits, fins, and accessories (Scubapro, Mares, Oceanic, Shearwater, Garmin, Atomic Aquatics, BARE, TUSA).
• Equipment Rental & Repair Services Rental gear available for course participants and certified divers, plus full repair services for scuba equipment maintenance.
• Local Island Boat Diving Single-day boat diving excursions to Catalina Island, Anacapa Island, and Santa Cruz Island aboard partner vessels including Pacific Star and SoCal Dive Boat; 3 dives per trip at $209-$245.
• Tropical Group Dive Trips Group dive travel packages to international destinations including Fiji, Maldives, La Paz (Mexico), and Red Sea; organized group expeditions with travel agent support from Beth Beltramo.
• Tank Fill Station Air and Nitrox fill station for tank refills; part of the dive center's equipment support services.
• Gift Cards Gift cards available for purchase, marketed as 'Best Gift' for divers and aspiring scuba enthusiasts, redeemable against courses, equipment, charters, or trips.

Quantifiable outcome

• 20+ years in business serving Southern California
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 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 minor and core.

• Hotel FigueroaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWomen's Dive Day pool party event partnership. Hotel Figueroa hosts Eco Dive Center's annual women's diving event with vendor participation.
• SoCal Dive BoatcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFast boat dive charter departing San Pedro Harbor. Primary vessel for Catalina Island day trips at $219 for 3 dives.
• Pacific Star Dive BoatcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor6+ passenger dive boat departing 141 West 22nd St. San Pedro CA. Used for Catalina Island, Farnsworth Bank advanced trips, and oil rig dives.
• Peace Dive BoatcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDeparts Ventura Harbor. Travels to Anacapa Island, Santa Cruz Island, Santa Barbara Island for Eco Dive Center customers.
• Magician Dive BoatminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor5-star Yelp-rated operation by Yelp. Departs Los Angeles Harbor in San Pedro. Travels to Catalina, Clemente Island, Oil Rigs and Santa Barbara Island.
• Cee Ray Dive BoatminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDeparts Pico Ave, Long Beach CA 90802. Travels to Catalina Island for Eco Dive Center customers.
• Humboldt Dive Boat / Waterhorse ChartersminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSan Diego-based boat for Coronados, wrecks, and local San Diego reef dives.
• Paradise Taveuni ResortminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFiji-based resort partner for Thanksgiving dive vacations. Eco Dive Center organizes all-inclusive trips with airfare to this destination.
• Marina PalmiraminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLa Paz, Mexico marina for group trip departures. Base for Cabo Pulmo bull shark dives and sea lion colony encounters.
• Heal the Bay AquariumminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMonthly Dive Club events held at Santa Monica Pier aquarium with touch tanks and marine education. Annual fundraiser events.
• Reef Check CaliforniaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInstructor Ashley L completed Reef Check California training program. Data collected is used to protect local rocky reef ecosystems.
• El Segundo BeachminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdopted beach for monthly beach clean-up events and bar hopper community activities.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Divers Direct: National multi-store dive retailer with broad equipment selection and training partnerships. Larger incumbent competing for the same gear and certification wallet share.
• PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors): Global scuba certification agency whose 5-Star IDC rating Eco holds. Industry governing body that sets training standards Eco teaches under, and adjacent ecosystem participant.
• REI Co-op: National outdoor retailer carrying snorkeling and entry-level dive gear, plus in-store dive clinics. Adjacent incumbent competing for entry-level dive consumer spending.

Direct peers

• Underwater Sports: California dive center offering PADI/SDI courses, equipment, and dive charters. Comparable hybrid retail-training-travel model with West Coast presence.
• LA Scuba: LA-area PADI dive shop providing scuba certifications, gear sales, and dive travel. Closest geographic and service-line peer to Eco Dive Center.
• Scuba.com: Large online scuba equipment retailer with national shipping, plus training referral partnerships. Direct competitor for Eco's online e-commerce equipment business.
• Beach Cities Scuba: Southern California PADI dive center offering certification courses, equipment retail, and local boat trips. Direct geographic competitor in the LA/Orange County market with overlapping service mix.
• Bluewater Travel: Group dive travel operator organizing trips to Fiji, Maldives, Red Sea, and other tropical destinations. Directly comparable to Eco's tropical group trips revenue stream.

Regional players

• Catalina Divers Supply: Catalina Island-based dive operator offering guided boat dives and equipment. Regional peer on the water rather than in the LA retail market.

Others

• Reef Check California: Marine conservation nonprofit Eco Dive Center partners with for rocky reef monitoring. Enabling/ecosystem partner rather than a commercial competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/ecodivecenterdotcom
• Instagraminstagram.com/ecodivecenter
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/eco-dive-center

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 ECO DIVE CENTER