Gold Coast Dive Centre

What Gold Coast Dive Centre does

Gold Coast Dive Centre & Marine Training College is an Australian vocational education and dive tourism operator headquartered at Unit 2, 54-56 Paradise Ave, Miami, Queensland. Founded around 2021 and led by CEO/Director Luis Alonso, the company operates as a Nationally Recognised Training (RTO 40864) and CRICOS-approved provider (03464K), delivering both recreational scuba certifications through Scuba Schools International (SSI) and formal Australian VET qualifications — Certificate III, IV and Diploma in Outdoor Leadership (SIS30619, SIS40621, SIS50421) — that ladder into SSI Divemaster and Instructor credentials for international students on student visas. The team comprises approximately 10 staff including multiple instructor trainers, skippers and a compliance officer, with operations seven days a week from 7am to 5pm.

The business runs on a direct-to-consumer go-to-market with 24/7 online booking via the Fareharbor platform, supported by walk-in and phone enquiries and a worldwide network of education agents recruiting international vocational students. Revenue is diversified across six streams: multi-month VET-accredited professional courses, SSI recreational courses (Open Water through Instructor Training), guided dive trips (local Cook Island and Wave Break plus international Vanuatu and Solomon Islands programs), seasonal whale watching in partnership with Gold Coast Whale Watching Adventure Tours, retail dive equipment (with a 60%-off EOFY sale event), and homestay placement through the Australian Homestay Network at a fixed AU$280 fee plus internet charges. Complementary boat license training is delivered through a partnership with Pacific Maritime College, and conservation content is supplied via the Fantasea Environmental Project.

The product architecture is an integrated ladder where short recreational courses (Open Water, specialty and refresher modules) feed a longer-duration professional pathway culminating in Instructor status, while vocational VET qualifications package the same outcomes with nationally recognised Australian credentials. Underlying technology is limited to SSI's digital certification and training platform, Fareharbor for booking and payments, and an RTO Manager student portal with worldwide agent registration — there is no proprietary software, mobile application or disclosed data asset. The company is privately held with no disclosed external funding or parent entity.

Name

Gold Coast Dive Centre

Legal name

Gold Coast Dive Centre & Marine Training College

Website

https://goldcoastdivecentre.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Gold Coast Dive Centre & Marine Training College is an Australian RTO/CRICOS-accredited dive school (RTO 40864) delivering SSI scuba certifications, VET qualifications in outdoor leadership, dive trips and equipment retail to international students, tourists and locals on the Gold Coast.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Scuba Diving Education and Training

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

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

Keywords

• Scuba diving courses
• Dive certification training
• Marine training college
• Recreational diving services
• Vocational diving education

Headquarters

HQ city

Miami, Gold Coast

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Professional Diving Courses: VET-accredited courses including Certificate III, IV, and Diploma in Outdoor Leadership with durations of 11-14 months for international students seeking professional diving careers
2. Recreational Diving Courses: Short-duration courses for beginners to advanced divers including Open Water Diver, Advanced Open Water, Specialty courses, and Divemaster/Instructor training
3. Dive Trips and Experiences: Guided dive trips to Cook Island, Wave Break Island, Vanuatu, and Solomon Islands for certified divers
4. Equipment and Gear Sales: Retail shop offering scuba diving equipment including wetsuits, BCDs, regulators, fins, masks, snorkels and accessories. EOFY sales events with up to 60% off
5. Homestay Accommodation: Homestay placement services for international students through Australian Homestay Network, with placement fees and weekly internet charges
6. Boat License Training: Boat license certification courses through Pacific Maritime College partnership

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Gold Coast Dive Centre & Marine Training College is a scuba diving education and marine training provider offering SSI-certified courses from beginner Open Water Diver through professional Divemaster and Instructor Training, plus VET-accredited Certificate III, IV, and Diploma in Outdoor Leadership programs for international students. The company also sells scuba diving equipment, offers guided dive trips to Cook Island and Wave Break Island, runs whale watching tours, and provides boat license training through Pacific Maritime College.

Product overview

Gold Coast Dive Centre & Marine Training College operates as a scuba diving education and adventure tourism provider offering a comprehensive portfolio of courses and experiences. The core offering consists of SSI-certified scuba diving courses ranging from beginner (Open Water Diver) to professional levels (Divemaster, Instructor Training), complemented by specialty courses including Navigation, Night & Limited Visibility, Deep Diving, Enriched Air Nitrox, and Sea Turtle Ecology. The company also provides experiential offerings including Cook Island dive trips, whale watching tours, and Try Scuba experiences at Wave Break Island. For international students, the institution offers nationally recognized vocational training programs including Certificate III in Outdoor Leadership (SIS30619), Certificate IV in Outdoor Leadership (SIS40621), and Diploma in Outdoor Leadership (SIS50421), along with boat license training through Pacific Maritime College. The products operate as an integrated ecosystem where foundational diving certifications feed into professional development pathways, while tourist experiences and student programs share operational infrastructure and dive sites.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Pacific Maritime College: Related maritime training institution mentioned in navigation linking to pacificmaritimecollege.com.au
• Oceanico Powerboats

Products and services

• SSI Open Water Diver Course Foundational scuba diving certification course teaching basic diving skills, theory, and safety procedures for beginning divers, recognized internationally through SSI.
• SSI Advanced Open Water Diver Course Intermediate certification course expanding diving skills to deeper depths and specialty environments including navigation, deep diving, and night diving.
• SSI Divemaster Professional-level diving certification enabling divers to lead dive activities and assist instructors, serving as the first step toward instructor status.
• SSI Instructor Training Course (ITC) Advanced professional training program qualifying individuals to teach scuba diving courses internationally under SSI standards.
• SSI Enriched Air Nitrox Specialty Specialty course teaching divers to use oxygen-enriched air mixtures for extended bottom times and shorter surface intervals.
• SSI Night & Limited Visibility Course Specialty course training divers to safely navigate and conduct dives in low-light and nighttime conditions.
• SSI Deep Diving Course Specialty certification enabling divers to safely dive at depths between 18-40 meters with appropriate training and procedures.
• SSI Diver Stress and Rescue Course Advanced safety and rescue training course teaching divers to identify and respond to diving emergencies and assist distressed divers.
• SSI React Right (First Aid/CPR/AED/Oxygen) Emergency response training course covering first aid, CPR, AED operation, and oxygen administration for diving emergencies.
• SSI Scuba Skills Update (Refresher) Refresher course for certified divers to review and practice essential scuba skills before resuming diving activities.
• SIS30619 Certificate III in Outdoor Leadership 11-month nationally recognised vocational qualification preparing students for professional diving careers with SSI Divemaster certification outcome, covering scuba diving, night diving, boat diving, and rescue skills.
• SIS40621 Certificate IV in Outdoor Leadership 12-month advanced qualification training students to become dive instructors with deep diving certification up to 40 meters, student supervision, and emergency response leadership skills.
• SIS50421 Diploma in Outdoor Leadership 14-month advanced diploma covering sustainability, eco-tourism operations, risk management, legal compliance, Coxswain qualification, and hands-on conservation work with Fantasea Environmental Project.
• Cook Island Dive Trips Guided scuba diving excursions to Cook Island, offering underwater experiences at one of Queensland's premier dive sites.
• Try Scuba at Wave Break Island Introductory scuba experience for first-time divers at Wave Break Island, offered seasonally as an affordable introduction to underwater diving.
• Whale Watching Tours Daily guided whale watching tours from May to November witnessing humpback whale migration along the Gold Coast coastline.
• Scuba Diving Equipment Retail Retail shop offering scuba diving equipment including wetsuits, BCDs, regulators, fins, masks, snorkels and accessories, with periodic promotional sales events.
• Boat License Training Boat license certification courses delivered through Pacific Maritime College partnership, providing complementary maritime qualifications.
• Homestay Accommodation Placement Homestay placement services for international students through Australian Homestay Network, with placement fees and weekly internet charges.

Quantifiable outcome

• Globally recognized Instructor Status, eligible to work worldwide
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Scuba Schools International (SSI)coreTechnology or IntegrationSSI is the primary certification body for all scuba diving courses offered by Gold Coast Dive Centre. The partnership provides globally recognized certifications including Divemaster, Instructor, and various specialty courses that are accepted at dive centers worldwide.
• Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA)coreOthersASQA is the national regulator for Australia's vocational education and training sector. Gold Coast Dive Centre operates as a Nationally Recognised Training (NRT) College under RTO provider number 40864.
• Pacific Maritime CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPacific Maritime College offers boat license training and is linked through the Gold Coast Dive Centre network. The college provides additional maritime qualifications complementary to diving certifications.
• Australian Homestay NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustralian Homestay Network is the largest provider of hosted accommodation in Australia, providing homestay services for international students with appropriate standards. Placement fees are AU$280.00 with internet provided by hosts.
• Fantasea Environmental ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFantasea Environmental Project provides hands-on conservation opportunities for Diploma in Outdoor Leadership students, integrating marine conservation experience into the training program.
• Gold Coast Whale Watching Adventure ToursminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAssociated whale watching tour operator offering majestic humpback whale experiences from May to November. Daily departures with guaranteed sightings.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• SSI (Scuba Schools International): Gold Coast Dive Centre's primary certification partner and global dive training franchise; comparable offering at franchise-network scale but does not directly compete in the Australian VET/RTO market.
• TAFE Queensland: Australia's largest public vocational education provider delivering accredited qualifications; competing RTO ecosystem that captures international students seeking vocational credentials and competes for the same agent pipeline.
• PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors): Global scuba certification body governing the alternative certification ecosystem; competes indirectly by licensing rival training centres and shaping consumer recognition of the PADI brand versus SSI.

Direct peers

• Deep Sea Divers Den: Long-established Cairns dive centre offering training, day trips, and liveaboard expeditions; comparable scope spanning beginner instruction through advanced certifications plus experience-led tourism.
• Scuba World: Gold Coast-based dive centre offering PADI/SSI courses, dive trips, and equipment retail; direct local competitor with overlapping customer base and similar recreational + training portfolio.
• Pro Dive Cairns: Major Australian dive training centre offering beginner-to-professional SSI/PADI courses and liveaboard dive trips; closest comparable business model combining training ladder, certifications, and tourism trips in a single operation.

Others

• Passions of Paradise: Cairns-based reef tour operator offering day dive and snorkel experiences; comparable tourism-side business catering to travellers and certified divers on the Great Barrier Reef.
• Mike Ball Dive Expeditions: Australian liveaboard operator offering multi-day dive expeditions to the Coral Sea and Ribbon Reefs; comparable experience-led trip business though without a training component.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCbJB6ELGThEg_tN7-31cvhA
• Facebookfacebook.com/goldcoastdivecentre
• Instagraminstagram.com/goldcoastdivecentreofficial
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gold-coast-dive-centre

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Gold Coast Dive Centre