Adventure Scuba

What Adventure Scuba does

Adventure Scuba, Inc. is a privately held PADI 5 Star Instructor Development Center (IDC) headquartered at 1737 York Avenue on Manhattan's Upper East Side, operating as one of only two facilities at this tier in Manhattan. The company delivers end-to-end scuba diving education from introductory Discover Scuba experiences through professional-level Instructor certification, with curriculum spanning Open Water Diver, Advanced Open Water, Rescue Diver, and 15+ specialty courses (Cavern, Wreck, Deep, Dry Suit, Ice, Underwater Photography, etc.). Training is delivered via a blended model: PADI eLearning for online academics, in-person pool sessions at the partner-operated Asphalt Green Aquatic Center (a 16.5-foot deep pool — the deepest training pool in Manhattan), and open water checkout dives at Dutch Springs and Lake Hydra in Pennsylvania.

The business operates a multi-revenue model combining one-time course tuition ($75-$1,700 per certification tier), retail equipment sales through an on-site shop and the Dive360 e-commerce storefront, usage-based equipment rental, certified equipment service and repair (regulator overhaul, BCD inspection, tank fills, hydrostatic testing), and — as of October 2024 — PADI Travel Network dive travel packages for land-based and liveaboard destinations. A team of 10+ staff including PADI Master Instructors, IDC Staff Instructors, and specialty instructors (wreck, technical, adaptive, underwater photography) delivers the curriculum; the owner is Seth Orenstein, a PADI Master Instructor and second-generation dive store operator. The customer base is exclusively individual consumers — Manhattan residents and busy professionals targeted via flexible weeknight and weekend formats, plus couples, lapsed divers, and curious first-timers. Go-to-market relies on local SEO, the integrated Dive360 booking calendar, PADI's global referral network, social media, and word-of-mouth, anchored by a notable celebrity client roster (Chelsea Clinton, Anderson Cooper, Davi Santos) that serves as social proof for the brand.

Name

Adventure Scuba

Legal name

Adventure Scuba, Inc.

Website

https://adventurescubany.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1942

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Adventure Scuba is a PADI 5 Star Instructor Development Center in Manhattan's Upper East Side offering scuba certification courses (beginner through instructor level), equipment sales/rental/repair, and dive travel to individual consumers and busy NYC professionals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Scuba Diving Instruction

NAICS

Tour Operators (56152), Tour Operators (561520), Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (4872)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Scuba Diving & Freediving Centers (Training, Guided Dives) (THAAAKAD), Diving & Snorkeling Retail (Scuba Gear) (CRAMAIAF), Diving Experiences (Scuba Dives, Dive Trips, PADI/SSI Courses) (THAJAJAD), Dive & Snorkel Guides / Dive Masters (Boat-Based & Shore-Based) (THAAALAC)

Keywords

• Scuba diving instruction
• PADI certification courses
• Diving equipment retail
• Scuba equipment rental
• Dive travel services

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Scuba Certification Courses: One-time tuition fees for PADI certification courses including Open Water Diver ($625-$1,700 depending on format), Advanced/Adventures in Diving ($595), Rescue Diver ($400), and professional-level training (Divemaster $599.99, Instructor $1,395). Revenue is one-time per student per course, with upsell potential to continuing education and specialty certifications.
2. Scuba Equipment Sales: Retail sales of scuba gear including regulators, BC jackets, masks, snorkels, fins, wetsuits, dive computers, and accessories through the on-site shop and online storefront. Students receive store vouchers with course tuition ($50-$100) that drive initial gear purchases. Products sold include Sherwood Scuba branded equipment and authorized dealer relationships with multiple manufacturers.
3. Equipment Rental: Daily, weekly, and monthly rental program for regulators, dive computers, BC jackets, wetsuits, tanks (80 cu ft or 65 cu ft), weights, and complete package rentals for checkout dives. Weekend package pricing available with discounted rates for students completing certification.
4. Equipment Service and Repair: Professional inspection and servicing of scuba equipment including regulator overhaul ($149.99), BCD annual inspection ($35), tank fills ($12), and tank hydrostatic testing ($95). All repairs performed by certified technicians using manufacturer genuine parts with 30-day guarantee.
5. Dive Travel Services: Land-based and liveaboard dive travel packages offered through PADI Travel Network partnership. The company organizes certification weekends at Dutch Springs and Lake Hydra with transportation coordination for students completing open water dives.
6. Gift Certificates: PADI eLearning gift passes and store credit gift certificates sold as holiday and special occasion gifts, driving new customer acquisition and providing a low-friction entry point for potential divers.
7. Discover Scuba Experiences: Introductory scuba pool experiences at $75 per person, designed as a try-before-you-buy offering that converts participants into full certification students. Includes $25 credit toward eLearning for Open Water Diver certification.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Adventure Scuba is a PADI 5 Star Instructor Development Center in Manhattan delivering the full PADI scuba certification pathway from beginner (Open Water Diver, Discover Scuba, Snorkeling) through professional level (Divemaster, Assistant Instructor, Open Water Scuba Instructor) via small-group and private lessons. The company complements its training business with a retail dive shop (regulators, BCs, masks, fins, wetsuits, dive computers), equipment rental and certified repair services, and dive travel packages via PADI Travel Network.

Product overview

Adventure Scuba is a PADI 5 Star Instructor Development Center and IDC Staff Center offering a comprehensive scuba diving education and retail platform. The core offering consists of PADI certification courses ranging from entry-level (Open Water Diver, Discover Scuba, Snorkeling) through professional level training (Divemaster, Assistant Instructor, Open Water Scuba Instructor). The product portfolio includes specialty courses (Boat Diver, Cavern Diver, Deep Diver, Drift Diver, Dry Suit Diver, Ice Diver, Night Diver, Underwater Photographer, Underwater Videographer, Wreck Diver, and more), equipment rental and service/repair, dive travel packages (land-based and liveboard), and a retail store selling scuba and swim gear including masks, snorkels, fins, computers, regulators, BC jackets, wetsuits, dry suits, and underwater cameras. The company utilizes PADI eLearning for online academics combined with in-person pool and open water training.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Open Water Diver Course Entry-level PADI certification course teaching fundamental scuba diving skills, knowledge development, pool training at Asphalt Green, and open water check-out dives. Available in three formats to fit different schedules and budgets.
• Adventures in Diving (Advanced Open Water) Advanced Open Water certification allowing certified divers to explore interests with five dives including mandatory deep and navigation, plus elective specialties such as underwater naturalist, night, wreck, and underwater photography.
• Rescue Diver Course Two-day course teaching divers to consider safety and well-being of fellow divers through five rescue scenarios and workshops. Required prerequisite for professional-level leadership tracks.
• Enriched Air Diver (Nitrox) Course PADI specialty certification teaching safe use of enriched air nitrox to extend no-decompression limits. Includes online course, in-store practical session, and a wrist dive computer.
• Professional Level Training (Divemaster, Assistant Instructor, Open Water Scuba Instructor) Leadership-level PADI training including Divemaster ($599.99), Assistant Instructor ($750), and Open Water Scuba Instructor ($1,395), enabling graduates to supervise diving activities and teach new divers.
• PADI Specialty Courses Collection of PADI specialty courses including Boat Diver, Cavern Diver, Deep Diver, Drift Diver, Dry Suit Diver, Ice Diver, Multilevel Diver, Night Diver, Peak Performance Buoyancy, Underwater Naturalist, Underwater Photographer, Underwater Videographer, Wreck Diver, Computer Diver, Project Aware, and Search & Recovery.
• Discover Scuba Experience Entry-level introductory scuba experience combining a half-hour video presentation with a 45-minute pool experience under instructor supervision. Includes $25 credit toward PADI eLearning for Open Water Diver certification.
• ReActivate Refresher Course One-night refresher course for certified divers including academic review, in-water skills review, and PADI Reactivate e-card to document refreshed status.
• Snorkeling Classes Snorkeling training covering theory and practical skills including hyperventilation, snorkel clearing, mask defogging, gear preparation, swimming with fins, and free diving. Includes 1-on-1 private options.
• Emergency First Response (CPR and First Aid) One-night CPR and basic first aid certification course, nationally recognized and prerequisite for PADI Rescue Diver certification.
• Scuba Equipment Rental Complete rental program for scuba equipment including regulators, dive computers, BC jackets, wetsuits, dry suits, tanks, weights, underwater cameras, and DPVs available daily, weekly, or monthly. Weekend package pricing available for students completing certification.
• Scuba Equipment Service & Repair Professional certified-technician inspection and servicing of scuba gear including regulator overhaul ($149.99), BCD annual inspection ($35), tank air fills ($12), and tank hydrostatic testing ($95). All repairs use manufacturer genuine parts with a 30-day guarantee.
• Scuba Equipment Retail Retail sales of scuba gear through the on-site shop and online storefront (Dive360), including regulators, BC jackets, masks, snorkels, fins, wetsuits, dive computers, underwater cameras, and accessories. Authorized dealer for multiple brands including Sherwood Scuba.
• Land-Based Dive Travel Land-based scuba dive travel packages through PADI Travel Network, allowing customers to create personalized travel packages to dive destinations worldwide.
• Liveaboard Dive Travel Liveaboard scuba dive travel packages for extended diving adventures at dive destinations, offered through PADI Travel Network.
• Lake Hydra Open Water Certification Trips Local open water certification and training trips to Lake Hydra in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, featuring underwater attractions including a school bus, helicopter, airplane, and various vehicles for advanced and specialty dives.
• Check-Out Dives at Dutch Springs Weekend certification dives at Dutch Springs, Pennsylvania where students complete open water certification requirements in a controlled lake environment with underwater attractions.
• Gift Certificates & Course Materials PADI eLearning gift passes and store credit gift certificates sold as gifts, providing a low-friction entry point for new divers and supporting customer acquisition.
• PADI eLearning Online Academics Online academic component for PADI certification courses providing interactive multimedia learning with text, spoken word, and video. Required for all certification courses; completed prior to in-person pool training at Adventure Scuba.

Quantifiable outcome

• Class sizes limited to maximum 3 students per instructor vs industry standard of 4-6
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 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

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered emerging, core and major.

• PADI Travel NetworkemergingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 18 October 2024Adventure Scuba announced integration with PADI Travel Network for dive travel bookings. Coming soon per October 2024 news update, this partnership will allow the shop to create custom scuba travel packages for customers seeking liveaboard and land-based dive destinations.
• PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAdventure Scuba operates as a PADI 5 Star Instructor Development Center, authorized to deliver all PADI certification courses from Open Water through Instructor level. This partnership provides access to PADI's eLearning platform, course materials, certification processing, and inclusion in PADI's global dive center directory. Students receive globally recognized PADI certifications recognized at dive operations worldwide.
• Asphalt Green Aquatic CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExclusive pool training partnership providing access to a 16.5-foot deep pool directly across from Adventure Scuba's retail location. This depth provides the most realistic training environment in Manhattan for confined water dive skills development. Asphalt Green serves as the primary venue for weeknight Open Water Diver pool sessions.
• Dutch SpringsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDutch Springs in Pennsylvania serves as Adventure Scuba's primary destination for open water checkout dives, rescue diver training, and specialty courses. The company organizes regular certification weekend trips to this 'scuba amusement park' featuring underwater attractions. This partnership enables completion of PADI certification requirements for students who prefer not to travel internationally.
• Lake HydramajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLake Hydra in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania is a former quarry dive site offering Adventures in Diving (Advanced Open Water) and specialty certifications. Features heated facilities, underwater attractions including a school bus, helicopter, airplane, and more. Adventure Scuba sponsors regular training weekends at this location for students completing advanced certification.
• Equipment Manufacturers (Authorized Dealer Network)coreTechnology or IntegrationAdventure Scuba is an authorized dealer for multiple scuba equipment brands including Sherwood Scuba and others. This status enables the shop to sell, rent, and service equipment while maintaining manufacturer warranties. All repairs use genuine replacement parts per manufacturer guidelines. Specific brands include regulators, BC jackets, dive computers, masks, snorkels, fins, and exposure suits.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/PADIShop117
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/adventurescuba1
• Facebookfacebook.com/adventurescubany
• Instagraminstagram.com/adventurescuba
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/adventure-scuba-inc

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 Adventure Scuba