Werner Lau
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1980
- HeadquartersMale, Maldives
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
Werner Lau firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Werner Lau
- Legal name
- Werner Lau Diving Centers Maldives Private Limited
- Website
- https://wernerlau.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1980
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Werner Lau industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Dive Resort and Tourism Services
- NAICS
- Tour Operators (561520), Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (487210)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Diving Experiences (Scuba Dives, Dive Trips, PADI/SSI Courses) (THAJAJAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Dive Centers & Scuba Training (PADI/SSI, certifications) (THAAAIAA), Dive & Snorkel Guides / Dive Masters (Boat-Based & Shore-Based) (THAAALAC), Specialty-Themed Boutique Cruises (Culinary, Wellness, Diving, Culture) (THAEADAJ), Beachfront & Island Luxury Resorts (THAGACAA)
Keywords
Where Werner Lau is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Male
- HQ country
- Maldives
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices10 records
Markets served
Werner Lau business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Diving Services and Courses: Diving courses from Open Water to Divemaster, conducted according to SSI, IAC & CMAS training standards. Nitrox diving is offered free of charge. Revenue from dive instruction, certification, and guided diving excursions.
- Resort and Hotel Accommodations: Hotel and resort accommodations at dive destinations including The Oasis in Marsa Alam, villas in Cape Coral Florida, and partnerships with island resorts in the Maldives. Rooms include individual designs and wellness facilities.
- Liveaboard Diving Safaris: Safari diving tours including MY Sheena cruises to southern Atolls of the Maldives, offering multi-day dive experiences in remote and pristine diving areas.
- Vacation Villa Rentals: Vacation villa rentals in Cape Coral, Florida including Villa La Favorita, Villa Capricorn, and Villa Bequia. Separate business line from diving operations.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Diving courses from beginner to professional levels |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Vacation villa accommodations in Florida |
| Subscription | Annual | Diving resort packages in Egypt |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Werner Lau product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Werner Lau operates scuba diving centers and dive resorts in the Maldives and the Egyptian Red Sea, offering guided dives, PADI diving courses from beginner to Divemaster level, and liveaboard safari expeditions aboard the MY Sheena. The company also rents vacation villas in Florida, diversifying into traditional holiday accommodation alongside its core dive-tourism services.
Product overview
Werner Lau operates a portfolio of diving centers and resort accommodations across the Maldives and Egypt's Red Sea, supplemented by a vacation villa rental business in Florida, USA. The core offering consists of scuba diving schools at island resort locations, providing certification courses (SSI, PADI, IAC, CMAS), guided dives, house reef diving, liveaboard safaris, and underwater encounters with marine megafauna. Services are offered in German and English through company-owned booking centers and partner tour operators. The company has approximately 600 employees and markets in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Netherlands, Belgium, France, Italy, England, Japan, and Eastern Europe. Currently operational locations include three Maldives islands (Bathala, Filitheyo/Medhufushi/Hondaafushi, Canareef), The Oasis Dive Resort in Marsa Alam, and three Florida vacation villas. Previously operated diving operations in Bali, Sharm el Sheikh, Fuerteventura, and Cyprus, which were closed in 2020 due to the pandemic and not reopened.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Villa La Favorita: Vacation villa in southwest Cape Coral, Florida, offered as an alternative to diving holidays.
- Villa Capricorn
- Villa Bequia
- The Oasis Dive Resort
- MY Sheena
Products and services
- Filitheyo Island Resort Dive Center (Maldives) PADI-affiliated scuba diving center located within the Filitheyo Island Resort in the Maldives, providing guided dives, equipment rental, and PADI courses to resort guests.
- Medhufushi Island Resort Dive Center (Maldives) PADI dive center within Medhufushi Island Resort in the Maldives, offering guided dives and PADI certification courses to resort guests.
- Bathala Island Resort Dive Center (Maldives) Scuba diving center at Bathala Island Resort in the Maldives providing guided reef dives and PADI instruction to resort guests.
- Hondaafushi Island Resort Dive Center (Maldives) PADI dive center at Hondaafushi Island Resort in the Maldives delivering guided dive excursions and training for resort guests.
- Canareef Resort Dive Center (Maldives) Scuba dive center within Canareef Resort in the Maldives offering guided dives, equipment rental, and PADI courses to resort guests.
- The Oasis Dive Resort (Marsa Alam, Egypt) Werner Lau's own dedicated Red Sea dive resort located in Marsa Alam, Egypt, combining dive operations with on-site accommodation for divers.
- MY Sheena Liveaboard Safari Multi-day liveaboard dive safari aboard the MY Sheena, the company's owned vessel, serving divers seeking extended reef and offshore dive expeditions.
- PADI Diving Courses PADI-certified scuba diving instruction ranging from beginner (Open Water) through Advanced, Rescue, and up to Divemaster level, available at Werner Lau dive centers across the Maldives and Egypt.
- Florida Vacation Villa Rentals Vacation villa rental accommodation in Florida (including named properties such as La Favorita, Capricorn, and Bequia) operated by Werner Lau as a non-diving hospitality offering.
Companies that use Werner Lau
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Werner Lau technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Werner Lau partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Diverland (Wolfgang Brak)coreJoint venture partnership with Diverland and Wolfgang Brak for opening new dive schools. Opened Hondaafushi dive center in December 2022 and Canareef dive center in January 2025 in the southern Maldives.
- Neckermann/Thomas CookcoreLong-term partnership with global tourist organization. Werner Lau operates as exclusive partner for diving operations, having previously worked successfully with Thomas Cook on the Maldives.
- TuicoreMajor international tour operator partner for distribution of diving vacation packages.
- KuoniminorInternational tour operator partner for travel distribution.
- HotelplanminorSwiss tour operator partner for travel distribution.
- Sinai DiverscorePartnership for The Oasis Dive Resort in Marsa Alam, Egypt. Joint hotel and diving operations at this location.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves13 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Werner Lau competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- TUI Group: Largest European tour operator and long-standing distributor of Werner Lau's diving packages. Relevant as a scale incumbent in the broader dive-tourism distribution channel rather than a direct operator competitor.
Direct peers
- Sub Aqua (Scuba Tours): German-based dive tour operator specializing in Maldives and Red Sea diving vacations. Comparable to Werner Lau's German-language, tour-operator-integrated distribution model for diving holidays.
- Manta Reisen: German specialist dive tour operator focused on Maldives and Indian Ocean destinations. Targets the same German-speaking market segment as Werner Lau with curated diving packages.
- Euro-Divers: Operates dive centers across the Maldives, Egypt (Red Sea), and other Indian Ocean destinations. Directly comparable to Werner Lau as a multi-location dive center operator with European tour operator relationships and similar resort-island partnership model.
- Sinai Divers: Egyptian Red Sea dive operator and partner with Werner Lau at The Oasis in Marsa Alam. Directly comparable in Red Sea dive resort operations and joint-venture model.
- Diviac (Diving Group): Major international dive center operator with locations in the Maldives, Red Sea, and Indian Ocean. Operates a similar multi-brand dive center model serving European tourists via tour operator partnerships.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Werner Lau social profiles
Digital presenceWerner Lau financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Werner Lau leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Werner Lau subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries9 records
Werner Lau funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Werner Lau M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Werner Lau
What does Werner Lau do?
Werner Lau operates scuba diving centers and dive resorts in the Maldives and the Egyptian Red Sea, offering guided dives, PADI diving courses from beginner to Divemaster level, and liveaboard safari expeditions aboard the MY Sheena. The company also rents vacation villas in Florida, diversifying into traditional holiday accommodation alongside its core dive-tourism services.
Is Werner Lau a public or private company?
Werner Lau is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Werner Lau founded?
Werner Lau was founded in 1980. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is Werner Lau based?
Werner Lau is headquartered in Male, Maldives, in the Asia region.
How does Werner Lau make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Diving Services and Courses are the primary driver. The others are resort and Hotel Accommodations, liveaboard Diving Safaris and vacation Villa Rentals.
Who are Werner Lau's main competitors?
TUI Group is listed as a broad incumbent. Direct peers are Sub Aqua (Scuba Tours), Manta Reisen, Euro-Divers, Sinai Divers and Diviac (Diving Group).
Does Werner Lau have an API?
No public API is recorded for Werner Lau.
What industry is Werner Lau in?
Werner Lau's product category is Dive Resort and Tourism Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAJAJAD, Diving Experiences (Scuba Dives, Dive Trips, PADI/SSI Courses), with a secondary code of THAAAIAA, Dive Centers & Scuba Training (PADI/SSI, certifications). Its NAICS code is 561520.