The Scuba Shop

What The Scuba Shop does

The Scuba Shop is a privately-held, family-owned dive center and retailer founded in 1993 by Peter Frye and now co-operated with his daughter Kim Frye. Headquartered at La Palapa Marina in Simpson Bay, Sint Maarten, the company operates as a PADI 5-Star Dive & ECO Center providing scuba and snorkel equipment retail, equipment rental, PADI certification courses, guided dive and snorkel trips, equipment servicing, cylinder hydrostatic testing, and Caribbean wholesale distribution. The company's product surface spans six revenue streams: duty-free retail of dive and water sports equipment (Scubapro, Mares, AquaLung, Sherwood, Ocean Reef, SeaLife, SEABOB, OBRIEN, Columbia Sportswear, O'Neill); equipment rental on daily and weekly cycles with required deposits; PADI courses from Discover Scuba through Divemaster; guided boat dive and snorkel excursions from the vessel Mermaid's Tale; factory-authorized equipment service and DOT hydrostatic testing (RIN N348); and Caribbean wholesale distribution to dive centers, marine parks, fire departments, coast guard, and charter boats.

Distribution is anchored by a single physical storefront at Simpson Bay strategically located adjacent to the marinas of The Moorings, Sunsail, Horizon Yacht Charter, Dream Yacht Charter, and TradeWinds Yacht Charter, plus a secondary Amazon storefront and Caribbean wholesale channel. Pricing is published and tiered: snorkel set rentals start at $10/day ($30/week); full scuba sets run $49/day to $139/week with $700 deposits; guided snorkel excursions run $65-$130 per person with package inclusions. The business operates with no proprietary technology platform beyond a content website and Facebook page; its competitive basis rests on marina-real-estate location, vendor authorized-dealer and authorized-service credentials, PADI tier-five certification, and three decades of destination-specific dive site knowledge. Recent product additions include the PADI Mermaid Program and SEABOB underwater scooter agency, and the business hosts the 12th Annual Underwater Easter Egg Hunt in 2026 as a Nature Foundation Sint Maarten fundraiser.

Name

The Scuba Shop

Legal name

The Scuba Shop

Website

https://thescubashop.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Scuba Shop is a family-owned PADI 5-Star Dive & ECO Center in Sint Maarten offering scuba and snorkel equipment retail and rental, PADI certification courses, guided dive and snorkel trips, equipment servicing, DOT hydrostatic testing, and Caribbean wholesale distribution.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Scuba Diving & Water Sports Retail and Services

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

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

Keywords

• Scuba equipment retail
• Dive training courses
• Guided dive trips
• Snorkel gear rental
• Cylinder hydrostatic testing

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Retail Equipment Sales: Duty-free sales of snorkel gear, scuba equipment, water sports toys (OBRIEN wakeboards, water skis), swimwear, beach accessories, dive computers, underwater cameras (SeaLife), SEABOB underwater scooters, compressors, and marine life identification books. Authorized dealer for Scubapro, Mares, AquaLung, Sherwood, Ocean Reef, and other major brands.
2. Equipment Rental: Daily and weekly rental of snorkel sets ($10/day, $30/week), scuba equipment (tanks, regulators, BCDs, wetsuits, dive computers), and full gear packages. Rental rates vary by item and duration with deposits required.
3. Dive Courses and Training: PADI-certified scuba training including Discover Scuba Dives, Open Water Diver, Advanced Open Water, and specialty courses (Shark Conservation, Dive Against Debris, etc.). Also offers Citizen Science participation programs.
4. Dive Trip Operations: Guided boat dive trips from their vessel 'Mermaid's Tale' including 2-tank morning dives and single-tank afternoon dives around St. Maarten/St. Martin dive sites.
5. Equipment Service and Repair: Annual service and repair of regulators, BCDs, and other dive equipment. Factory-authorized service for Scubapro, Mares, AquaLung, and Sherwood. Includes Bauer compressor service and air quality testing.
6. Wholesale Distribution: Wholesale sales of snorkel and scuba equipment to Caribbean retail stores, dive centers, dive clubs, commercial divers, water sport centers, fire departments, marine parks, coast guard, and charter boats. Authorized distributor for SCUBAPRO and authorized dealer for Mares, AquaLung, Sherwood, Ocean Reef, Trident, Orca Torch, Brownies, Coltri, L&W, and Bauer.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Scuba Shop sells and rents scuba and snorkel equipment, offers PADI dive certification courses from beginner through Divemaster, runs guided dive and snorkel excursions, and provides authorized equipment servicing and USA DOT-certified hydrostatic cylinder testing from its Simpson Bay marina storefront and Caribbean wholesale network.

Product overview

The Scuba Shop is a PADI 5-Star Dive & ECO Center offering a comprehensive range of scuba diving and watersports services on St. Maarten/St. Martin. The core offering consists of dive equipment retail sales and rental operations, supported by equipment service and cylinder hydrostatic testing capabilities. The business provides guided dive trips and PADI certification courses ranging from Discover Scuba through Divemaster level, including conservation-focused specialties. Additional services include snorkel excursions, SEABOB underwater scooter sales/rental/service, full face snorkeling masks, underwater photography equipment, dive compressors, and general watersports merchandise including OBRIEN wakeboards and swimwear. As an authorized dealer for major dive brands (Scubapro, Mares, AquaLung, Sherwood, Ocean Reef, SeaLife) and certified service center, the shop operates from La Palapa Marina in Simpson Bay, serving charter yachts, resorts, cruise passengers, and private visitors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SEABOB Caribbean: Full service SEABOB Sales, Rental and Service Center based at The Scuba Shop in St Maarten.
• Dive Safaris

Products and services

• Dive Equipment Sales Duty-free retail sales of scuba regulators, BCDs, masks, fins, snorkels, dive computers, underwater cameras, dive lights, and accessories from authorized brands including Scubapro, Mares, AquaLung, Sherwood, Ocean Reef, SeaLife, and Princeton Tec.
• Snorkel and Scuba Equipment Rental Daily and weekly rental of snorkel sets, full face snorkeling masks, scuba full sets with tanks, individual regulators, BCDs, dive computers, and wetsuits at published rates with refundable deposits.
• PADI Dive Courses PADI certification courses from introductory Discover Scuba through Divemaster, including Open Water Diver, Advanced Open Water, and specialty courses such as Shark Conservation, Fish Identification, Coral Reef Conservation, Digital Underwater Photography, and Drift Diver.
• Guided Dive Trips Bespoke guided scuba diving excursions including morning 2-tank dives, afternoon single-tank dives, night dives, and shark diving experiences at sites around St. Maarten, St. Martin, and the Man of War Shoal Marine Park.
• Snorkel Trips and Excursions Guided snorkeling trips including half-day adventures, full-day island tours, powerboat tours, and sailing catamaran trips to Tintamarre, Pinel Island, Creole Rock, and Mullet Bay, with Caribbean BBQ lunch and paddle board use included on selected tours.
• Equipment Service and Repair

Quantifiable outcome

• 30+ years in business since 1993
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• The MooringscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorYacht charter company operating out of Captain Oliver's Marina, adjacent to The Scuba Shop's former Oyster Pond location. Provides dive equipment referrals and shared customer base of charter yacht guests seeking diving activities.
• SunsailcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorYacht charter company operating out of Captain Oliver's Marina, right next door to The Scuba Shop's former location. Shares customer base seeking dive equipment and services.
• Horizon Yacht CharterminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOperating out of Simpson Bay, a short dinghy ride across the lagoon to The Scuba Shop's current Simpson Bay location.
• Dream Yacht CharterminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCharter customers directed to stop at The Scuba Shop for scuba gear rental and purchase needs on their way from the airport.
• TradeWinds Yacht CharterminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFully crewed charters with Dive Masters and scuba gear onboard, operating out of Simpson Bay.
• Nature Foundation Sint MaartencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit marine conservation organization. The Scuba Shop hosts the annual Underwater Easter Egg Hunt fundraiser for the foundation. Dive centers collect the $3/day marine park fee for divers using the Man of War Shoal Marine Park.
• Reserve Naturelle de St MartinminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench side marine park. When customers rent dive gear from The Scuba Shop, the shop sends park rangers an email notification of potential diving in the marine park.
• Saba Conservation Foundation and Marine ParkminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional marine conservation partner. The Scuba Shop provides information about Saba's marine park for dive planning.
• St Eustatius National Parks Foundation and Marine Park (STENAPA)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional marine conservation partner. Information provided about Statia's marine park diving opportunities and fees.
• Tri SportminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAdjacent retailer in Simpson Bay offering eco-sports equipment, kayak tours, and snorkeling excursions. Located next door to The Scuba Shop.
• Great Bay FerryminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFerry service between St. Maarten and St. Barths, referenced for customers traveling to dive sites around St. Barths.
• Les Fruits des MerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization promoting Extreme Shallow Snorkeling (E.S.S.) and marine wildlife education. Their website features snorkeling team photos and provides information about St. Maarten/St. Martin sealife.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Cressi: Italian dive equipment manufacturer with broad global retail distribution — broader incumbent in the same equipment category that The Scuba Shop competes against as a stocking retailer.
• AquaLung: Major global dive equipment manufacturer whose regulators, BCDs, and masks The Scuba Shop sells and services as an authorized dealer — broader incumbent in the same product category.
• ScubaPro: Global premium dive equipment manufacturer; The Scuba Shop is an authorized distributor for them in the Caribbean — broader incumbent whose products the subject company retails and services.
• PADI: Global scuba training and certification organization; The Scuba Shop operates under its 5-Star Dive & ECO Center framework — broader incumbent defining the standards and customer pipeline that the subject company operates within.
• Mares: Major global dive equipment manufacturer; The Scuba Shop is an authorized dealer and authorized service center — broader incumbent whose products the subject company distributes and services.

Direct peers

• Ocean Encounters: Curaçao-based dive operator offering dive trips, PADI courses, equipment retail and rental, and dive boat services — comparable full-service Caribbean dive center competing for similar resort and tourist customer base.
• Sea Saba: Dive center on Saba (neighboring Eastern Caribbean island) offering dive trips, PADI courses, equipment rental, and retail — directly comparable to The Scuba Shop's mix in a similar island-tourism setting.
• Buddy Dive Resort: Bonaire-based dive operation combining a dive center, retail store, full PADI training, and boat dive trips — comparable in offering breadth and Caribbean-island geography to The Scuba Shop.
• Dive Friends Bonaire: Multi-location PADI dive center and retail shop in Bonaire offering equipment sales, rental, dive trips, PADI courses, and authorized service — closest Caribbean analog to The Scuba Shop's full-service model.

Others

• SEABOB: Manufacturer of premium underwater scooters; The Scuba Shop is their exclusive Caribbean dealer and service station — adjacent ecosystem partner rather than direct competitor, relevant as a supplier and channel relationship.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/TheScubaShopSXM
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-scuba-shop

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 The Scuba Shop