Small independent dive school

Beginners wanting their first certification, returning divers needing refreshers, and certified divers booking advanced or specialty courses.

Course fees per student, gear rental, and guided dive days. Small group sizes keep it safe, and repeat students are a good source of work.

• Experienced instructor with strong safety habits
• Marketing and basic bookings admin
• Managing gear and tank logistics
• Friendly customer service

• Public liability, professional indemnity and equipment insurance, and whether your policy covers diving instruction
• Check your state's work health and safety requirements for running dive training
• Council rules for any home storage of gear or approvals for a home-based business
• Tank testing and regulator servicing, which are ongoing costs and safety duties
• Working with Children Check for under-18 students, and signed medical declarations from every student
• Weather, sea conditions and low seasons can cancel courses and reduce income

Startup costs are estimated at typically around $10,000 to $40,000, depending on your gear, insurance, tanks and how you arrange pool time and dive sites. Ongoing costs such as tank testing and regulator servicing are also worth budgeting for.

Monthly revenue is estimated at around $3,000 to $12,000, depending on how many students and courses you attract. Estimates start at around 20 hours a week. Weather, sea conditions and low seasons can cancel courses and reduce income.

Check that your public liability, professional indemnity and equipment insurance covers diving instruction. Check your state's work health and safety requirements, council rules for home gear storage, Working with Children Check for under-18 students, and medical declarations.