Independent dive school using hired pools

Beginners wanting a first course, newly certified divers wanting to progress, and returning divers who need a refresher.

Course fees per student, plus extra for certification fees, guided dives, kit hire and commission or margin on kit sold through a supplier.

• Qualified diving instructor with teaching experience
• Safety-minded and calm under pressure
• Good with beginners and nervous learners
• Organising small groups and logistics

• Professional indemnity and public liability insurance suited to diving instruction, check what your training agency offers
• Health and safety rules for diving instruction, check HSE guidance on diving at work and recreational diving
• Students need a medical declaration, and some will need a doctor's sign-off
• Pool slots, weather and site access can cancel or shift sessions, so plan for gaps in income
• Seasonal demand, with quieter winter months at open water sites

Startup costs are typically around £3,000 to £12,000, depending on the equipment and insurance you need and how much kit you buy. These are estimates, so check them against your own costings before you commit.

Monthly revenue is typically around £800 to £5,000, depending on how many courses and guided dives you run. That is revenue rather than profit, and winter months at open water sites can be quieter.

Check professional indemnity and public liability insurance suited to diving instruction, including what your training agency offers. Also check HSE guidance on diving at work and recreational diving, and remember students need a medical declaration, with some needing a doctor's sign-off.