Hull cleaning and boat diving services: how to start

Boat owners, yacht clubs, marinas, charter operators and boat management firms.

A fixed price per boat, often by length, plus call-out fees for urgent jobs such as a fouled propeller. Regular seasonal cleans for the same owners build steady work.

• HSE-approved diving qualification
• Boat and marina knowledge
• Reliable scheduling with customers
• Good safety habits

• Paid diving falls under the Diving at Work Regulations 1997. A recreational scuba certificate may not be enough, so check with the HSE
• Marinas often require proof of insurance and may limit who can work on site, so ask before you start
• Check environmental rules about removing antifoul paint and what must be captured, and ask the marina or Environment Agency, SEPA, NRW or NIEA as relevant
• Public liability insurance that covers diving work and damage to customers' boats
• Work is seasonal and weather dependent, so plan for quieter months

Estimates suggest startup costs typically around £8,000 to £30,000, depending on your diving kit, van and insurance. Monthly revenue is estimated at around £1,500 to £7,000, and work is seasonal and weather dependent, so plan for quieter months.

Paid diving falls under the Diving at Work Regulations 1997, and a recreational scuba certificate may not be enough, so check with the HSE. Also check marina insurance requirements and environmental rules on removing antifoul paint.

Check public liability insurance that covers diving work and damage to customers' boats. Marinas often require proof of insurance and may limit who can work on site, so ask before you start. Check environmental rules with the marina or the relevant environment agency.