The global market for diving tourism is set to soar in the next few years, but to successfully sell dive trips, agents need to understand the intricacies of the diving world and what these travellers need.
According to 2023 research from Allied Market Research, the global diving tourism market, which was valued at $3,9 billion (R70 billion) in 2022, will grow at a compound annual growth rate of 15,9% from 2023 to 2030. Researchers believe this increase in diving tourism is driven by an increased interest in adventure travel globally.
“The exploration of marine life through scuba diving makes it appealing to adventure seekers and travellers who are increasingly lured to deep and adventurous experiences. The appealing prospect of diving into the undersea, filled with rich marine life and breathtaking scenery, has increased curiosity among travellers that surpasses standard holiday ideas,” researchers said.
This was echoed by specialist diving travel agent Michelle van Aardt of Pro Dive Travel, who told Travel News that the travel agency was particularly busy at the moment.
What to consider
Van Aardt explained that scuba tourism was a complicated travel niche, and going it alone could mean that travellers would miss certain details.
“I think that if you’re a regular travel agent you might struggle with the terminology and what equipment is required.” She said she doubted many agents had had this sort of training.
As an example of the requirement for specialised knowledge, she said that while there were often specials available for diving holidays, it was vital to ensure that the traveller knew the correct time of the year for every destination to get the best dives.
“You can often get these Zanzibar or Maldives specials, but then you find you’re going at the wrong time of the year, or they’re putting you in the wrong part of the island, and you can really be at the wrong place at the wrong time, which is a problem. So that’s where our expertise comes in,” she said.
Van Aardt added that it was easy for agents or travellers to make mistakes when booking diving holidays using only the Internet for research. “You can get a lot of conflicting information online.”
Equipment is also a key consideration for agents handling dive trips. “Getting your equipment there is difficult because it’s usually quite bulky and heavy, particularly for our Indonesian trips. It’s all these little remote places tucked away, and it’s these little airlines, so weight allowances and the practicality of getting there and back must be considered.”
Divers could also rent equipment, but this was usually quite expensive, said Van Aardt, and it might not be as comfortable as the equipment the diver was used to and had trained with.
Dave Peer from Urban Dive, a Johannesburg diving club and a client of Pro Dive, said having the correct diving gear was a key concern for divers, as well as the safety of the location chosen and whether or not the dive charter boat was reputable.
Divers must have the correct diving equipment and training for the package they had signed up for, which they were often not aware of, said Van Aardt. “Some divers think that they’ve trained enough, but maybe they’ve only done the first two entry-level courses, and they have very little experience and now they want to go to a place where there are strong currents, or deeper dives, and then they need very good buoyancy control.” Travellers looking to explore caves or shipwrecks need to obtain special cave training before embarking on their trip.
Popular spots
Peer said Urban Dive groups frequented Sodwana Bay, Mozambique, Shelly Beach and Umkomaas in KwaZulu-Natal, and internationally a new destination is chosen every year. In 2025, the club has chosen St Helena.
Van Aardt said the most popular destinations for South African divers were the Indian Ocean, (because it is easily accessible) and the Red Sea. Despite the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and the fact that ships are avoiding the area, the Red Sea remains a favourite for South African divers. This is driven by the area’s low prices and proximity. “It’s probably 30% to 40% cheaper than going to, say, Maldives or any Indonesian equivalent product.”
The Red Sea area’s prime diving period is between May and October, making it a good option for South Africans looking to escape the winter. “The diving is also exceptional.”
