Business of Diving Institute 2024: 49% of centres expected to increase profits (vs 57% previously). Casual divers displacing the core diver. Spain losing 26 shops/day. E-commerce and franchises eroding the traditional dive shop and school.
The diving community in Spain has witnessed in recent years the closure of iconic shops, the disappearance of historic brands, and the transformation of industry trade shows. It reflects an industry under pressure from online retail, a reduction in active practitioners, and the need to reinvent itself. The debate includes whether events such as the Dive Travel Show or the Salón de la Inmersión remain relevant.
According to Business of Diving Institute surveys, in 2024 only 49% of dive center managers expected to increase their profits, down from 57% the previous year. A shift is detected from the committed "core diver" toward the "casual diver" who certifies and dives only sporadically, which pressures the margins of shops and schools. In Spain, small retail loses around 26 stores per day according to 2025 data, and dive centers are no exception: e-commerce, destination rentals, and the concentration of training provision in large franchise operations erode the local dive shop-school model.