RESEARCH continued while equipment sales, certifications, and overall revenue continue to face pressure. The businesses best positioned for the remainder of 2026 will be those that connect travel, training, equipment, and local community participation rather than treating them as separate revenue lines. Q2 2026 Key Highlights: 45.6% of respondents reported lower gross revenue in ▪ Q2 2026 compared with Q2 2025. 24.6% reported higher gross revenue. ▪ 46.7% reported lower equipment sales, while 26.7% re- ▪ ported higher sales. 40.4% reported fewer new-diver certifications and refer- ▪ rals, while 42.3% reported about the same. 34.1% reported higher travel sales, compared with ▪ 29.5% reporting lower sales. For Q3, 46.6% expect gross revenue to remain about the ▪ same, 31.0% expect a decrease, and 22.4% expect an in- crease. U.S. Dive Certification Snapshot: U.S. dive retailers are estimated to have issued 38,848 new open-water certifications in Q2 2026, compared with an estimated 14,738 in Q1 2026 and 27,921 in Q2 2025. Tropical Operators: Average open-water certifications among tropical dive shops, liveaboards, and resorts reached
19.9 certifications per location in Q2 2026, compared with 12.6 in Q1 2026 and 35.7 in Q2 2025. Projected Outlook – Gross Sales : For Q3 2026, 46.6% expect gross revenue to remain about the same, while 31.0% expect a decrease and 22.4% expect an increase. This represents a more cautious outlook than respondents expressed entering Q2. Projected Outlook – Certifications, Travel and Equipment Sales : The most common expectation for Q3 2026 is for each category to remain about the same. This includes 46.2% for certifications, 59.5% for travel sales, and 41.3% for equipment sales. However, respondents expecting declines continue to outnumber those expecting growth in certifications and equipment sales. Respondent Profile: Facility owners and management staff represented 78.5% of all respondents. A complete list of all quarterly surveys can be found on WilliamCline.com. This survey has been conducted for over 26 years and
remains the only forecasting tool for the global scuba diving industry. Need research help? Reach out to William, we conduct custom and propri- atory research often for diving clients.
email William
Made with FlippingBook - Online Brochure Maker