The USA diving tourism market is going to experience a steady growth rate over the next ten years. Estimated to reach USD 1,101.6 Million in 2025, it is expected to reach USD 1,585 Million by 2035.
During this period, a CAGR of 3.7% is seen between 2025 and 2035, which can be driven by the increasing popularity for underwater exploration, easy access to diving destinations, and enhanced focus on eco-tourism. More and more tourists look for an experience of diving into pristine marine environments, and USA diving tourism will be expected to increase by 1.4x in market value over the forecast period.
| Attributes | Value |
|---|---|
| Estimated Industry Size (2025E) | USD 1,101.6 Million |
| Projected Value (2035F) | USD 1,585 Million |
| Value-based CAGR (2025 to 2035) | 3.7% |
There is an increasing demand for sustainable and eco-friendly diving experiences, especially with the growing awareness of the environmental impact of tourism. Diving operators are now offering eco-conscious packages focused on coral reef restoration, wildlife conservation, and other sustainable practices.
Advancements in diving gear, training systems, and underwater navigation technologies make diving more accessible and safer for all levels of divers. Increased use of virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) tools for pre-trip experiences are also contributing to the market's growth.
The dive resorts, marine parks, and eco-friendly liveaboard vessels continue to grow in Hawaii, Florida, and the Caribbean. Newer, lesser-known spots, such as the Gulf Coast and the Pacific Northwest, are gaining popularity.
The USA diving tourism sector will continue to experience a boost in both domestic and international tourist inflows as the market expands. Added emphasis on both adventure and sustainability can help create good future for the market with both old and new divers taking authentic, underwater experiences.
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The United States diving tourism market is picking up and is healthy, with the first half of the year 2024 witnessing an increase of 5% in bookings compared to 2023. Going ahead into the later half of 2025, the market is expected to grow with an overall CAGR of 5.1%. One of the reasons for this growth is the interest for the practice of sustainable diving, or eco-tourism, and underwater technology advancements that are making diving more accessible.
In terms of booking channels, the transition has been mostly online. Online booking channels have taken 65% of total market share in diving tourism bookings in 2024, while mobile apps and websites have emerged as the major tool for organizing a dive trip among tourists. Online booking will be the order of the future as more and more diving operators come up with user-friendly booking platforms that also have easy payment and scheduling systems.
| Date | Development & Details |
|---|---|
| Jan 2025 | Launch of Eco-Friendly Diving Packages by Coral Adventures: Coral Adventures announced the launch of a new range of eco-friendly diving packages in the Florida Keys, targeting eco-conscious tourists interested in coral reef restoration programs. The tours include guided dives focusing on sustainable underwater practices. |
| Aug 2024 | Expansion of Dive Resorts in Hawaii: A popular dive resort chain in Hawaii opened a new sustainable eco-resort in Maui. The resort offers divers access to both shallow and deep-water dive sites, focusing on marine conservation and reducing human impact on the reef ecosystems. |
| Mar 2024 | Virtual Reality Dive Experiences by OceanX: OceanX launched a VR diving experience in collaboration with technology firms, allowing tourists to "dive" into some of the most pristine marine environments before booking real-world excursions. This VR experience is expected to drive interest in scuba and underwater exploration activities. |
| Sept 2024 | Partnership between National Marine Sanctuaries and Dive Operators: The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation partnered with multiple dive operators to offer immersive experiences in marine protected areas like the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary in the Gulf of Mexico. These tours highlight conservation efforts while allowing divers to witness vibrant coral reefs and diverse marine life. |
| Nov 2024 | Launch of Family-Friendly Diving Packages by Reef Explorers: Reef Explorers introduced family-friendly diving tours in the Caribbean, targeting families with children aged 12 and above. These tours offer shallow-water dives and snorkeling excursions that allow families to explore marine life in a safe, guided environment. |
California and Hawaii as Key Diving Hubs: California remains attractive for divers since the state holds many different kinds of marine environment-from the kelp forests in Northern California up to the more-warm water environments of Southern California.
Rich in marine diversity, Hawaii too is an open favorite among diving tourists from various parts of the globe. With the established and long-standing structure of diving and preserving marine ecosystems, both areas will continue their lead.
Increasing Popularity of Liveaboard Diving: There has been a growing demand for liveaboard diving tours in the USA diving tourism market. These boats give divers the experience of a multi-day trip to remote dive sites, where they can access pristine reefs and diverse underwater ecosystems.
Liveaboards are specifically very popular in destinations such as the Florida Keys, the Bahamas, and the Pacific Northwest.
Technological Advancements in Diving Equipment: The use of technology has made diving easier and safer. Newer dive computers, underwater drones, and high-definition underwater cameras are all making the experience for divers much better.
Companies like Scubapro and Oceanic are continuously releasing updated gear that makes diving more enjoyable for both beginners and experienced divers alike.
Drift diving is a trend, especially in areas like the Florida Keys and Hawaiian Islands, in which divers let currents carry them while exploring underwater. Drift diving allows for a unique effortless dive experience, so it's expected to capture 25% of the USA diving market by 2025.
In drift diving, it is gaining more popularity in theUSA because of the unique blend of adventure, ease, and opportunities to explore inaccessible dive sites. In drift diving, divers let the currents carry them along while covering large areas with minimal effort, making it ideal for the exploration of expansive reefs and marine ecosystems.
Kona, Hawaii, is among the most highly sought-after drift diving locations. The island has currents that would be perfect for a drift dive, with an experienced diver drifting over vibrant reefs and encountering numerous marine life sightings, including manta rays, turtles, and even sharks. The currents on the coast of Kona give divers the option to explore deeper and shallower waters, hence increasing the variety of the dive.
There is also Key Largo, Florida, which forms part of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Drift diving here results in long periods of floats along expansive coral reefs, the scenario being a blend of splendorous marine life, ranging from groupers to angelfish, and even the occasional barracuda. The natural current provided by these reefs means big coverage for divers with low energy expenditure, so it's a pleasant, exhilarating dive.
These sites offer examples of why drift diving is so popular: the ease of movement, the ability to cover expansive underwater terrains, and the possibility of encountering diverse marine life in an efficient, energy-saving manner.
Online booking has become the most popular booking channel for diving tourism in the USA It is easy to see why: convenience, accessibility, and instant confirmation make it the first choice for casual and professional divers alike who want to plan their travel without any hassle. With a few clicks, divers can browse through a wide range of dive sites, compare prices, and read customer reviews from the comfort of their homes.
For instance, PADI Travel has platforms where divers can book trips, equipment rentals, and dive packages from the comfort of their own site. This simplifies organizing such complex dive vacations, thereby allowing divers to find personalized recommendations to help them locate the best sites, such as Bonaire's vibrant coral reefs or Key West's shipwrecks.
Online booking also allows for last-minute bookings, which is an important advantage for spontaneous travelers or those who want to book dive trips during off-peak times. This level of flexibility and transparency in pricing, along with easy payment options, has made online platforms the preferred channel for USA diving tourists, with mobile apps further enhancing the experience by offering booking on-the-go.
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The USA diving tourism market is moderately concentrated with large operators such as Coral Adventures, Reef Explorers, and Dive Vacations taking up a lot of the space.
These are expected to grow further by introducing different eco-friendly dive packages and various diving experiences. Smaller operators targeting niches like technical diving, underwater photography tours, or liveaboard trips might be able to carve out their niche by satisfying particular customer requirements.
It is expected that the US diving tourism market will grow at a CAGR of 3.7% from 2025 to 2035.
The market is projected to reach an estimated value of USD 1,585 Million by 2035.
The key factors driving the market are the increasing demand for eco-friendly diving experiences, the rise of immersive underwater activities, and the growing interest in adventure tourism.
Key players in the US diving tourism industry include Coral Adventures, Reef Explorers, and Dive Vacations, who are recognized for their diverse and sustainable diving tourism offerings.
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