This seems like a really silly article to write, but after going through this with MANY couples over the past few years during negotiations for selling a dive business, I thought I'd get it down in an article for the world to reference and see.
The #1 thing to remember when talking about owning a Scuba Dive Business in the tropics is the PRIMARY reason we all do it:
To live a tropical lifestyle on an island and dive whenever we want to
The success of a scuba business and the real profit comes in the high quality and ease of the lifestyle of its owners.
That is why 99% of all scuba business owners in tropical destinations are there. They want to live the lifestyle on the island and dive whenever they want to. If we all keep this in mind, it makes things a lot easier in selling/buying these businesses.
Let me list through the reasons why I, and my friends, have made the decision to live and own a scuba dive business in the islands.
Here are the PRO'S
- Lifestyle
- Hours working
- Owning your own business, managing it properly and having the right staff is fully achievable to let you work on your own terms. I have friends who can actually afford to close all their dive operations on every Sunday and spend it kite surfing, or at the local cafe drinking coffee and wine with friends. Business is that good, and this is the way they run it.
- BIG boss
- Being your own boss; yes something we all relish. This has many advantages in the day to day, but even more than that, psychologically it makes us all feel great. Being a master of our own destiny and success (and possible failure of course) is a fabulous place to be for those willing to take the responsibility.
Responsibility? Yes indeed, this can be a big weight on some people. If the business thrives or if it dwindles, this lands firmly on our own shoulders.
You can try to blame anyone or anything else (the Global Financial Crisis has been the favorite to blame in the past few years...), but in reality, it's our ship to steer. Either into clear waters and blue skies, or onto the rocks. Weather will come and go, but YOU are still the Captain. You command where and how the ship sails.
Good Friends
The friends we have made out here in the tropics are one of the major benefits of the lifestyle. They have a great open frame of mind, just by being among the group of people willing to "Throw off bowlines" and live somewhere very new.
High Standard of living
This section, in my opinion, is a MAJOR high point of owning a scuba diving business in the tropics. Don't belittle it until you've tried it!
Housekeepers
With living in mostly a developing nation the cost of labour is lower. A housekeeper is no longer as luxury, but a normal part of life. I can't remember the last time I touched a vacuum cleaner or washed dishes!
Laundry
Same goes for laundry as housekeeping. I drop them in the basket and "as if by magic" they are clean, ironed, and folded back in my wardrobe! Even friends with 3 kids don;t ever touch the washing machine or fold clothes and put them away. That's a huge recapture of hours of your life...
Nanny
Now I have no kids (disclosure) but ALL my friends do, and one of the primary reasons they are living a life here is that they can have a full-time nanny for the kids. Once more this frees up life immensely.
Now not to say they don't see their kids, quite the opposite. e.g. we'd all take an afternoon off to go to the beach, Alice would call her nanny at home and have her get all 3 kids ready for the beach, by the time WE get to the house 15mins later, all kids, beach-ready'! All we do is pick 'em up, go play at the beach!
Do NOT underestimate how much fun/play time you can have with your kids when you have Nanny-support! And all at a cost that we can all afford here...
Private Schools
All the kids I know here in the tropics are going to the best international school in the country. This is affordable in the developing nations. Add to this the international nature of the school attendance and the education is wonderful.
