India: The Next Booming Dive Industry?

According to some industry sources, it just might be.

"We believe the time has come for India to become a major force in the world of scuba diving. It has the potential of becoming a billion dollar industry over the next five years," said Rohaan Sulaiman, President Bangalore Dive Club, which will be launched on June 14.

Worldwide, the scuba diving industry, including the hospitality factor was estimated to be USD 47 billion, said Madhava Reddy, Founder Director of Planet Scuba India, a scuba diving inland centre, with a PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) five star diving centre.

"Today the contribution of scuba diving may be miniscule, but in five years, with the plans under implementation, this adventure will be a significant contributor to sea-based tourism," he said. Information received also suggest that some prominent names were evincing keen interest in developing it.

Lack of resources and infrastructure could have been the reasons why the sport had not picked up ealier in India despite having a vast coastline, huge population and an economy that was growing, Reddy said.

India which had less less than five dive centres five years ago today boasts of 22 dive centres. "The number is expected to go upto 50 in three to five years" Reddy said.