Despite the promise of pristine, clear waters and beautiful coral reefs, finding a dive center has been a rather opaque process.
With so many around, finding one with the best value and activities that suit your needs is a challenge.
Divers also have to deal with the pain of making international money transfers to a dive center in another country. Some banks charge hidden fees, while credit card companies wring an extra three percent.
Carrying around large wads of cash to a dive center isn’t safe either, as there’s the risk of getting robbed.
These difficulties present an opportunity for startups like TangaReef, an online dive center booking service that aims to make the process of finding your best dive a straighter road. It allows users to view dive centers by country or region, and filter them by courses offered and even the languages they speak.
They can also search for dive centers near a hotel, using a particular brand of equipment, compare prices, reviews, or browse through pictures.
Every booking on TangaReef is an opportunity to do good. The company donates a portion of the fees to select organizations that help to establish and monitor Marine Protected Areas, are active in coral conservation, and protect marine life.
Incorporated in Finland, the company currently has an inventory of dive centers in Thailand and Egypt, with more on the way.
It is founded by CEO Oliver Bremer and CTO Robert Aarts. Oliver is also the co-founder of Founder2be, a matching service for startup co-founders. Robert was an early employee at Trustgenix, which was acquired by HP. Both are avid divers and travel enthusiasts.
(Read: Founder2be: Helping you find a match made in heaven)
They are joined by three team members with experience in dive center work in Thailand, the travel business, and marketing.
Self-funded initially, the startup has gone on to gain recognition as a finalist at the 2011 Slush startup conference in Helsinki, Finland. They have also won the Pitch18 competition and received a government grant. They are now raising a seed round from investors.
As the startup grows, it anticipates competition from tour operators, specialized travel agencies, and hotels adjacent to dive destinations. But with the promise of making dive bookings more fun, they hope to become the go-to destination for dive travelers.
Stay updated on the go with our mobile app.
Get latest insights with smoother, more personalized experience through TIA mobile app.
