by Andy Watson, Director, Aberdeen Diving Services

THE EARTH is 71% water of which 96% is in the oceans. Deep down the surface is a whole world to explore by enthusiasts and professionals. 

PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors®) serves as the world’s largest ocean exploration and diver organization, operating in 186 countries and territories, with a global network of more than 6,600 dive centres and resorts and over 128,000 professional members worldwide. Issuing more than 1 million certifications each year, and with over 29 million certifications to date, PADI enables people around the world to seek adventure and save the ocean through underwater education, life-changing experiences and travel.

After working in various industries with few being linked, I decided to become a PADI professional diver as this was where my passion was. I started to work at a local dive centre and worked my way up the ranks. I was always interested in starting his own business and working for myself but never thought it would be possible. 

When the dive centre I was working at closed, I was employed as an off-shore survival instructor and HUET (helicopter underwater escape training) safety diver trainer and assessor. Five weeks before  Covid-19 hit the UK, I decided to follow my passion and finished my notice period one week before lockdown, starting Aberdeen Diving Services (ADS) as a sole trader. 

While fighting through lockdowns as a HUET diver and survival instructor as well as diving equipment service technician, ADS soon started to snowball. Within a year, it had become a limited company, with customers sending equipment from across the country to be repaired and serviced. As lockdowns started to lift, I was able to start teaching PADI courses as an independent instructor, and also able to secure contracts to supply all three oil and gas training centres with safety divers and instructor cover. 

There was no North-East PADI dive centre for a number of years, but ADS have been able to fill this void. Now divers are getting back into the sport all over again, though a challenge our team faces is that, generally, divers think there isn’t anything to see in cold Scottish water compared to warmer holiday destinations. 

ADS is unique in the way it acts and treats everyone as equal. The team are fantastic at what they do and the work environment is a relaxed and fun place to be. We always say to everyone that comes to us there is no such thing as a stupid question. We strive on making training fun and enjoyable for everyone.

ADS has now been running as a limited company since October 2020 and is now the go-to for all things diving related to both recreational and commercial diving.

In 2021, ADS was granted PADI Dive Centre approval and since then it has become the one of the top PADI dive centres in Scotland and collected 8 awards along the way.

In April 2023, I was exclusively short listed for the cover of CIO Times magazine of “Top 5 Revolutionary Business Leaders Everyone Should Know.” That will be published worldwide in the coming months. 

This has been a huge surprise to me as I don’t look at myself as anything special and just do the job I love. 

In 2023, ADS was granted approval for a huge array of first aid training to be able to expand its already vast services. 

The next step for ADS is the opening of their new premises, with the team able to stretch their wings and learn new skills, as well as offering a huge array of courses from diving and first aid to oil and gas. 

I put all the company’s success down to the team I have around me –  they constantly go over and above for each and everyone they deal with, leaving each customer knowing they are not only getting the best advice but are also in the safest of hands. 

ADS Awards List 

2021 / 2022 – Diving Retailer of the Year.

2022 / 2023 – Diving Specialist of the Year.

2022 – Best Training and Education Aberdeen

2022 – Best Training and Education Scotland

2022 – Scottish Enterprise Best Diver Equipment & Training Specialist

2023 – Business Awards UK – Best Small Local Business

2023 – M&A Today Global Award – Best Diver Equipment & Training Specialist – UK

2023 – Business Champion Awards – Bronze – SME Of The Year