Owner wants to take business to new depths

WEDNESDAY. JULY 11: When a business changes hands it’s typical that the new owners want it to soar to new heights.

But not Chris Gauntlett — he wants his to go to new depths.

Mr Gauntlett purchased Blue Water Divers on June 15, which has locations at Elbow Beach and at Robinson’s Marina.

He said: “I first worked on boats at Cambridge Beaches when I was 12. I first started working with diving when I was 16.”

He said after working at several locations in Bermuda like Grotto Bay and Sonesta, he left the business to work on hedge funds and did a stint with the Regiment.

He said: “This came up as an opportunity last summer and it’s taken several months to work out the financial details.”

Mr Guantlett purchased Blue Water Divers from Michael Burke, who is pursuing his other line of business that focuses on green technology.

He said: “I would love to see Blue water Divers become a PADI career development centre, offering instructor-level training, so we will be working towards that in the coming years.

“I am trying to keep the stuff that already works but improve in areas where we need to improve.

“I want to branch out a bit.”

He would like to expand the typical diving season past the peak summer months.

“There is some really great diving in the winter time. There can be some great weather days even around Christmas. This is something I would like to see happen more year around.

“Tourism wants Bermuda to be more a year round product, and I am certainly trying to fly that flag.

Mr Gauntlett said he would like to get secondary schools more involved in diving “because they can form clubs and they can do certification courses over a longer period of time because they are always here.

“I want to branch out to corporate clients as well, if they want to do something different than go out on the golf course.”

He said international business could then take their clients on a dive and it would be an unique experience to help bond.“

”While you can’t talk to people under water, you can certainly talk to them on the boat ride on the way out and all the way back. It’s something people like to do as a group It can be a great way to know people.”

In a release to his clients, Mr Gauntlett said: “Technical diving is on the increase world-wide, and certainly here in Bermuda, so I certainly want Blue Water Divers to be a part of this trend.

“But the primary ‘meat and potatoes’ of diving in Bermuda has always been recreational no-deco wreck and reef diving, so we will of course be continuing with this and improving on it where we can. 

“Expect more unusual dives, night dives, shore dives and I am open to suggestions for events and things to try.”

He said Blue Water has an active club, which is the strength of the dive shops in Bermuda.

“There is always room to do more to provide club members with great diving experiences and to build their enthusiasm for diving and in turn I hope they can help us to bring in new students and new members.

He added: “Club members are like brand ambassadors, and we are grateful for their keen interest and energy.”