Overview
Gigglin Marlin Dive & Swim (GMD) is a premier dive and swim center based in Houston, Texas. The company has been serving the greater Houston and surrounding communities for over 30 years. GMD is recognized as a PADI Five Star Instructor Development Center (IDC), providing a comprehensive range of scuba diving training and equipment repair services. The center also offers PADI certification courses, including Open Water Diver, Advanced Open Water, Rescue Diver, and specialty courses.
Contact Information
- Phone: 281-445-3483
- Email: info@gigglinmarlin.com
- Address: 4502 Almeda Rd, Houston, TX 77004
Operating Hours
- Store Hours:
- Monday through Friday: 10 am – 7 pm
- Saturday: 10 am – 4 pm
- Sunday: By Appointment
- Lap Swim Hours:
- Monday through Friday: 10 am – 7 pm
- Saturday: 10 am – 4 pm (verify availability)
Key Personnel
Leadership Team
- Tonya Merritt
- Position: President
- Experience: Over 4000 dives since 1986
- Qualifications: PADI Master Instructor
- Education: Texas State University
- LinkedIn Profile: [Tonya Merritt](https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonya-merritt-88560410)
- Bill Merritt
- Position: CEO
- Education: Texas State University
- LinkedIn Profile: [Bill Merritt](https://www.linkedin.com/in/bill-merritt-71292411)
- John Lachelt
- Position: Course Director and Master Instructor
- Profile: Extensive background in scuba instruction
- Doug Jones
- Position: Master Instructor
- Experience: Certified diver since 1993, instructor since 2017
- Noteworthy Achievement: Over 1,000 students taught
Course Offerings
Gigglin Marlin Dive & Swim offers a wide range of courses catering to different skill levels and interests:
- Discover Scuba: Introductory courses for beginners.
- Open Water Diver: Basic scuba certification.
- Advanced Open Water: For divers looking to enhance their skills.
- Rescue Diver and Specialty Courses: Includes various certifications like CPR and Rescue Diver.
- Professional Courses: Instructor Development and Technical Diving certifications.
- Kids Programs: Targeted at younger divers and swim enthusiasts.
Notable Programs
- Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts Swim Tests
- Red Cross and Starguard Lifeguard Programs
- Water Aerobics starting October 2023
- Private lessons available for scuba and swim
Equipment and Services
GMD offers extensive rental and sales of scuba gear, including state-of-the-art Dive Computers, weight integrated BCD’s, and ScubaPro MK25 Regulators. The facility prides itself on maintaining top-quality service with a team that collectively has over 100 years of scuba gear service experience.
Facilities
- Indoor Heated Pool: 75 feet long (25m), 15 feet deep.
- Classrooms: Three on the second floor offering a clear view of the pool.
- Advanced Training Amenities: Includes changing rooms, deck showers, indoor & patio deck seating.
Extracurricular Activities
- Marlin Dive Team: Monthly user events and activities, including local dives and trips abroad.
- Upcoming Events:
- Downtown Aquarium Behind-the-scenes tour
- Marine Biologist for a Day
- Annual Pumpkin Carving
- Underwater Scooter Olympics
- Annual Holiday Party
Dive Trips
GMD organizes various diving adventures to global destinations, including:
- Cozumel, Mexico
- South Africa, Cape Town
- Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles
- Flower Gardens
Competitor Profiling
1. Aquanautics Dive, Inc.
- Location: Sylmar, CA
- Website: [aquanauticsdive.com](http://www.aquanauticsdive.com)
- Industry: Spectator Sports
- Founded: 2008
- Company Size: 2-10 employees
- Type: Public Company
- Specialties: Private classes, professional instructor level courses, gas blending, and equipment rental
Summary: Aquanautics Dive, Inc. operates as a 5 Star PADI IDC Center and DAN Training Center, offering comprehensive scuba diving training at multiple levels, along with CPR/First Aid classes. They provide a full range of services including equipment sales, rental, and service, as well as dive tours.
2. Island Divers Hawaii
- Location: Honolulu, HI
- Website: [oahuscubadiving.com](https://www.oahuscubadiving.com)
- Industry: Recreational Facilities
- Founded: 2001
- Company Size: 11-50 employees
- Type: Privately Held
- Specialties: Scuba diving
Summary: Known as Oahu's friendliest dive center, Island Divers Hawaii provides daily boat charters and offers a range of dive courses. They cater to both beginners and advanced divers, with additional services including certified dive guides and equipment rentals.
3. Panama City Diving
- Location: Panama City Beach, FL
- Website: [panamacitydiving.com](https://www.panamacitydiving.com)
- Industry: Maritime Transportation
- Founded: 2007
- Company Size: 2-10 employees
- Type: Self-Owned
- Specialties: Dive charters, fisheries research, UUV testing, technical dive training, spearfishing, and wreck diving
Summary: Panama City Diving offers a wide range of scuba services, including recreational and technical diving charters, as well as professional training courses. Their facilities include a fully equipped dive shop and a USCG inspected 36' Newton dive boat, providing a cost-effective platform for research and recreational diving.
4. Saguaro Scuba
- Location: Mesa, AZ
- Website: [saguaroscuba.com](https://saguaroscuba.com)
- Industry: Spectator Sports
- Founded: 1998
- Company Size: 11-50 employees
- Type: Privately Held
- Specialties: Scuba diving certifications, scuba gear and equipment sales, equipment repair and servicing, dive trips
Summary: Saguaro Scuba is known for its strong emphasis on customer service and competitive pricing. The dive shop stocks a vast selection of over 30,000 items from leading brands and offers significant discounts on scuba equipment. They offer a wide range of training courses from beginner to professional levels.
Actionable Insights
- Diversity in Services: Competitor dive shops like Aquanautics Dive and Panama City Diving have diversified their offerings beyond recreational diving to include technical dive training, fisheries research, and UUV operations. Expanding into similar niches could be a strategic move for Gigglin Marlin Dive & Swim.
- Customer Engagement: Island Divers Hawaii emphasizes a friendly and inclusive atmosphere. Enhancing customer experience through personalized services and community-building efforts could help differentiate from competitors.
- Equipment and Training Packages: Saguaro Scuba’s model of offering discounted equipment and comprehensive training packages has been successful. Implementing similar bundled offers could attract cost-conscious customers.
- Facility Usage: Leveraging well-equipped dive facilities for both recreational and research diving, as seen with Panama City Diving, may open new revenue streams and customer segments.
