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Dive Boat Finance

Spread the cost of commercial dive boats from £20,000 to £200,000+ with flexible finance options. HP, lease, or refinance, compare rates from 40+ lenders.

Can you finance a dive boat?

Yes, dive boats are financed as a standard asset purchase, usually on hire purchase or a lease, with the machine itself acting as the security. UK prices typically run £20,000 to £200,000, and most deals are written over 24–84 months with a deposit of around 15–25%. Decisions typically take 48–72 hours. Used machines are financeable too, usually with a shorter term.

200+ UK lenders
2-minute application
No credit check to apply
FCA-regulated brokers

Typical Cost

£20k – £200k

Approval Speed

48–72 hours

Same-day agreement in principle for < £75k

Rates From

5.5% APR

What would a dive boat cost per month?

£65,000
10%
60 months
9%
£0

Your estimate

Indicative only. Not a quote and not an offer of finance.

Pre-filled with a typical dive boat price. Indicative only, not a quote.

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Finance options

Hire Purchase (HP)

Rate
From 5.9% APR
Term
24–84 months
Deposit
15–25%
Ownership
Yours at the end
Best for
Dive operators wanting to own the vessel outright

Finance Lease

Rate
From 5.5% APR
Term
24–84 months
Deposit
None required
Ownership
Return or buy (balloon payment)
Best for
Tax-efficient, claim the full lease payment against season income

Operating Lease

Rate
From 6.2% APR
Term
24–60 months
Deposit
None required
Ownership
Return at end
Best for
Renew the fleet without carrying resale risk

Representative example

On a purchase price of £65,000: a 10% deposit of £6,500, then 48 monthly payments of £1,371 at 5.9% APR representative (fixed). Total amount payable £72,308, including the deposit. The rate you are offered depends on your business and the asset.

What buyers actually specify

Guide prices for sizing a finance agreement, not quotes. Manufacturers in this market mostly price on application, so where a current UK list price could not be confirmed the row describes a specification class rather than naming a model. Your supplier quote is what the agreement is written against.

Machine or specification Guide price Type
Coded Dive RIB, 6–8m (spec class) £25,000 – £60,000 Coded Dive Support RIB
Cheetah Marine-class Catamaran Dive Boat (spec class) £60,000 – £120,000 Catamaran Dive Support Vessel
10–12m Hardboat Dive Charter Vessel (spec class) £90,000 – £180,000 Hardboat Dive Charter Vessel
Commercial Diving Support Workboat (spec class) £80,000 – £200,000 Commercial Diving Support Vessel

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Tax benefits

Dive boats used for business qualify for Annual Investment Allowance (AIA), letting you deduct the full cost from taxable profits in the year of purchase, up to £1,000,000. HP agreements let you claim capital allowances on the vessel; lease payments are generally deductible in full against profits.

Market context

Dive boats are bought by recreational dive charter operators, commercial diving contractors supporting subsea inspection and construction work, and marine science organisations needing a stable platform for diver deployment and recovery. A dive boat carrying fare-paying divers must be coded by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency to a category matching its passengers and area of operation, and commercial diving support vessels have additional requirements around diver lifting and recovery equipment. Like other charter and workboat classes, dive boats are mobile assets that can be relocated or sold relatively easily, which pushes finance toward marine specialists rather than generalist lenders. Recreational dive charter operators are often seasonal businesses, so lenders pay close attention to how income is spread across the year when assessing affordability.

Bad credit?

Several of our 200+ lenders specialise in businesses with imperfect credit histories. You may need a larger deposit or personal guarantee, but options exist. Checking your options here does not affect your credit score, because we do not run a credit search to match you. A lender will run their own checks only if you decide to apply.

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Frequently asked questions

What coding do I need for a commercial dive boat?
The category depends on the number of divers carried, the water you operate in and how far you go from a safe haven, and commercial diving support vessels typically need additional provision for diver lifting and recovery. A lender will want to know the coding category you're working to, since it shapes the vessel's specification and value. Get written confirmation of the required category from an MCA-recognised certifying authority before committing to a particular hull, since retrofitting equipment to meet a higher category after purchase can be costly.
Can I finance a dive boat as a seasonal recreational charter business?
Yes, but lenders will look closely at how income is spread across the year, since a boat earning mainly across a dive season still needs the finance serviced year-round. Some funders offer stepped or seasonal repayment structures aligned to your trading pattern, and two to three years of trading history showing that pattern helps the application. If you're in your first season, providing advance booking figures alongside a realistic cash flow forecast can help offset the lack of trading history.
Does a commercial diving support vessel need different equipment to a recreational dive boat?
Yes, a vessel supporting commercial diving work typically needs diver lifting and recovery arrangements, dedicated air or gas supply provision and additional safety equipment beyond what a recreational charter dive boat carries, which is reflected in both the purchase cost and the coding requirements. Lenders assessing these vessels will want to understand the intended use to size the finance correctly.
What deposit should I expect?
Hire purchase deals typically ask for 15–25% deposit on a dive boat. Finance and operating leases can often be arranged with no deposit at all. A larger deposit, or a full season's trading history, will generally improve the rate on offer. Diving qualifications, insurance cover and a clear safety management plan also reassure a lender assessing a newer operator. Skippers who can show a clear maintenance log alongside their trading figures typically find this reassures a lender as much as the deposit itself.

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