Today we’d like to introduce you to Trace Molzon.
Hi Trace, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My wife and I were originally opening up a dive shop in Madeira Beach, FL named “Close Encounters Dive Center”. We spent 3 years doing construction, designing the store, purchasing inventory, waiting on permits, etc..Well we were about a week away from opening and then Hurricane Helene hit us and the rest of the barrier islands of Tampa Bay. We were on Gulf Blvd and we had at least 4ft of water run through our store. Lost over 40k worth of inventory and the building was practically destroyed. Still somehow, even though the building was inoperable, our landlord asked for a rent a week later. To make matters worse, my wife was pregnant at the time. I figured I needed to find a new industry and get a job fast because supporting my family was at the forefront of my mind. Somehow, by some grace or miracle, one of our sales reps for a brand we sold connected me to another shop owner nearby. They owned “Gulfport Dive Center”. He told me the current owner was wanting to retire and free up his schedule for family reasons and that the shop came with a boat, employees, and a customer base that was already solid. I decided to meet them and shadow the place to see if it was a good fit. Was at “Gulfport Dive Center” for almost a year when I finally took ownership. It truly has been a blessing. Before, the plan was for my wife and I to grind and work the store in Madeira just us “local business style” until we could afford employees. Now, I have dedicated instructors, captains, boat crew, etc. and we didn’t have to rely on my wife for survival. She comes in when she wants but now I can just work the shop and our employees can support. Since gaining ownership we have created a lovely community and have been building up a new “dive club” for the local area. We purchased a new boat and are running scuba charters 4 days a week and are regularly fully booked. It has been a very wild ride but overall it worked out better than I could have imagined. We have very large dreams for the business but for now we’re just happy to be here.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
As previously stated, it has been a very bumpy/wild ride with the hurricane and the events surrounding it.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I own Gulfport Dive Center. We are a Diamond Rated SSI Dive Center that also Maintains a 5 Star Google Rating. We offer scuba training, chartered boat dives for those already certified, retail sales at our physical location, gear service, gear rental, and club trips to great dive locations like the keys, Bahamas, Honduras, Cozumel, etc. I believe what sets us apart is truly our customer service. we prioritize above all else the customer experience. We wouldn’t exist without our community that support us. And our reviews speak to that.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
Dive Talk is great resource on YouTube, same with ScubaDiving Magazine, & the SSI app.
Pricing:
- $550 to get scuba certified
- $130 to go scuba diving in the gulf once certified
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Gulfportdivecenter.com
- Instagram: https://Instagram.com/gulfportdivecenter
- Facebook: https://Facebook.com/gulfportdivecenter
