With rolling mountain ranges, cascading waterfalls and wide, sandy beaches, the Geelong and Bellarine region is one of Victoria’s finest when it comes to landscapes. It is therefore no surprise that businesses showcasing these environments starred at the 2022 Geelong Business Excellence Awards (GBEAs).
The winner of the GBEAs’ 2022 Sustainable Business Award, sponsored by Telstra Business Technology Centre Victoria West, is Scubabo Dive Victoria.
Having taken over Dive Victoria and Queenscliff Dive Centre in early 2020, Scubabo Dive director Joel Howell faced a variety of challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic and various lockdown restrictions.
While many in the industry were skeptical about the viability of the business, Joel has molded it in such a way that it provides services to the region that no other entity does.
With a strong focus on maintaining maritime sustainability and health, Scubabo Dive not only offers dive training, equipment hire and tours, but has also established a scientific branch of the business.
Scubabo Quantum has been researching concepts to maintain sustainable maritime practices by collecting and researching seaweeds, among other projects. It has also contracted to the Australian Defence Force to complete maritime environmental services.
With the 2022 awards having been Scubabo Dive’s first entry at the GBEAs, director Joel says his business will definitely be entering again in 2023.
“The entry process was really insightful,” Joel explains.
“It was pretty nice to be able to go through all our documentation and all our procedures and have them laid out in front of us – it gave us the chance to go over them and improve a lot of them.”
Joel encourages other businesses in the region to enter the 2023 GBEAs, citing networking and relationship building as one of the biggest benefits, and describing the Geelong and Bellarine region as ‘world class in terms of connectivity.’
“I think other businesses should have a go at the awards and take the time to look at their own achievements,” Joel says.
The 2022 Geelong Business Excellence Awards were proudly sponsored by LBW Business + Wealth Advisors, celebrating clever, creative and connected businesses in Geelong and the Bellarine, as well as the Surf Coast, Queenscliff and Golden Plains regions.
