We Chose Purpose Over Profit: The Story Behind Splitdyboat

A lot of people don’t realise that Splitdyboat stopped offering boat-sharing services a long time ago…
Splitdyboat was founded in 2022. In the beginning, we didn’t run guided tours. We simply helped people find others who wanted to visit the same places, such as islands and beaches, and arranged boat trips for them.
But after Hong Kong reopened in mid-2023, we noticed that more and more visitors were becoming interested in exploring Hong Kong’s islands. That made us start thinking seriously about visitor numbers, safety and the long-term sustainability of island tourism.
In the end, we made a very difficult decision: we gave up the business we had built and started again from scratch.
We stopped offering boat-sharing services and decided to focus entirely on group tours.
So, what does that mean?
We no longer arrange transport-only services for customers, including boat-sharing or private boat rental.
Instead, every trip we run now includes a guide. For water activities such as snorkelling and kayaking, you’ll be accompanied by a professional instructor throughout the experience.
Our instructors provide safety briefings, teach you the basic skills, share interesting information about the local environment and ecology, and even help take photos for you.
Why did we make this decision?
Because we believe an island adventure should be about more than simply taking people out to have fun.
It should also be about showing people how to explore nature safely, responsibly and sustainably.
As more and more visitors discover Hong Kong’s islands, there is an urgent need for people on the front line to educate them and help them understand how to enjoy these places properly.
Otherwise, the information people find online may come down to just one message: “You can go there and do whatever you want.”
That can cause immediate and irreversible damage to the environment. It can also lead to serious accidents, and in some cases, even loss of life.
When we first made this decision, it honestly made very little business sense. If we looked at it purely from a commercial point of view, it was probably one of the most foolish decisions we could have made.
We had spent almost two years building the business, investing our time, money and energy into it. It had already started generating income, yet we decided to walk away from it.
It wasn’t because we didn’t know how to do the maths. We simply believed that some things are more important than profit.
This decision was about staying true to our original purpose and keeping our promise to nature.
We want everyone who joins our tours to take away more than just a fun memory. We want them to learn something, understand more about the environment and leave with a greater respect for nature.
Our participants come from all kinds of backgrounds. Some are local residents, while others are visitors from mainland China or overseas. We may have different cultures and ways of thinking, but we believe one thing is universal:
Nature doesn’t belong to any one group of people. Everyone can enjoy it, as long as they do so in the right way.
It’s just like travelling to another country. You’re welcome to explore and enjoy the place, but you should also respect the local rules.
Starting again from scratch
Making this decision wasn’t easy. It meant giving up almost everything we had built over the previous two years and starting all over again.
But both of us founders believed that if we were doing the right thing, starting from zero was not something to be afraid of.
Through our snorkelling experience tours, we decided to work directly with visitors who come to Hong Kong to enjoy the sea.
We don’t just provide instruction. We also provide the necessary equipment, including life jackets and snorkelling masks, so that participants can enjoy the experience with greater confidence and peace of mind.
We once had a visitor who originally planned to simply follow a tour leader and have a quick swim in the sea.
But after finding out that we provided life jackets and that a professional instructor would be there to guide them, they decided to join our tour instead.
It turned out that they couldn’t swim.
Because we provided the right equipment and proper instruction, they felt safe enough to give snorkelling a try. In the end, they had a great time and even told us that they were glad they hadn’t joined a tour where people were just allowed to jump into the water without proper guidance.
We also once met a group of visitors from mainland China who had brought tools with them because they thought they could freely collect things from the shore or “go beachcombing” in Hong Kong.
Our instructor spotted the tools before they went out to sea and stopped them from bringing them along. We explained the rules relating to Hong Kong’s marine parks and geopark, and why this kind of activity is not allowed.
More importantly, we helped them understand why protecting the marine ecosystem matters.
Why we do what we do
These days, information is everywhere. Open any social media platform and you’ll find countless guides telling you where to go and how to enjoy different places.
As an operator in this industry, the least we can do is make sure visitors have more than two choices when they’re planning a trip:
They shouldn’t have to choose between simply following a tour leader or going off to explore on their own.
There should also be the option of joining a properly organised tour with the right equipment and professional instructors.
That is the value we bring, and it is what we’re committed to.
We’ll keep teaching and educating people, one participant at a time.
Finally, we want to say a special thank you to everyone who has stayed with us.
From our early days of arranging boat-sharing trips to the time when we started running guided tours and outdoor experiences, you have continued to support us.
Your loyalty and encouragement are what keep us going.
From a business point of view, we may have made quite a few “foolish” decisions. But because you’ve continued to stand behind us, we’ve been able to stay true to our original purpose and keep doing what we believe is right. 🙏