Houston District Rural Small Business of the Year: Jason Burleson – Mammoth Lake Dive Academy
Jason Burleson is a U.S. Air Force veteran, entrepreneur, and distinguished leader in the diving community. In 2020, he took on the challenge of revitalizing Mammoth Lake, a once abandoned site in Texas that had sat idle for several years after multiple unsuccessful ownership attempts. With limited resources but a clear vision, he invested his own capital to redevelop the property, transforming it into a premier training destination for divers, dive shops, and first responders.
As Mammoth Lake began to take shape, Jason sought guidance and support through the Brazosport College Small Business Development Center (SBDC). Through counseling services, specialized training, and access to networking opportunities, the SBDC helped strengthen the business’s foundation and position it for sustainable growth. In addition, following Hurricane Beryl, Mammoth Lake Texas received SBA Disaster Assistance funding, which played a critical role in helping the business recover from storm-related damage and continue operations without disruption.
Building on this momentum, Jason launched Mammoth Dive Academy in 2023 as the dive shop and training division of The Mammoth Group. Today, the Academy offers certification in 125 distinct diving specialties, with Jason personally authorized to certify 35 of those at the instructor level. Despite his leadership responsibilities, he remains actively involved in instruction, teaching courses and maintaining a hands-on presence in the business.
Mammoth Lake Texas has since grown into the largest dedicated scuba park in the U.S., encompassing 65 acres and featuring more than 100 submerged training structures, including a C-130 aircraft. The facility serves as a premier training site for diving shops and first responders across Texas and the Gulf Coast, and it hosts the annual Southeast Texas Public Safety Diving Conference. The business’s growth is reflected in its increasing reach and impact. During its inaugural season in 2020, Mammoth Lake welcomed approximately 2,000 divers. By 2025, that number had more than doubled to over 4,200 divers utilizing the facility annually. Certification activity has followed a similar trajectory, growing from just 30 certifications in the first year to nearly 400 in 2025.
Beyond its commercial success, Mammoth Lake Dive Academy is deeply committed to community engagement and service. Jason serves as President of DV8, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to providing no-cost scuba diving instruction to veterans and first responders with service-related injuries. The academy also provides instruction to local schools, veterans, first responders, and individuals of all ages and backgrounds.
Due to their continued success, Mammoth Lake Dive Academy is the recipient of the 2026 Houston District Rural Small Business Owner of the Year award.