The Northwest Diving Institute in Bellevue will close its doors by the end of the year, says owner Allison Schumer, who is putting up his inventory at dealer cost until its all gone.

Schumer and his son are avid divers who instructed for several years before opening up the dive shop at 729 122nd Ave. N.E.

“We wanted our own brick-and-mortar, so we opened our own shop last year,” said Schumer. “It has been very successful.”

But Schumer said he didn’t want to get tied up in business during his retirement years, so will close the shop by the end of the year, when his lease is set to expire.

NWDI manager Gerie Masilotti said there have been a number of interested buyers around the shop hoping to keep the business afloat after Schumer’s departure.

“I’m hoping, because then I can stay the manager,” he said, adding the business focuses only on dry suit diving. “The whole ideas was to create a community of cold-water divers, and obviously it worked.”

Schumer said he’s uncertain whether he’d be willing to sell his company.

“It’s not an easy thing,” he said. “Dive shops are rarely sold. They usually close because they are a reflection of the owners.”

Northwest Diving Institute will launch its closing sale starting Black Friday with extended weekend hours of 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and will continue its regular noon to 6 p.m. hours next week.

Schumer said he’s still planning a dive trip to Cuba, and may continue as an instructor once the business closes.

“I’m still deciding the venue for that,” he said, “whether that’s independently or working with another dive shop.”