Home › A-Z of Diving › Articles › Scuba Diving Tourism
What is Scuba Diving Tourism
The travel-oriented component in scuba diving is often neglected. Yet, it is indispensable to the industry because it services the goals of sport divers at various destinations worldwide.
This article overviews the pivotal relationship between scuba diving tourism and diver training, guided experiences, equipment sales, and most of all - the environment.
Scuba Diving Ecotourism: A Global Industry
It's fair to say that the incentives and motivations for traveling apply to almost all enthusiastic recreational scuba divers.
Nonetheless, the complexities for scuba travelers vary during the initial development stages and after getting certified to dive.
Put another way:
There are several ways to participate in scuba diving tourism. It can be a one-off single trip. It can be more than one, or it can even be several excursions taken during the year.
That being said, some of the best diving destinations are more popular than others. As a consequence of that, we can generally put these diving hotspot locations into three groups.
- Tropical coral reef formations
- Freshwater lakes (landlocked environments)
- Shipwrecks and cave systems
For the masses, being able to combine the joy of scuba diving with the excitement of traveling the world is a major attraction of the sport.
In fact, the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) lists more than four thousand (4,074) recognised dive sites around the world.
Their diving tourism catalog and interactive map contains around 2,260 Reef dives, over one thousand Wall dives, and almost nine hundred Ocean dives.
In case you were wondering...
There are several ways to categorise the countries and areas where scuba diving is most popular. But, these three dive site would certainly be in the top ten:
- The Great Blue Hole in Belize
- Richelieu Rock in Thailand (popularised by Jacques Cousteau)
- SS Thistlegorm Wreck in the Egyptian Red Sea
Pro Tip: The global diving tourism market is massive - and currently growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of almost 16%! In fact, it is valued at $3.8 billion in 2022 and projected to reach $16.9 billion by 2032 - according to a report released by Allied Market Research in 2022.
Tangible vs. Intangible Goods and Services
In scuba diving tourism, the foremost tangible or material component that generates income is diving equipment, either for sale or rental.
Thus, the educational aspect and skill development are generally classed as "intangibles". Anyone running a scuba diving business will also know that guided dives and dive charter services (including diving liveaboards) can be key for success.
Let's not forget that customer satisfaction is paramount for sustained growth.
For instance, take a look through "Private Scuba customer testimonials" and it's easy to recognise the importance of personal communication.
Environmental Sustainability
If we consider scuba diving tourism as being an ecotourism, then we should also determine whether scuba diving is eco friendly.
Some say the increasing number of divers is having a negative effect on the marine environment, and this may be true in a minority of cases.
Indeed, the sea conditions that help delicate and diverse ecologies to develop also attract the greatest number of dive tourists. In general, this is sustainable. But, it includes divers with less experience and may still be struggling to dive in an environmentally friendly way.
The Impact of Inexperienced Divers
The results of several studies show that novice divers with poor buoyancy control cause a lot of damage to delicate coral reefs.
This is one reason why the Peak Performance Buoyancy Specialty course (PPB) should be mandatory for all scuba beginners.
Establishing a Retail Outlet
As a recipient of scuba diving tourism you'll already have invested a significant amount of capital. The sport is not only equipment intensive, but it also has legal and safety implications for those with dive tank refill facilities (e.g. to help minimise scuba diving accidents and incidents).
Some scuba schools can operate without a dive boat, such as resorts with a house reef. But, dive boats are a large capital expense for dive shops in areas where the dive sites are some distance away from the shore.
Here's the thing:
If you're wondering how to become a scuba instructor, the first step is understanding how long it will take and how much money it will cost you.
Following that, all participants involved in any kind of dive tourism activities need to have adequate quality control and public liability insurance.
Giving harmful products to students (e.g. contaminated air in a scuba tank) is a recipe for disaster, both financially and ethically.
Over-touristed Cities in Thailand
According to a recent study carried out by "Money Transfers", there is a word of caution for anyone who relies on the diving tourism market.
In recent years, the "must-visit destinations" posts in social media timelines have increased. Flights have become less expensive and cheap "backpacker" accommodation has become hugely popular and readily available.
And the bad news?
In a nutshell, it has created an insatiable appetite for travelers to explore the world, leading to overcrowded cities in certain hotspots.
Overtourism is also causing environmental emergencies and irreversible damage to some historical landmarks. So, when does tourism create more problems than actual benefits?
For some communities, the negative issues stir up when tourists start outnumbering local residents. For example, here are some of the drawbacks and pitfalls in three overtouristed cities in the Kingdom of Thailand.
Phuket (Pearl of the Andaman Sea)
Apart from being one of the most beautiful and serene destinations in Thailand, the tropical island of Phuket also happens to be the most overcrowded destination in the world.
In fact, the vibrant nightlife, pristine sandy beaches, and historic architecture draws in close to 10 million people every year. Research released by "Money Transfer" found that Phuket welcomes 118 tourists for every inhabitant.
The strain on the city's infrastructure and environment is clear to see. The island struggles to meet the insatiable demand, and the roads, water supplies, and waste management facilities are suffering.
Pattaya (City of Sins)
The Gulf Coast city of Pattaya is part of the Chonburi province on the eastern seaboard of Thailand. Once a quiet fishing village (in the 1960s), it has become another of Thailand's most overtouristed cities.
A picturesque coastline, golden sand beaches, and a lively unparalleled nightlife attracts travelers from all corners of the globe. In fact, foreign tourists outnumber the locals by 98 to one.
In only a few decades, the former sleepy seaside village is now jam-packed with high-rise properties, resort hotel accommodation, several world-class golf courses, and sporting activities galore.
Krabi (Southern Thailand)
The bad side of over tourism is also affecting Krabi and the nearby Phi Phi islands. It's fair to say the beaches and limestone landscapes are less busy than those in Phuket.
Even so, the ratio of 72 tourists to one resident means Krabi has become the third most over touristed destination in the world.
Over the years, speedboats and hordes of tourists have resulted in some severe environmental damage. A survey conducted in 2018 suggests only 8% of coral structures remain in a healthy condition.
As a result, the Thai authorities closed Maya bay for four years. They also replanted more than 30,000 pieces of coral as part of several ongoing conservation and restoration projects.