White sharks, Carcharodon carcharias, are often described as elusive, with little information available due to the logistical difficulties of studying large marine predators that make long-distance migrations across ocean basins. Increased understanding of aggregation patterns, combined with recent advances in technology have, however,

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ABSTRACT1. Scuba diving with the critically endangered grey nurse shark (Carcharias taurus) is a popular attraction for divers on the east coast of Australia. As the popularity of shark diving develops globally, research is required to evaluate how diving with sharks affects the behaviour and ecology of the species. Understanding participant's behaviour when diving with C. taurus can provide valuable information for researchers and policy makers trying to conserve this species.2. An elicitation procedure based on the theory of planned behaviour was applied to determine divers' beliefs pertinent to approaching C. taurus when scuba diving at two sites on Australia's east coast. A content analysis of responses revealed preliminary insights into the salient beliefs of divers. This initial step is an essential foundation for subsequent phases of research and communication aimed at improving shark and diver interactions and experiences.

Management of protected areas is as much about understanding how society values these resources as it is about understanding ecological processes. Yet, in comparison to standard ecosystem monitoring and economic evaluation, social values are frequently overlooked because of the challenge to measure and define them. As marine protected areas are currently the fastest growing protected area type, this article argues the need to incorporate social value assessment in planning and policy decisions to improve ecological and social outcomes. This study surveyed 675 white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) cage-dive participants to investigate how tourists' value the Neptune Islands group (Ron and Valerie Taylor) Marine Park. Applying a value typology previously used in forests, respondents were able to identify with 13 distinct values. Results demonstrate that tourists hold biocentric, indirect use, and nonconsumptive values of the marine park as most important. The relevance of these results as an indicator of tourists' preference for management decisions is discussed.

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