Resource Attributes That Contribute to Nonresident Diver Satisfaction in the Florida Keys, Usa

Abstract

Scuba diving is a popular form of marine-based tourism contributing over $1 billion annually to the tourism industry in the Florida Keys. this research explores diver characteristics, how segmentation into meaningful subgroups can be achieved, and how various factors affect satisfaction. Data were collected from nonresident divers and a 10-item index was created based on respondents' satisfaction. Discrepancy was calculated using the same items, and a specialization index was used to subgroup the respondents. Data were analyzed using step-wise regression. results revealed that discrepancies for individual items contributed to satisfaction, which differed according to specialization level. this suggests that satisfaction is related to both discrepancies between expectations and experiences, and specialization level, providing avenues for strategic marketing and management.

Understanding scuba divers' response to coral bleaching: An application of Protection Motivation Theory

“…Evidence from this study would suggest that individuals more strongly attached to the activity of diving might be more negatively affected by instances of coral bleaching. This close relationship between scuba diving and coral condition aligns with a large body of research investigating diver motivations and satisfaction in which corals and other underwater marine life are cited as the main reason for diving and diver satisfaction (Davis & Tisdell, 1996;Dearden, Bennett, & Rollins, 2006;Ditton, Osburn, Baker, & Thailing, 2002;Fitzsimmons, 2007;Garrod, 2008;Graham, Idechong, & Sherwood, 2000;Loomis, Anderson, Hawkins, & Paterson, 2008;MacCarthy, O'Neill, & Williams, 2006;Meyer, Thapa, & Pennington-Gray, 2002;Musa, 2002;Musa, Kadir, & Lee, 2006;Paterson, Young, Loomis, & Obenour, 2012;Shani, Polak, & Shashar, 2012;Tabata, 1992;Thailing & Ditton, 2003;Todd, Graefe, & Mann, 2002;Uyarra et al, 2005). Similarly, investigations into normative standards for coral reef conditions suggest that with more specialized divers indicate a lower acceptability for bleached and algal covered reefs (Anderson & Loomis, 2012;Young & Loomis, 2010).…”

“…Studies investigating diver motivations consistently cite the opportunity to look at corals and other underwater marine life as the main reason for diving (Ditton, Osburn, Baker, & Thailing, 2002;Garrod, 2008;Meyer, Thapa, & Pennington-Gray, 2002;Shani, Polak, & Shashar, 2012;Thailing & Ditton, 2003;Todd, Graefe, & Mann, 2002;Uyarra et al, 2005). Similarly, the condition of the underwater environment is among the main contributors to diver satisfaction (Davis & Tisdell, 1996;Dearden, Bennett, & Rollins, 2006;Fitzsimmons, 2007;Graham, Idechong, & Sherwood, 2000;Loomis, Anderson, Hawkins, & Paterson, 2008;MacCarthy, O'Neill, & Williams, 2006;Musa, 2002;Musa, Kadir, & Lee, 2006;Paterson, Young, Loomis, & Obenour, 2012;Tabata, 1992).…”

What is it about coral reefs? Translation of ecosystem goods and services relevant to people and their well‐being

“…2010, Paterson et al. 2012, Polak and Shashar 2013). For fish communities, fish abundance was the most preferred metric cited (Leeworthy and Wiley 1996, Shafer 2000, Williams and Polunin 2000, Wielgus et al.…”

“…A multimetric index expressed as a simple categorical indicator would be easier for divers to decide whether their dive would be enjoyable. Literature identifies the amount of live coral cover as the second most common coral community metric associated with making dives pleasurable ( Pendleton 1994 , Williams and Polunin 2000 , Uyarra et al 2005 , Kirkbride-Smith et al 2013 , Schuhmann et al 2013 , Flores-de la Hoya et al 2018 ) with coral colony abundance a close second ( Shafer 2000 , Wielgus et al 2010 , Paterson et al 2012 , Polak and Shashar 2013 ). For fish communities, fish abundance was the most preferred metric cited ( Leeworthy and Wiley 1996 , Shafer 2000 , Williams and Polunin 2000 , Wielgus et al 2003 , Uyarra et al 2005 , 2009 , Polak and Shashar 2013 ), followed by fish size ( Shafer 2000 , Williams and Polunin 2000 , White 2008 , Uyarra et al 2009 , Paterson et al 2012 , Giglio et al 2015 , Flores-de la Hoya et al 2018 ).…”

“…Literature identifies the amount of live coral cover as the second most common coral community metric associated with making dives pleasurable ( Pendleton 1994 , Williams and Polunin 2000 , Uyarra et al 2005 , Kirkbride-Smith et al 2013 , Schuhmann et al 2013 , Flores-de la Hoya et al 2018 ) with coral colony abundance a close second ( Shafer 2000 , Wielgus et al 2010 , Paterson et al 2012 , Polak and Shashar 2013 ). For fish communities, fish abundance was the most preferred metric cited ( Leeworthy and Wiley 1996 , Shafer 2000 , Williams and Polunin 2000 , Wielgus et al 2003 , Uyarra et al 2005 , 2009 , Polak and Shashar 2013 ), followed by fish size ( Shafer 2000 , Williams and Polunin 2000 , White 2008 , Uyarra et al 2009 , Paterson et al 2012 , Giglio et al 2015 , Flores-de la Hoya et al 2018 ). Divers preferred and were attracted to large (e.g., turtles, dolphins, sharks), colorful (e.g., butterfly-fish, wrasses, sponges, sea fans), and/or unusual marine charismatic organisms (e.g., trunk fish, eels, Christmas tree worms).…”