Explanation of Indicator
The recreational uses of Florida’s coast are among the principal reasons people visit the state. People engage in a number of activities while at the coast; one popular activity is scuba diving. Florida offers divers rich and diverse underwater resources. The state has many popular historic shipwrecks off its coast and a number of coral reefs which attract scuba divers from around the nation and world.
Scuba diving has significant impacts on local area economies. These impacts include rental fees for boats and equipment, hotel/motel charges, as well as the jobs created to support the diving industry. These transactions help local businesses and local economies. Naturally, localities desire to encourage this type of business and want to ensure that the area retains its attractiveness to divers. This indicator also reflects the pressures exerted on the coastal resources due to human use. By monitoring the number of divers per location and the impacts divers exert, the state can direct funding efforts to maintain diving sites and access routes so that these areas can continue to grow and foster economic gain.
Data Characteristics
SOURCE
There is currently no source of data for this information.
ACQUISITION
Not available
COLLECTION
Not available
Recommendations
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Division of Recreation and Parks should conduct a survey of licensed divers to find out when and where they dive within the state’s coastal areas. This information would help the state determine where and how frequently residents dive. To be useful, the state should collect the data and tabulate it annually. The surveys should be sent to all registered divers in the state of Florida.
The Florida Department of Commerce should also ask tourists, in the annual exit survey, if they dived during their visit and where. This would provide the state some information about tourist diving and the role it plays in attracting tourists.