Divers Look For Big Thrills

December 10, 2003
Release from:
Townsville Bulletin (Australia)

REEF divers are looking for sharks -- and the bigger the better, according to a researcher.
James Cook University research post-graduate student Dean Miller says shark preservation may be vital in sustaining scuba diving as one of Queensland's most vital tourist pastimes.

Mr Miller, who is working with the CRC for Sustainable Tourism, is asking divers along the Great Barrier Reef what they think are the vital ingredients for a great dive.

"Although there are no results out yet it would appear large sharks, bigger fish, stone fish and large schools of fish are what divers appear to be looking for," he said.

"With sharks, it's "the bigger the better". Sharks on the Great Barrier Reef are of great value to the tourist industry."

Mr Miller said that on a recent dive to observe coral spawning in blue water off the reef he spotted his first giant black marlin free swimming underwater.

"Finding out what divers want to see will benefit both tourist operators and the environment," he said.
"If divers visit certain places hoping to see specific animals such as sharks, scorpion fish or potato cod, then those animals have a high value to the tourism industry. This information can be used to support conservation efforts for these species and their habitats." The study will also help tourism operators develop the best possible dives for both novice and experienced divers.

"One aim of this research is to find new ways to enrich divers' experiences by educating them about the reef and the animals they are likely to see. This will also help minimise diver impacts on the reef," he said.
Mr Miller is surveying divers on live-aboard boats visiting the Ribbon Reefs, north-east of Cairns and Osprey Reef in the Coral Sea.

The research will investigate how the sites match expectations of scuba divers who have dived around the world and how the sites are perceived by experienced and beginner divers.

"If divers have really good experiences at dive sites they are more likely to return in the future," he said.
"Understanding the expectations and experiences of different types of divers will help the dive industry sustain high quality diving into the future."

The three-year project is funded by CRC Reef Research Centre, CRC for Sustainable Tourism and JCU and surveys made possible by the co-operation of dive vessels.