Human dimensions of wreck diving and management: case studies from Australia and Micronesia

Shipwrecks have become popular attractions for recreational scuba divers. This interest has seen increased levels of visitation and has resulted in higher levels of diver impacts at these sites. Understanding the characteristics of the divers’ visiting these sites, their motivations, preferences, and attitudes to management controls can assist managers in developing more effective and sustainable management strategies to mitigate diver impacts. However, until recently little was known about wreck divers. This article compiles and analyzes the findings of two recent studies of wreck divers in Australia and Micronesia, discusses their implications to shipwreck management, and makes recommendations about application of this information in management strategies aimed at balancing the protection of sites with visitation by divers

Lust for rust : wreck divers and the management of underwater cultural heritage

Shipwrecks are mysterious, beautiful and evocative. They offer divers unique, diverse and more challenging diving experiences than general scuba diving. It is not surprising, therefore, that interest in and demand for wreck diving has grown as the recreational diving community has expanded and matured over the past six decades. However, shipwrecks are also fragile, non-renewable finite resources, and important elements of our underwater cultural heritage. Wreck diving can result in negative impacts on the cultural heritage values of shipwrecks. An understanding of wreck diver behaviour, motivations and attitudes can assist heritage managers to balance protection of underwater cultural heritage and diver access to high quality diving experiences. The purpose of this research was to address the gaps in the literature pertaining to wreck diver behaviour, motivations and attitudes, and to identify opportunities for enhanced integration of divers and the management of underwater cultural heritage, focusing on the Asia-Pacific region. Pragmatism and mixed methods methodology was used to address the research objectives. The underwater behaviour of 20 wreck divers at Chuuk Lagoon, in the Federated States of Micronesia, was examined and analysed to gain an understanding of wreck diver behaviour. A sample of 724 wreck divers participated in a self-completed web-based survey, targeted at the key source populations of wreck divers who visit the Asia-Pacific region. Data from the survey was used to analyse wreck diver motivations and attitudes. Outcomes of the study of in-water behaviour revealed that the majority of wreck divers behave responsibly underwater and do not participate in behaviours detrimental to the cultural heritage values of shipwrecks. A small minority of divers are responsible for the majority of contact behaviours, and the primary source of these behaviours were men and Australians. Less experienced divers were responsible for more contact behaviours than more experienced divers. The in-water behavioural study of divers represents a key contribution of this research by providing the first empirical description and analysis of wreck diver behaviour. Survey findings revealed the majority of wreck divers are male, aged between 35 and 64 years of age, hold a Bachelor or higher degree, and are experienced divers with high levels of dive certification. The majority of wreck divers are primarily motivated to see historically significant shipwrecks, artefacts and marine life and to enjoy the peace and tranquillity of the underwater environment. However, motivations are complex and influenced by certain diver profile variables. This research generated a conceptual model of wreck diver motivations, the Wreck Diver Motivations Model. The model illustrates the diversity and complexities in diver motivations, providing a more comprehensive understanding of diver motivations. Most wreck divers indicated in-principle support for the use of management controls to protect wrecks. However, only two specific controls were supported: the use of penalties and permits. There was strong opposition to the exclusion of divers from shipwrecks. Similar to motivations, attitudes were also found to be complex and influenced by certain diver profile variables. Two models of diver attitudes were generated from this research, the Wreck Diver Opposition to Management Controls Model and Wreck Diver Support for Management Controls Model. These models illustrate the complexities and diversity inherent in diver attitudes, enriching understanding of wreck diver attitudes. The three conceptual models generated from the research make a key contribution to heritage management, and scuba and outdoor recreation research. A review of the literature regarding approaches to managing diver impacts on underwater cultural heritage identified three key opportunities to integrate divers in the management of underwater cultural heritage. These were engagement and partnership programs, maritime archaeology training for divers, and collaboration and consultation with divers regarding the management of sites. The Wreck Diver Motivations Model can also assist in enhancing integration of divers and the management of underwater cultural heritage by providing managers with insights into the effects of management decisions on diver experiences and preferences, on different segments of the wreck diving community. The two conceptual models of diver attitudes allow managers to identify the segments of the wreck diving community likely to oppose or support specific management controls, and gauge likely levels of voluntary compliance with management rules

GIRT scientific divers citizen science programme: Volunteer motivations and characteristics

The no-impact maritime archaeological conservation-focused citizen science programme gathering information via recreational and technical (GIRT) scientific divers formally started in January 2019 and was designed and developed to encourage interested people, businesses, and groups to have an active and positive maritime archaeology management role. Initially launched in New Zealand and Australia, GIRT has expanded to include members in 9 countries. To better understand who is interested to participate in GIRT, why, and what it is they seek to get out of their participation, a survey was sent out to the first 119 people who undertook training. 100 people responded to the survey providing information about the demographics of participants, their background in heritage and protection, diving, science and conservation, and volunteering. Survey results show that GIRT is acting as a gateway into maritime archaeology for individuals who have never dived wrecks and for people interested in natural heritage

Can artificial reef wrecks reduce diver impacts on shipwrecks? The management dimension

Managers have been advocating the use of artificial reef wrecks to diversify the experiences of recreational divers and thereby reduce the well-known impact on reefs. To examine whether artificial reef wrecks can serve as substitutes for historic shipwrecks this paper discusses the attitude of Australian divers to wreck diving in general and to artificial reef wrecks in particular. While the overwhelming majority of divers surveyed accepted the need for control, the experienced divers were less interested in artificial reef wrecks and less prepared to tolerate controls over their perceived freedom to dive wrecks. We present projections that show that this legacy issue will have largely resolved itself by 2025 due to attrition and natural ageing

Diving Deeper into Wreck Diver Motivations and Attitudes

Increased demand by dive tourists for high-quality underwater wreck sites requires managers to balance heritage conservation and tourism at these vulnerable sites to ensure quality diving experiences while protecting underwater cultural heritage. Integral to effective management is a comprehensive understanding of wreck diver characteristics, motivations, and attitudes. This paper reports the outcomes of an international survey of 724 wreck divers including demographics, dive experience, motivations to wreck dive and attitudes to underwater cultural heritage protection. Wreck divers are motivated to see historic shipwrecks, artefacts, and marine life. Most are generally supportive of management controls to protect underwater cultural heritage. Conceptual models of wreck divers’ motivations and attitudes were developed to illustrate nuanced complexities in motivations and attitudes, which can inform management strategies to support operational decisions and destination marketing