The Relationship between Diver Experience Levels and Perceptions of Attractiveness of Artificial Reefs - Examination of a Potential Management Tool Anne E. Kirkbride-Smith*, Philip M. Wheeler, Magnus L. Johnson Centre for Environmental and Marine Sciences, University of Hull, Scarborough, North Yorkshire, United Kingdom Abstract Artificial reefs are increasingly used worldwide as a method for managing recreational diving since they have the potential to satisfy both conservation goals and economic interests. In order to help maximize their utility, further information is needed to drive the design of stimulating resources for scuba divers. We used a questionnaire survey to explore divers’ perceptions of artificial reefs in Barbados. In addition, we examined reef resource substitution behaviour among scuba divers. Divers expressed a clear preference for large shipwrecks or sunken vessels that provided a themed diving experience. Motives for diving on artificial reefs were varied, but were dominated by the chance of viewing concentrated marine life, increased photographic opportunities, and the guarantee of a ‘good dive’. Satisfaction with artificial reef diving was high amongst novices and declined with increasing experience. Experienced divers had an overwhelming preference for natural reefs. As a management strategy, our results emphasize the capacity of well designed artificial reefs to contribute towards the management of coral reef diving sites and highlight a number of important areas for future research. Suggested work should validate the present findings in different marine tourism settings and ascertain support of artificial reefs in relationship to level of diver specialization. Citation: Kirkbride-Smith AE, Wheeler PM, Johnson ML (2013) The Relationship between Diver Experience Levels and Perceptions of Attractiveness of Artificial Reefs - Examination of a Potential Management Tool. PLoS ONE 8(7): e68899. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0068899 Editor: Brian Gratwicke, Smithsonian’s National Zoological Park, United States of America Received March 28, 2013; Accepted June 7, 2013; Published July 23, 2013 Copyright: ß 2013 Kirkbride-Smith et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Funding: This study was self-funded by the corresponding author who is studying for a PhD with Dr Magnus Johnson and Dr Philip Wheeler. The corresponding author has no financial links to the tourism or diving industry in Barbados. Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist. * E-mail: [email protected] Introduction Even within marine protected areas, active management is often lacking [27–30]. Artificial reefs could provide an alternative more Scuba diving is a burgeoning global activity with coral reefs unconventional method to assist in the management of scuba being a major attraction to divers. As a niche market, recreational diving impacts. diving is widely acknowledged as being one of the tourism Whilst artificial reefs are not viewed as ‘perfect’ substitutes for industry’s fastest growing markets [1–3], and as a consequence, natural coral reefs [20], there is evidence that they are valued by many countries are establishing themselves as new international scuba divers [31–33] with many structures used successfully as diving destinations. Coral reefs provide a diverse and stimulating sacrificial dive sites worldwide [34–37]. Of significance, artificial setting for recreational diving, as well as other marine based reefs have been shown to alleviate user pressure to nearby natural activities. However, their ubiquitous appeal to the diving tourism reef habitats [34,35], and to contribute substantially to local host industry has led to concerns of significant levels of biological economies [18–20,34]. In view of the fact that some scuba divers damage resulting from the practice. Many studies have docu- place little importance on the ecological characteristics of a reef mented diver impacts [4–8], with levels of damage to reefs often site [38,39], it may be possible to satisfy divers’ requirements with linked to intensity of use by divers [9–11] and to a lack of diving well conceived artificial reef diving attractions. However, studies experience [12–14]. Studies report; mechanical breakage [14–16] relating to issues concerned with the recreational use of artificial and the re-suspension of sediments [11,16,17] as problems. Although there are negative impacts associated with mass diving habitats by divers, have received scant attention to date. The few tourism, scuba diving has the potential to generate substantial relevant published studies [32,33,40–43] and principal findings are revenues [18–22]. However, balancing the requirements of reef presented in Table 1. A majority of these works sought to gain a conservation with the needs of local host economies represents a personal insight from divers into their motivations and perceptions considerable challenge to managers and policy makers. Various of diving on artificial reefs, but none investigated resource approaches to manage coral reef diving sites have emerged over substitution behaviour among divers. the previous 20 years, such as the percentile approach and limits of The aim of this study was to explore the perceptions of diving acceptable change [23], and the concept of ecological carrying on artificial reefs from a user perspective. Information was sought capacity (e.g. [24,25]). A drawback of these policies though, is that to characterize both resident and visitor scuba divers, to acquire an they may require ongoing monitoring and adjustments [26], and understanding of why individuals dive on artificial reefs, and the are more effective when applied within a marine park setting. factors that inform their choice of dive site. We report on divers PLOS ONE | www.plosone.org 1 July 2013 | Volume 8 | Issue 7 | e68899 Artificial Reefs as Diving Management Tools Table 1. Previous studies and key findings of motivational factors related to diving on artificial reefs. Stanley & Wilson, Ditton et al. 2002 Milton, 1989 [40]1989 [41] [42] Stolk et al. 2005 [32] Shani et al. 2011 [33] Edney, 2012 [43] Artificial Reef Desirable fish Fish species (grouper Large Naval ships Old shipwrecks Diversity Large Naval ships Historical shipwrecks Attributes species and snapper) Petroleum structures of species Concentration Airplanes Themed Artifacts Penetrable of marine life structures wrecks Marine life Environmental Accessibility to Underwater visibility Mooring buoys Depth Sea visibility Currents Reef Factors dive site of reef accessibility Reef location Social Factors Travel time Size of dive group Restrictions on spear Size of dive group Safety Peace Tranquility Previous guns Night diving Photographic experiences Tranquility Adventure opportunities doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0068899.t001 use, opinions, and preferences related to artificial reefs, including that gave individuals an opportunity to express their own thoughts the environmental attributes and motivational factors that and feelings to a prior response. Specific questions included in the contribute to diver enjoyment. We also explore if reef habitat survey reflect previous works that have studied diver perceptions of preference is influenced by diving experience. Our results are artificial reefs [32,40,42]. To assist participants; a map of Barbados discussed within the context of scuba diving management where was provided that included a list of all artificial reef and natural reef conservation is important. reef diving sites and locations of diving schools situated along the south-west coast of the island. Respondents were given the Methods opportunity at the conclusion of the survey to add any additional information they thought necessary/beneficial to the study. Prior Ethics Statement to the main survey, the questionnaire was tested as a pilot survey All divers completed the survey themselves and gave their (n = 10) aided by a survey assessment sheet that resulted in minor permission to use the results. Individuals were not identifiable from modifications to several of the questions. the data provided. The work described in this paper was reviewed Sampling was conducted with the assistance of five of the diving and approved by the Centre for Environmental and Marine companies situated along the south-west coast of Barbados Science departmental ethics committee. Verbal assurance was (Figure 1). A twelve month survey period enabled us to capture provided by a representative of the Barbadian Coastal Zone one high season (November to May) and one low season (June to Management Unit that no permit is required to conduct October). Selection of survey participants was randomized, based questionnaire based research on the island. on every other individual entering a dive shop with the a priori requirement of $10 logged dives and knowledge of local artificial Study Setting reef diving. The rationale of the study was made clear to all The study was conducted on the Caribbean island of Barbados participants prior to completion of the questionnaire. Two (13u109N, 59u359W), West Indies (Figure 1), between December hundred questionnaires were fully completed within the study 2010 to January 2012. Whilst Barbados is a relatively small island period. (431 km2), its current population of 276,300 [44] makes it