- New Legislation Paves Way for Increase in Scuba Diving Tourism -
SAN DIEGO, May 2 /PRNewswire/ -- The Diving Equipment and Marketing
Association congratulates the Florida Senate and House of Representatives
for unanimously passing legislation which establishes a matching grant
program titled Ships to Reefs. This bill, sponsored in the Senate by Mike
Bennett, and in the House by Doug Holder, would authorize the sinking of
decommissioned U.S. Military vessels as artificial reefs to increase marine
habitat and tourism opportunities associated with recreational scuba diving
and fishing.
With 380 decommissioned Navy ships already acting as marine habitat,
Florida leads the nation in the number of vessels functioning as artificial
reefs. Each year, thousands of visitors choose Florida to scuba dive on the
artificial reef trail, providing an economic boost to the communities of
the 272 Florida-based retail dive centers and local diving operators, as
well as surrounding hotels and restaurants. A recent study estimates that
the economic impact of the USS Vandenberg, scheduled to be sunk off the
coast of Key West later this year, will generate between $56-$168 million
over the next ten years.
"Artificial reefs provide the opportunity to increase nature based
eco-tourism and scuba diving tourism," stated Tom Ingram, the Executive
Director of DEMA. "The sunken aircraft carrier USS Oriskany, which is the
world's largest artificial reef, is so popular amongst the diving community
that some local dive operations have up to a three month waiting list for
divers to get on a boat to access Florida's newest artificial reef.
According to one study, artificial reef sites based on sunken ships
generate an average of $3.4 million in gross revenues annually. The
expenditures of divers visiting artificial reefs in Florida were more than
$220 per person per day."
In addition to being spectacular dive sites, artificial reefs provide
additional hard bottom habitats that favor many species of large reef fish.
Additionally they provide alternatives to the natural reefs that can alter
human usage patterns and reduce user pressure on the natural reefs.
DEMA supports the new legislation to establish a program for artificial
reefs and strongly encourages Florida Governor Charlie Crist to sign the
bill as soon as possible. If the bill is signed, the new legislation will
go into effect on July 1, 2008.
DEMA, the Diving Equipment & Marketing Association, is an international
organization dedicated to the promotion and growth of the recreational
scuba diving and snorkeling industry. With more than 1,600 members, this
non-profit, global organization promotes scuba diving through many
initiatives including consumer awareness programs, media campaigns and
sponsorship of the DEMA Show, a trade event open only to companies doing
business in the scuba diving, action water sports and adventure/dive travel
industries. For more information on DEMA, call 858-616-6408 or visit
DEMA.