Scuba Diver Perceptions and Evaluations of Crowding Underwater

Abstract

This article describes three exploratory investigations of dimensions influencing scuba diver perceptions of crowding in underwater settings. Five focus groups of five to eight divers each suggested that number, proximity, and clustering of divers were important crowding dimensions. A multiple sort procedure with 60 other divers revealed that number and proximity were most important. A survey of 101 additional divers confirmed that number and proximity of divers significantly influenced crowding, but the number of divers was the strongest determinant. Photographs were used to test crowding dimensions underwater. Although additional research is needed to confirm these findings, this study serves as a guide for future research on social aspects of dive site planning and management.

Assessing the Social Carrying Capacity of Diving Sites in Mabul Island, Malaysia

“…A second dimension of encounters (i.e., proximity of divers) is also statistically significant, but it does not as strongly influence divers perceived crowding as the mentioned variable. This is consistent with other studies that have explored additional dimensions of perceived crowding (e.g., Inglis et al 1999;Manning et al 2002;Szuster et al 2011). Future research should continue to investigate alternative dimensions of perceived crowding and resulting data should be used to inform planning and management in appropriate context.…”

The impact of perceived crowding on customer satisfaction

“…Research on tourism in Venice, Italy and Cambridge, UK (Pedrazzini & Akiyama, 2011) has described the 'crowding out' phenomenon, which is the moment when centrally located land becomes too expensive, and congestion and pollution arise due to increased tourism activity, and thus local families and firms are forced to move to the outskirts of the cities (Pedrazzini & Akiyama, 2011). Studies on carrying capacity are still applied in nature and wilderness parks (Prato, 2009), but are also discussed for festivals (Lee & Graefe, 2003), restaurants (Tse, Sin, & Yim, 2002), and in coastal tourism destinations (Jurado et al, 2013;Jurado et al, 2012;Saveriades, 2000;Szuster, Needha, & McClure, 2011;Tarrant & English, 1996). However, the specific context of outdoor ski resorts has not yet been researched.…”

Structural equation modelling assessment of personal and social factors on hajj crowding among african pilgrims in Mina

“…In a parallel study on place satisfaction, Eder and Arnberger [36] posits that place attachment determines a higher level of attachment to an area for a particular activity preferred by the individual. Crowding due to level of activities/norm of behaviour was found to be reliant on site-specific encounters leading to less acceptable crowding for various activities and locations [22,37]. Activities enjoyed at a forest retreat highlighted that there was little difference between activities enjoyed by different ethnic groups [38].…”

“…Distance between individuals underscores the levels of crowd perception [21]. In underwater scuba diving crowding tendencies, recreation managers having similar roles to Hajj authorities are faced with the challenge of ensuring biophysical and social conditions meet legal and jurisdictional objectives and standards [22]. Number, proximity, and clustering of divers were found to be the overriding crowding factors.…”

“…Crowding at a particular place is affected by the level of activity from participating individuals [10,22,30,31,32]. Activities which require social interaction and information seeking leads to individuals who are more crowding tolerant as opposed to activities which are solitude in nature [10,31,33].…”