The Economic Value of Diving

The Economic Contribution of Scuba and Freediving

In 2025, a major global study into the economic value of Scuba was published by Scripps Institution of Oceanography, supported by National Geographic, PADI and other stakeholders. The findings suggest that up to 20 billion USD in direct and indirect economic benefits are being generated annually around the world.

The SDFSA is working on getting a local picture of the value of this activity to the State and local Councils. It has been challenging to persuade governments of the economic value of scuba/freediving in order to make the case for the maintenance of jetties, protection of coastal waters and other investments.

So far, we have found limited data. Parallel studies have provided some insight, including research into the value of maritime cultural heritage (Straiton, P. 2022. Assessing the Economic and Sociocultural Value of Maritime Cultural Heritage Sites: An Interdisciplinary Pilot Study. PhD thesis submitted to Flinders University.

The SDFSA is working on getting a local picture of the value of this activity to the State and local Councils. It has been challenging to persuade governments of the economic value of scuba/freediving in order to make the case for the maintenance of jetties, protection of coastal waters and other investments.

So far, we have found limited data. Parallel studies have provided some insight, including research into the value of maritime cultural heritage (Straiton, P. 2022. Assessing the Economic and Sociocultural Value of Maritime Cultural Heritage Sites: An Interdisciplinary Pilot Study. PhD thesis submitted to Flinders University (https://theses.flinders.edu.au/view/8ea837fd-fcd6-4397-8f6b-641eaf4146c4/1.), shark diving, including an analysis of the Neptune Islands shark tourism (Huveneers, C. et al. 2017. The economic value of shark-diving tourism in Australia in Rev Fish Biol Fisheries (2017) 27:665–680) and SA outdoor education in general (Marsden Jacob. Revised 2020. South Australia’s Nature based Outdoor Economy.). A recent 2023 study carried out by the Local Government Association of SA has also provided some insight: The Value of South Australia’s Jetties.

We are pursuing funding to work with researchers from the global study to undertake a new version just focused on South Australia. As the methodology and analysis are already established from the global study and with the help of the SDFSA to encourage shops and clubs to participate, we hope to be able to get this badly needed evidence of the economic value of scuba, free diving and snorkelling to the economy of South Australia.

With this data, we will be able to encourage significant investments in infrastructure, marine life protections and promotion of South Australia as a premier, bucket list dive destination. South Australia has much to offer divers and freedivers seeking to expand their horizons by exploring the rich biodiversity of southern temperate waters or the challenging world-class sink holes and cave systems across the State. South Australia’s protected jetties, reefs and gulfs provide shelter to many iconic species like the Leafy seadragon and the Weedy seadragon, the photogenic Blue devil, some of the rarest and unusual creatures like the Goblin fish, Port Jackson sharks (the puppy-dogs of the sea), and the annual migration of the Giant cuttlefish, made renown through David Attenborough’s Blue Planet. It is also a place for those seeking the thrill of seeing Great White Sharks (from the safety of diving cages). Many come to SA to explore its shipwrecks and other maritime cultural heritage sites. And for those with CDAA certification, there are many miles of caves and channels to explore.