Abstract
Abstract. The aim of this study is to investigate some of the trends associated with SCUBA diving within an
adventure tourism framework. Previous research has shown the increase in adventure tourism, globally, as
well as its economic contribution to national economies, particularly those in developing countries such as
South Africa. As one of the oldest forms of adventure tourism, SCUBA diving, in particular, has the
potential to generate significant income due to the training requirements, the specialized equipment required
and the trend of career participation in the activity. This study analyzed the SCUBA industry in South Africa
through 106 questionnaires distributed to SCUBA divers. The results show that there is a trend of repeat
participation in SCUBA dive tourism and the economic implications are significant. Furthermore, it
demonstrates evidence of the development of SCUBA communities in the country, encouraging continued
participation. The results have important implications for the potential contribution of SCUBA diving to the
South African adventure tourism industry. It also highlighted some of the aspects that could either attract or
deter more people from engaging in SCUBA diving in South Africa, which has product development and
marketing implications. This work brings initial insight into an important tourism subsector which generates
significant income and has a strong potential for further development in South Africa.