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Mineral Resources Management Division - Rigs to Reefs Workshop

Kristin Valette

Ms. Valette has worked with the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI), the world's largest scuba diving training organization, for the past five years in their Legal and Environmental Department. Her current role at PADI is Manager of the Project A.W.A.R.E. (Aquatic World Awareness Responsibility and Education) Foundation, a non profit 501 (c)(3) organization dedicated to the preservation and conservation of the aquatic environment.

~ Submitted by Ms. Valette ~

Project AWARE Foundation - Professional Association of Diving Instructors

The contribution of new artificial reef development to the marine ecosystem is difficult to evaluate. What is the value of an additional square foot of fisheries habitat? How much is a new colony of marine organisms worth? These are questions that are almost impossible to answer.

The value of new tourist attractions and spin-off economic activity, however, is more quantifiable. The creation of artificial reefs as new visitor destinations has had, in some instances a demonstrable impact on the economy of the coastal communities.

General agreement exists that artificial reefs are successful in attracting fish but most published papers are qualitative descriptions of successional changes and species observed. Few studies to date have addressed the qualitative value of increased marine habitat and its value to the fishery or dive tour operators who not only charter vessels to take people to the site, but who also utilize other facilities and visit neighboring tourist attractions.

Analysis of tourist contribution involves the measurement of some concrete and other fairly "soft" statistics. The impact upon hotel accommodation, charter boat services, dive shop operations, and so on, is easy to quantify. Other indirect contributions like side trips by the divers to neighboring on-shore tourist attractions, restaurants, craft shops and other merchants, are slightly more difficult to assess.

The success of such development is dependent upon external factors like the population base from which the diver-visitors are drawn, the region's water temperature and visibility, the "attractiveness" of the artificial reef, the attractiveness of the region itself, etc. This would tend to support the creation of dive parks in areas like Florida,, where all of the above conditions are so favorable.

Florida's Gold Coast is a prime example of what artificial reefs can mean to diving tourism. "Twenty years ago, most traveling divers knew this area as the coast you passed on your way down to the Keys. Today, the Gold Coast is one of the major diving destinations in the state. Why? Artificial reefs."(Brylske, A. Dive Training, '95) Well known wrecks and decommissioned oil platforms draw thousands of visitors to the area. "In the Miami area alone, it's been estimated that artificial reefs bring approximately $20 million per year into the local economy." Broward County, north of Dado County, FL has also prospered from artificial reefs. Artificial reefs have increased diving tourism in the past twenty years several fold. According to seasoned locals, "Artificial reefs have made Broward diving what it is today." (Brylske, A., Dive Training, '95)

It is interesting to note that "thousands of divers every year" are attracted to the Bruce Peninsula, Ontario, Canada where 19 wrecks have been prepared for scuba enthusiasts in water that is far less "diver-friendly" than the warm tropical Florida coast. This activity of diving on artificial reefs attracts diving and fishing activity despite the somewhat adverse conditions.

California will be no exception to the past history of economic gain because of artificial reefs. Diving industry estimates indicate that there are presently between 2.5 and 3 million active recreational scuba divers in North America alone. (DEMA, ~96) This number is continuing to grow. Last year alone PADI issued nearly 32,000 new diving certifications in California. Currently, there are more than 525 PADI Dive Operators (dive centers or resorts) in California and since 1982, PADI has issued more than 400,000 diving certification in California alone (PADI, 1998). These high numbers indicate a strong population base from which the visitors of the artificial reefs would be drawn. This combined with the "attractiveness" of the California coastal communities indicate a potential for dramatic economic gain.

Although it is clear that the a California "rigs to reefs" program needs to be studied more extensively, the preliminary research has shown that such a program has the potential to yield a high value for the economy and for the environment.