Transformative Potential of Sustainable Scuba Dive Tourism

While recreational scuba diving is a relatively new phenomenon, human beings have been closely tied with the ocean and marine resources for thousands of years. This chapter presents an extensive literature review to scrutinize the sustainability of marine diving tourism and the extent to which it can create transformative experiences that may be beneficial for both the diver tourists and the host communities. It examines this based on the three pillars of sustainability including environmental, economic, and social outlook of dive tourism. Furthermore, viability of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the effectiveness of management goals are scrutinized based on a transformative paradigm. A case study is also used to discuss the transformative potential of the marine tourism industry on the Hawaiian Island of Maui following a devastating wildfire that occurred in August 2023.