Recreational scuba diving as leisure adventure activity: Diver experiences and underwater environments

Aim: The aims of this study are twofold. One is descriptive, presenting the scuba divers' experiences of Drift, Wreck, Deep, Ice, Try, Fauna and Flora, Night, Sunset, Cavern, Fresh Water and Attitude Diving around the globe. A second purpose of the study is methodological in scope: to use the theories and stream of literature as a springboard for discussing the the diver' behaviors and characteristics of touristic underwater environments. Material and Method: Grounded in our epistemological intentions, we adopted a qualitative descriptive research design, a methodology that originates from a participant's disclosure, insider view and testimonio. The interviews were enriched and integrated with naturalistic observations, analytical notes and visual-textual materials. Interviews were held with 46 divers who had variation in their level of experience and involvement with the activity. Thematic analysis was used. Results: Analysis resulted in a synthesis of the various ways divers experienced recreational scuba diving types: (a) Physical Properties of Aquatic Environment (Light, Sound, Heat and Temperature, Balance: Buoyancy, and Pressure) and (b) Aquatic Life (Aquatic Formations: Natural and Artificial Objects and Aquatic Creatures: Fauna and Flora). An interpretive approach to analysing the interview data revealed that Sunset Diving might be a new-found recreational scuba diving type. Conclusion: The study acknowledged the importance of an embodied engagement with aquatic lanscapes that are seen as calming, restorative, healing, and connective for their ability to instil a sense of well-being. When shown marine or watery environments at sunset, interviews stress that divers respond to the therapeutic or meditative effects of the colour blue and that water-related scenes through scuba diving are the best for their flourishing. Thus, diving endustiry is advised to introduce the Sunset Diving to comminities in order to transform lives, and open hearts and minds to the hidden beauty of nature's creation and obligation to protect it. Drawing out the challening capacities of scuba diving, the study considers the Cavern, Ice, and Deep Diving are relatively unique experience from typical recreational diving and give divers an edge over many other scuba divers via a flow state in which a person performing an activity is fully immersed in a feeling of energized focus, full involvement, and enjoyment in the process of the activity. Whether purpose-sunk as an artificial reef for scuba divers, or lost as the result of an accident, wrecks are considered as fascinating windows to the past and a mystery lock for exploration. By spending time in aquatic world, divers recognized that the urge to meet new creatures affacts their tendency to make more vacation plans all over the world and inspire them to create more leisure time. Key Words: Leisure adventure experience, scuba diving, populer dive sides, scuba vacation, thematic analysis.