Challenges in Recreational SCUBA Diving in the Mediterranean Sea: Posidonia oceanica Meadows

Posidonia oceanica is an endemic Mediterranean ecosystem which is widely distributed along the Greek coasts, and is considered a biotic index of good water quality. Apart from the ecological interest of Posidonia meadows, these habitats can be an attractive pole for recreational SCUBA diving activities. A total of 255 divers (210 males and 45 females) from diving resorts and diving clubs in Sani region (Chalkidiki, North Aegean Sea, Greece) filled in questionnaires. According to the results, only few divers prefer to dive in Posidonia oceanica beds, mainly due to the lack of knowledge. Posidonia diving appears to be a new challenging destination into the Mediterranean basin and this study examines the possibility to increase the value of Posidonia beds as a diving site. The benefits of this are numerous for both the enhancement of the diving industry and the conservation of natural resources. As a general conclusion, the necessity of an appropriate informing and training procedure, through the pre-dive briefing, is underlined.