AN ASSESMENT RELATED WITH UNDERWATER DIVING TOURISM IN THE COASTS OF KAS AND DEMRE DISTRICTS

Abstract

This study aims to present underwater diving tourism and aims to reveal the various aspects of the coast in Kaş and Demre
districts. The coasts of Kaş and Demre districts, where underwater diving tourism shows the most important development in
our country, also lead the diving tourism. The coasts of the region have the most important dive sites on our shores with both
Dalmatian type coasts and underwater geomorphology and marine flora and fauna, sunken and artificial reefs. In the paper;
geographical factors that affect underwater diving tourism on the coasts of Kaş and Demre districts, characteristics of dive
sites, attracting factors, development of diving tourism and the magnitude of the mobility it creates were investigated. In this
study, both the problems affecting the underwater diving tourism negatively on the coasts of the region and the problems caused
by diving tourism are examined. Finally; suggestions were made for the development of the balance of protection and use in
order to ensure sustainability in underwater diving tourism on the coasts of Kaş and Demre districts. The data required for the
study was collected in July 2018 and May 2019 through interviews with dive school officials, dive instructors and especially
recreational divers, as well as field studies. Research was supported by document analysis.