Diving with dignity? Older women scuba divers, constraints and accessible tourism on the Great Barrier Reef

ABSTRACT

The average age of travelers is rising. Research shows increases in the older tourist segment, which prefers opportunities to participate in adventurous activities. Recent figures from Australia show increases in numbers of over 50's women who are signing on for dive classes and trips, yet few studies have examined this group. Older divers often require specialized services. This autoethnographic study aims to bridge the gap in knowledge of leisure constraints encountered by an older woman diver on a day trip to the Great Barrier Reef and offer insights relating to this growing cohort's needs. The five phases of the leisure experience were applied to the author's diving experience to address the scarcity of studies of this cohort. It presents new perspectives on accessible tourism for older adventurous women, such as the challenges of managing heavy gear and the need for suitable spaces to undress in privacy and comfort.

KEYWORDS:

• Accessible tourism
• scuba diving
• older women
• leisure constraints

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Sally F. Gregory

Sally F. Gregory is a PhD candidate in the School of Business, Law and Arts at Southern Cross University, Gold Coast, Australia. She holds Masters Degrees in Business Administration and International Tourism and Hotel Management. She has 40 years of industry experience in training, sales, marketing and tour leading in the Australian Scuba diving industry. Her current research interests include constraints to participation in SCUBA diving, marketing of diving destinations, accessible diving, Scuba diving tourism in the Asia Pacific Region and active ageing in Adventure Sport for baby boomer women.