The Use of Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality in Cultural Heritage and Deep-Diving Destinations

Underwater cultural heritage and deep diving are important attractions for tourism. Using cutting-edge technology tools for cultural heritage became more important for tourism destinations. The purpose of this chapter is to evaluate the use of virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) in tourism from the perspective of cultural heritage and deep diving. This chapter will contribute to the literature to show a new way of sustainable tourism. Commercial diving to an underwater heritage site a is popular touristic activity. Sometimes shipwreck recovery can be hazardous for cultural heritage. The review results indicate that these underwater cultural heritage sites need to be protected for sustainable tourism development. Virtual tours contribute to the sustainability of cultural heritage. On the other hand, treasure hunting trips and recreational diving may cause damage to the archaeological sites. Underwater cultural heritage sites should be protected for sustainable tourism. VR and AR applications can be used to promote a touristic destination by tourism marketers for experimental marketing.

Flying after diving: a questionnaire-based evaluation of pre-flight diving behaviour in a recreational diving cohort

Introduction: Divers are recommended to observe a pre-flight surface interval (PFSI) ≥ 24 hours before boarding a plane following a diving vacation. Decompression sickness (DCS) symptoms may occur during or post-flight. This study aimed to examine the adherence of PFSI ≥ 24 in vacationing divers, and if any perceived signs and symptoms of DCS during or after flight were experienced. Methods: An anonymous online survey was publicised through diving exhibitions and social media. Data included diver/diving demographics, PFSI before flight, flight details, and perceived signs and symptoms of DCS during or after flight. Results: Data from 316 divers were examined (31% female) with the age range 1-75 years (median 49). Divers recorded 4,356 dives in the week preceding the flight, range 1-36 (median 14). Overall, 251/316 (79%) respondents reported a PFSI of ≥ 24 hours. PFSIs of < 12 hours were reported by 6 respondents. Diagnosed and treated DCS developing during, and post flight was reported by 4 divers with PFSIs ≥ 24 hours and by 2 divers with PFSIs < 24 hours. Fifteen divers boarded a plane with perceived symptoms of DCS. Conclusions: These data suggest that most divers in this study observed the recommendations of a ≥ 24 hour PFSI with safe outcomes.

Nurkowania rekreacyjne kobiet i dzieci

Amateur diving, done for recreation or as a sport, is one of the activities which has recently been gaining in popularity both in Poland and abroad. Until only a few decades ago, scuba diving was primarily the domain of healthy men at the working age for whom underwater work was part of their job. Currently, scuba diving has become popular with individuals of all ages and both sexes. There is an increasing number of diving enthusiasts among women and children. Underwater sports and activities require good physical health and therefore defining clear contraindications to scuba diving, both diseases and physiological conditions (e.g. pregnancy). The paper presents issues related to recreational diving for women and children taking into account physiological and psychological aspects, health assessment and contraindications to diving.

The Stand For Fin Drives Energy Testing

The development of recreational diving and the new biomimetic vehicles for civilian and military purposes indicates that fins drives’ effectiveness should be a standard research procedure. The different sizes, construction and technical solutions of fin thrusters are the reason that no standard has been introduced for evaluating their efficiency. The paper presents an episode of the research carried out as part of a project financed by The National Centre for Research and Development in Poland concerning fin drives development. The first chapter presents a literature analysis of currently used research methods. A different approach to assessing efficiency was indicated, ranging from the study of the diver’s respiratory efficiency to the manipulator measurement methods. The hydrodynamic parameters, which analyzed the propellers, including fins, and the fish swimming motility characteristics, were indicated. The next chapter presents the water tunnel for basic research with measuring equipment and the range of applications. The methodology for assessing the hydrodynamic and energy efficiency of fin’s drives is presented in the third chapter. The fins’ kinematics and dynamics analysis indicated an initial set of geometric, kinematic, and dynamic parameters for energy and functional assessment purposes. The scope of available tests covered issues complex to quantify unambiguously; hence the obtained results were initial. The form made this assessment of successive pool tests, the aim of which was to analyze the kinematics of the fin’s operation. The trials of a representative fins thruster and the comments indicate the test stand’s practical use for testing various propellers.

Close encounters of the worst kind: reforms needed to curb coral reef damage by recreational divers

Intentional and unintentional physical contact between scuba divers and the seabed is made by most divers and multiple times per dive, which often results in damage to corals and other marine life. Current efforts to reduce reef contacts (e.g., voluntary dive operator recognition programs and voluntary dive standards) can be effective, but lack sufficient incentive structures for long-term compliance. In their current capacity, these programs fail to reduce reef contacts to tolerable levels. Regulatory policies can facilitate pervasive and permanent shifts in human behavior, but have been underutilized to change unsustainable underwater norms. Most coral reefs open to recreational diving lie within territorial waters of individual countries, and many already have existing forms of protection with legislation that can be easily modified. Successful policy precedents in Marine Protected Areas (e.g., bans on underwater glove use) and elsewhere (e.g., anti-smoking laws in public spaces and legislation enforcing seat belt use) demonstrate the largely untapped potential of using effective governance to change destructive diving norms for good. To reduce intentional reef contacts, policy-makers can enact regulations in MPAs directly banning all contact between divers and the seabed. To reduce unintentional contacts, policy-makers can create policy safeguards that preempt such occurrences (e.g., requiring divers to keep a certain distance from the seabed). Crucially, such policies will need accompanying formal and informal enforcement measures that are equitable, effective, and efficient to motivate compliance and effect lasting behavior change. Having a robust, well-enforced, regulatory framework to tackle both types of reef contacts lends credence to the efforts of existing conservation programs, and is key to permanently changing divers’ underwater attitudes and fostering sustainable scuba diving behavior to the benefit of all.

Fatalities involving divers using surface-supplied breathing apparatus in Australia, 1965 to 2019

Introduction: This study identified characteristics and diving practices of victims of fatal surface supplied breathing apparatus (SSBA) incidents in Australia from 1965–2019 to determine underlying factors and risks associated with these activities, better educate the diving community and prevent such deaths. Methods: A hand search was made of ‘Project Stickybeak’ reports from 1965–2000 and SSBA fatality data were compared to the Australasian Diving Safety Foundation fatality database. The National Coronial Information System was searched to identify SSBA diving deaths for 2001–2019. Extracted data were collated and analysed using descriptive statistics and Poisson Regression. A chain of events analysis was used to determine the likely sequence of events. Results: There were 84 identified SSBA-related deaths during the study period. Most victims were relatively young, healthy males (median age 33 years). At least 50% of victims were undertaking work-related diving, and 37% were recreational diving. Equipment issues, mainly compressor-related, were the main contributor, identified as a predisposing factor in 48% of incidents and as triggers in 24%. Conclusions: Preventable surface-supplied diving deaths still occur in both occupational and recreational diving, often from poor equipment maintenance and oversight. Incorrect configuration of the SSBA and lack of training remain on-going problems in recreational users. These could be addressed by improved education, and, failing this, regulatory oversight. The increase in health-related incidents in older participants may be controlled to some extent by greater medical oversight, especially in recreational and non-certified occupational divers who should be encouraged to undergo regular diving medical assessments.

Children and diving, a guideline

(Buwalda M, Querido AL, van Hulst RA. Children and diving, a guideline. Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine. 2020 December 20;50(4):399–404. doi: 10.28920/dhm50.4.399-404. PMID: 33325022.) Scuba diving is an increasingly popular recreational activity in children and adolescents. During the dive medical examination aspects of human physiology, anatomy, and psychology, that differ between adults and children, deserve our special attention. For example, lack of mental maturity, diminished Eustachian tube function and heat loss can pose problems during diving. It is important that children who wish to take up scuba diving are seen by a dive physician, with extra attention to Eustachian tube function. In children, asthma, bronchial hyperreactivity, pulmonary hypertension, and right-to-left shunts are contra-indications for scuba diving. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is a relative contra-indication. This article provides a review of the current literature and presents recommendations for recreational diving in children and adolescents. These recommendations are based solely on ‘expert’ opinion and were accepted by the Dutch Society of Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine in 2020.

Digital Technologies for the Sustainable Development of the Accessible Underwater Cultural Heritage Sites

In recent years, the development in digital technologies such as Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) has evolved rapidly. These technologies are currently in the process of creating driving change in the Cultural and Creative Industries (CCIs), representing innovative means to share information, facilitating access and increasing the value and public awareness on Cultural and Natural Heritage. This is particularly relevant for underwater environments, where the most interesting cultural and naturalistic sites are accessible only to scuba divers, or not accessible at all, due to depth and/or environmental constraints. In addition, in underwater sites, guided diving tours are carried out by professionals that usually describe the area to be visited during the predive briefings; such step is needed due to the impossibility of underwater verbal communication without dedicated equipment, a practice very rarely adopted for recreational diving. So, these difficulties make it almost impossible to replicate under the sea, the guided tour approach that is usually offered in on-land museums. Considering such limitations, several technological applications are emerging to increase the accessibility underwater and enrich users’ experience both for divers and nondivers. This work aims to identify the potential of underwater sites (either cultural or natural) to support the development of sustainable tourism (economic, environmental, cultural and social) in the Mediterranean. Moreover, it focuses on supplying local/regional authorities and stakeholders with a multidisciplinary plan for managing Underwater Museums and Knowledge Centres, by promoting innovation in the diving industry and improving users’/tourists’ experience through value-added services and cutting-edge technologies.