Nurkowanie rekreacyjne – wybrane zagadnienia

Abstract

The paper discusses selected types of contemporary leisure diving (among others scuba diving, snorkelling, snuba®). The history and organisations (mainly CMAS, PADI) which focus on the dissemination of diving worldwide are presented. The scale and dynamics of diving development is discussed on the basis on the international federation PADI. Furthermore, regulations concerning leisure diving in Poland are presented and the population of Polish divers as well as the peculiarity of the activity in question in Polish conditions are assessed. Then, the issue of diving trip destinations is tackled. The data and research carried out over the years and quoted here indicates the dominance of trips in a home country along with a simultaneous increase in diving in warm seas. The latter is dealt with in more detail. Based on official data, the paper discusses the scale of diving in Hurghada, the Egyptian tourist resort on the western coast of the Red Sea being at present the major destination of Polish foreign diving tourism. The analysis of destinations of foreign diving trips organised by Lodz diving club Tryton between 1961 and 2003 demonstrates that the beginning of increase in Polish diving tourism in the region of the Red Sea goes back to mid-1990s (the greatest number of the trips was still observed at the Mediterranean Sea at that time). The present leading role of the Red Sea as the major destination of foreign diving trips of Lodz dwellers is confirmed on the basis of research by Kalenbach (2007) and Kolec (2008). In addition, a profile of a Lodz diver and their diving preferences are outlined. Finally, the paper presents the results of a survey carried out by the author among students of tourism and recreation in two Lodz higher education institutions (the University of Lodz and Higher School of Tourism and Hotel Management). The results show that despite little experience, the informants’ interest in leisure diving (in its various forms and types) is huge and scuba diving itself is perceived as an exciting but dangerous form of active leisure.