ECONOMIC IMPACT

Florida’s Shark Diving Industry Supports More Than Dive Boats

Shark diving is not just a recreational activity. It is a significant contributor to Florida’s tourism economy, supporting businesses, jobs, research, and conservation efforts throughout the state.

The most comprehensive economic study of Florida shark diving was conducted using 2016 data and published by Oceana in 2017. The study found that shark-related diving generated:

Key Findings

$221 million in direct annual expenditures

$377 million in total annual economic impact

3,797 jobs supported

$116 million in wages and income

These impacts extended throughout Florida’s tourism economy, including spending on hotels, restaurants, transportation, dive services, and other local businesses.

Florida attracts shark divers from across the United States and around the world.

The Oceana study found that nearly one-third of divers expressed a desire to see sharks while diving, highlighting sharks as a major tourism draw.

Visitors often spend money on:

Airfare
Hotels
Restaurants
Dive charters
Equipment purchases
Photography services
Transportation
Was Additional tourism activities

Many visitors return repeatedly, creating long-term economic value for Florida communities.

Visitor Spending

According to Oceana’s 2017 analysis, shark-related diving supported approximately 3,797 Florida jobs.

Targeted shark-diving activities alone supported more than 2,100 jobs.

These jobs include:

Boat captains
Crew members
Dive instructors
Divemasters
Underwater photographers
Hospitality workers
Tourism professionals
Marina staff
Small business owners

For many Floridians, shark tourism is directly connected to their livelihood.

Jobs Supported

The economic benefits of shark diving extend far beyond charter vessels.

Shark-diving visitors spend money at:

Hotels and vacation rentals
Restaurants and bars
Dive shops
Retail stores
Transportation providers
Marinas and fuel docks
Camera and photography businesses
Tour operators and attractions

When shark-diving tourists visit Florida, entire coastal communities benefit from their spending.

Small Businesses

For many Florida dive operators, shark diving is not a side activity — it’s a core part of their business.

The Oceana study found that:

More than 32% of dive activity involved shark encounters
Nearly 20% of dive activity consisted of targeted shark dives

Visitors frequently choose Florida specifically because of its reputation as one of the world’s premier shark diving destinations.

Charter Operators

Who Benefits?

Why Updated Data Matters

The challenge facing policymakers is that the most frequently cited economic study of Florida shark diving is based on data collected in 2016.

While the Oceana study remains an important benchmark, it does not fully reflect the growth of:

Shark diving tourism
Underwater photography
Social media exposure
Conservation tourism
International travel demand
Marine ecotourism

Over the past decade, millions of people have been exposed to Florida’s shark-diving industry through documentaries, social media,

The true economic impact in 2026 may be substantially different than it was in 2016.

Help Us Update the Data

Before decisions are made that could affect an entire industry, Florida deserves current information — not data that is nearly a decade old.

That is why we launched the Florida Shark Diving Impact & Conservation Survey.

The survey will help document:

Current tourism spending
Jobs supported
Business impacts
Conservation benefits
Research contributions
Educational value

[Florida Shark Diving Impact & Conservation Survey]

Together, we can help ensure policymakers have access to the most current information available when evaluating the future of Florida’s shark-diving industry.