Bringing visitors to the ocean world? Emerging issues in deep sea exploration and tourism

The Titan submersible disaster exposed the dangers of deep-sea tourism and the lack of regulation of such exploits. We examine the growth of “deep blue” adventure tourism, which has paralleled the touristification of space exploration. Such forms of extreme adventure tourism are driven by thrill-seeking and the desire for risk, creating the search for physical and personal frontier exploration. The development of deep-sea tourism has been supported by considerable technological innovations since the pioneering Mariana Trench dive by the bathyscaphe Trieste in 1960, driven by the desire for underwater exploration and the exploitation of deep-sea resources. Increasing accessibility of the deep has also increased the potential risks, which may be seen as both inhibiting and attracting tourists. At present, there is a lack of regulation, which increases safety concerns but also provides opportunities for a range of leisure-based deep-sea experiences. The growth of deep-sea tourism is also stimulated by the exploration of space, which involves similar attractions and risks. We propose a future research agenda covering emerging issues including oceanic exploration and tourism, deep-sea visitor motivations, the relationship between exploration and exploitation, and regulation of deep-sea tourism.