Queensland dive operators blame news headlines for killing the local industry.

Although tourism is generally down, due to the effects of the global economic crisis, dive operators in the region say that the odds are stacked against them. Tourism numbers have declined by 30 percent in a year.

Already hurting due to the economic downturn and rising fuel costs, worldwide publicity surrounding fatalities has continued to punish the dive industry.

Loosely bsed on the disappearance of divers Thomas and Eileen Lonergan in the Great Barrier Reef, the film ‘Open Water’ reopened old wounds in 2003.

Since then, a woman was left to drown by her husband whilst diving on the reef, and in May last year Briton Dick Neely and American Alison Dalton made headlines around the world as they became separated from their Great Barrier Reef dive charter.

The couple were found alive in shark-infested waters off the coast 19 hours after being reported missing.

Dive tour operate Monique Matthews of Undersea Explorer, which folded in the last two months said sensational media coverage had a devastating effect on small industry players.

“As it does on so many things the media sensationalises these things to the point of no return… for us anyway,” Ms Matthews said.

The company, which folded last year, catered mainly for small tour groups and couples, folded last year under the weight of increasing overhead expenses.  The bad press was the straw that broke the camel’s back, Ms. Matthews said.

“We can’t fight the huge media machine,” she said.

“The Lonergans disappeared more than a decade ago and people still talk about it.”

The industry is also incensed at media coverage of those who die of underlying medical conditions whilst diving, which can leave dive operators struggling to convince tourists that scuba diving is safe.

Col McKenzie, general manager of the Queensland Tourism Association said the media was too quick to brand fatal incidents as ‘dive deaths’.

“You can come to Australia and Australia will give you world-quality diving which is very, very safe, but we can’t guarantee you won’t suffer a heart attack,” Mr McKenzie said.

The Maritime Union of Australia has said there have been two deaths involving divers in the Great Barrier Reef over the past 12 months.

Thanks to the Age for the above quotes.  For more information please visit their website.