Understanding the Dive Guides Roles in Malaysia: A Malaysian Scuba Diver Perspective

Scuba diving is a growingly popular recreational activity throughout the globe, providing tourists with a more dynamic experience during their holiday. While there is an increasing interest in scuba diving and tourism, which encompass a wide range of topics, there is limited knowledge about the expectations regarding the role of scuba dive guides from the perspective of scuba divers. Thus, this paper aims to explore the expected roles that should be played by scuba dive guides from the perspective of scuba divers. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 13 Malaysian scuba divers. Following thematic analysis, seven roles have been identified: Dive Site Experts, Navigators, Spotters, Underwater Conservationists, Product Informants, Diver Experience Mediators, and Diving Ambassadors. The findings are expected to have substantial implications for researchers, diving business operators, and tourism marketers.