British Columbia Named
The Top North American Scuba Diving Destination
December 23, 2002
British Columbia has been named the top scuba
diving destination in North America for the third year running,
gaining an unprecedented perfect score in a recent survey
of Rodale’s Scuba Diving readers. Rodale’s Scuba
Diving is the largest scuba diving enthusiast magazine in
circulation.
"Scuba Diving readers' have bestowed
a rare honour on us," said Tom Beasley, President of
the Underwater Council of British Columbia. "British
Columbia is one of two destinations in the world to achieve
a perfect score as a diving destination. It is a credit
to the scuba store owners, charter operators, hoteliers,
and tourism promotion agencies as much as it is to our spectacular
natural underwater scenery," added Beasley.
Scuba Diving editors and readers cited the
range of dive habitats, from kelp forests, to shallow reefs,
to deep walls and an armada of artificial reefs; as well
as a favourable exchange rate creating unparalleled value
for the scuba tourist.
For the third year in a row, British Columbia
ranked number one Dive Destination in the survey. British
Columbia topped nine categories and placed in the top 5
in three others. A summary of results is attached.
BACKGROUND – BC’s Ranking in the Rodale’s
Scuba Diving 10th Annual TOP 100 Awards British Columbia
topped all North American diving destinations in a recent
survey of Rodale’s Scuba Diving readers. More than
6,000 subscribers were polled via mail-in ballots and the
Magazine’s website, www.scubadiving.com. Rodale’s
Scuba Diving is the largest scuba diving enthusiast magazine
in circulation. The TOP 100 is available on newsstands,
worldwide.
