average of seasonal averages compiled from the survey since each season 

 has a different visitation rate.) If these estimates are correct and, 

 assuming 300 days of clear weather, then there were somewhere between 

 3,564 and 7,008 private boats visits to the Looe Key reef last year. 



A recent Key Biscayne National Park survey indicates that for all 

 boat use there was an average of 3.8 persons per boat. The Bahia Honda 

 State Recreational Area tabulation of daily visitors for FY 1978-79 

 showed that over 11,000 visitors arrived by boat to that facility in 

 that period. The Bahia Honda 11,063 visitors should, based on 3.8 per 

 boat have arrived in 2,911 boats. If only half of these went to Looe 

 Key Boundary Option #2, then 40 percent of the lower estimated boat 

 traffic (3,564) could be attributed to Bahia Honda alone. There are 

 also, of course, many other places from which boats to Looe Key can be 

 launched. Thus, the Looe Key boat visit estimates seem consistent with 

 other evidence. 



It was assumed, based on personal interviews and published data that 

 one-third of these boats were used for recreational fishing and sightseeing, 

 and two-thirds of the boats were used by skin and SCUBA divers, of whom 

 two-thirds again were assumbed to be skin divers, not SCUBA divers. 



The survey at the Biscayne National Park of the average number of 

 people per boat for different recreational activities indicated that between 

 3.7 and 4 .3 persons ride when engaging in diving activities. The weighted 

 average was 4.08 persons per private diving boat. Using the Biscayne 

 National Monument and multiplying by the number of boats estimated to be 

 carrying divers to Looe Key. It was estimated that the 2,376 to 4,672 

 boats which was assumed carried divers to Looe Key had 9,694 to 19,061 

 divers on board. 



These estimates appear to be consistent with other available sources. 

 Bahia Honda had 351,700 visitors in FY 1978-79. A Florida Department of 

 Natural Resources survey of park visitors indicated that 4 percent of 

 visitors in southern Florida parks go SCUBA diving. Thus, at least 14,068 

 visitors to Bahia Honda could be expected to go SCUBA diving; probably more, 

 since 4 percent is an average and Bahia Honda is probably above average 

 with regard to its orientation towards water. In addition, of course, 

 there are non-Bahia Honda divers at Looe Key. The yearly estimates of 

 9,694 to 19,061 private divers in Boundary Option #2 thus seems conservative 

 but consistent with the Bahia Honda data. 



An accepted method of imputing value to non- quantifiable activity is to use the 

 cost of the same or similar activity is paid to a commercial business to arrive 

 at an economic value. 



The average cost of a private SCUBA dive trip to the Looe Key Reef ranges from 

 $17 to $25, according to survey responses. Using $12 as the value of a snorkel- 

 ing trip, based on the survey and information from the National Dive Center 

 Washington, D. C. , the combined value of a dive trip was estimated to be $16.50. 



C-7 



