The scientific literature is full of research on the negative impacts of dive tourism on coral reefs and marine resources.
Dive tourism can negatively impact the biophysical conditions of coral reefs, including; the condition of coral, the abundance and diversity fish and marine life; water quality; stakeholder engagement in decision making; economic returns and livelihoods; law enforcement; the durability of institutions in leadership change; the role of the private sector in performing tasks and recognition of traditional marine tenure.
The literature shows that the primary negative impact of individual dive tourists is on the biophysical conditions of coral reefs. Dive tourists touch, break and stand on corals, stir up sediment, bump reefs with poor buoyancy and take corals, shells and other marine organisms as souvenirs. Divers with different levels of specialisation have different impacts on coral reefs.
© Judi Lowe, 2015
The word cloud above lists many of the negative impacts of dive tourism portrayed in the scientific literature. This page will be updated to present a thorough list of the negative impacts of dive tourism on the conservation of coral reefs and marine resources as soon as scientific journal articles are published.
