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Scuba Diver Access and Stressed Reef Ecosystems in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary

Scuba Diver Access and Stressed Reef Ecosystems in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. David M. Lawrence. The problem. As the popularity of scuba diving has grown, researchers have documented increasing damage to dive sites by inexperienced and careless divers and dive operators.

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Scuba Diver Access and Stressed Reef Ecosystems in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary

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  1. Scuba Diver Accessand Stressed Reef Ecosystemsin the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary David M. Lawrence

  2. The problem • As the popularity of scuba diving has grown, researchers have documented increasing damage to dive sites by inexperienced and careless divers and dive operators. • Causes of damage include: • Boat anchoring and grounding • Incidental diver contact with reef • Lost or poorly secured gear • Diver-induced damage exacerbates other problems affecting coral reefs.

  3. Possible solution: Site closure • Site closure • Eliminates damage by divers and dive operators • Problems: • Equity • Fair distribution of resources • Economy • Scuba diving generates millions of dollars in revenue and supports hundreds of jobs in Monroe County, Fla. • Education • Loss of public connection with reef ecosystems • Loss of public support for conservation efforts

  4. Possible solution: Limit access • Limit access via a permitting or lottery system • Reduces odds of damage by divers or dive operators • Problems: • Equity and Economy (blend together) • Lack of permits or lottery assignments may drive safe, high quality dive operations out of business. • Unfair competition (or lack thereof) between commercial and private boats • Prospective divers may be forced to choose between diving with unsafe or substandard operators or not diving at all

  5. Proposed policy: Certification • I propose a voluntary program certifying that dive operators engage in best practices as well as encourage the divers they host to engage in best practices.

  6. Pre-dive briefings • Emphasize diver skills in pre-dive briefings • Buoyancy control • Proper trim • Properly secured gear

  7. Vigorous supervision • Have adequate number of divemasters observing divers in water • Encourage divemasters to redirect problem divers to less vulnerable portions of a dive site.

  8. Quality gear • Provide divers with up-to-date, quality gear • Weight-integrated BCDs • Combined low-pressure inflators/alternate air sources • Retractors for hoses, lights, etc.

  9. Policy problems and benefits • Problems • May increase cost for some dive consumers • May increase cost for dive operators forced to hire more divemasters or upgrade rental gear • Benefits • Preserves diver access to sites • Promotes economy • Promotes education and environmental awareness • Improved dive experience

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