Understanding the Variables That Influence Scuba Diver Behavior on Coral Reefs in Seychelles

Determining the fundamental causes of scuba diver contact with coral reefs is vitally important for the marine tourism sector. This information can provide management authorities and dive operators with methods to promote and demonstrate sustainable dive practices in order to reduce physical interaction by divers on coral reefs. This study provides an insight into what variables influence physical contact by scuba divers on coral reefs around Praslin Island, Seychelles. Underwater behavior was studied from 205 divers to identify what factors significantly influence contacts on coral reefs at dive sites. Male divers contacted the reef twice as much as female ones (0.25 ± 0.04 vs. 0.12 ± 0.02 contacts min–1). Photographers contacted the reef significantly more than those divers without cameras (0.30 ± 0.06 vs. 0.10 ± 0.02 contacts min–1), as did diving at midday versus in the morning (0.46 ± 0.13 vs. 0.16 ± 0.02 contacts min–1). Diver age had a significant effect on contact rates, with the 41–50 age category responsible for the highest amount contacts (0.31 ± 0.07 contacts min–1). Dive operators need to be extra vigilant with these high-risk divers, utilizing a combination of damage prevention methods for camera users, providing closer supervision for older divers and reminding divers about ecofriendly dive techniques who are completing more than one dive that day.