Impacts of Recreational Divers on Palauan Coral Reefs and Options for Management

Recreational scuba diving, while popular in Palau's Rock Islands Southern Lagoonposes significant risks to coral reefs. Research shows divers cause frequent physical contacts with hard coral, averaging 0.87 to 2.98 per diver every 10 minutes, with behaviors like holding and fin strikes being most damaging, especially among those using cameras or gloves. Dive guides identified both natural impacts (63%) and divers (34%) as primary causes of coral damage. The study underscores the need for proactive management to mitigate these effects, suggesting long-term monitoring, restrictions on gloves and underwater photography, and guide training to preserve Palau's reefs amid rising threats.

Poonian, C., Davis, P. Z. R., & McNaughton, C. K. (2010). Impacts of Recreational Divers on Palauan Coral Reefs and Options for Management. Pacific Science, 64(4), 557–565. https://doi.org/10.2984/64.4.557