SCUBA Diver Specialization and Behavior Norms at Coral Reefs

SCUBA diving is an increasingly popular activity that provides a number of benefits to coastal communities. However, the sustainability of recreational diving on coral reefs is largely dependent on the health of reef ecosystems. Divers can minimize their impacts to coral reefs through responsible di...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Coastal management 2011-09, Vol.39 (5), p.478-491
Main Authors: Anderson, Laura E., Loomis, David K.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
behavioral norms
Coastal
Coral reefs
Corals
Divers
Diving
Diving physiology
Ecosystems
Environmental impact
Garbage
Health
Human physiology
Identification keys
Marine
Marine mammals
Mental health
Norms
Obligations
Ocean bottom
Ocean floor
recreation specialization
Reefs
Scuba & skin diving
SCUBA diving
Specialization
Sustainability
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Summary:SCUBA diving is an increasingly popular activity that provides a number of benefits to coastal communities. However, the sustainability of recreational diving on coral reefs is largely dependent on the health of reef ecosystems. Divers can minimize their impacts to coral reefs through responsible diving behaviors, which are in part guided by social norms. The behavioral obligation and sanction components of twelve diving behaviors were determined for Florida Keys divers throughout the course of a year. Recognizing that recreationists are not homogenous, these norms were compared according to diver specialization level. Specialized divers felt a stronger obligation not to touch corals and to pick up garbage from the sea floor than did less specialized divers. Specialized divers also reported they would feel greater embarrassment for losing buoyancy control, touching corals, taking pieces of dead corals, or touching marine mammals. The findings point to a connection between specialization level and social norms, and a relationship to ensuring continued reef health.
ISSN:0892-0753
1521-0421
DOI:10.1080/08920753.2011.598813