Investigating the relationship between scuba diver behaviour and coral health

Neil Hinds

Summary

- Scuba Diver and Behaviour Literature

- Methodology

- Scuba Diver behaviour

- Conceptual model

Scuba Diving

- Self-contained underwater breathing apparatus

- Training organisations; PADI, SSI, CMAS, NAUI

- PADI• > 900,000 annual certifications

• > 23,000,000 divers since 1967

(PADI 2015)

- 1% of Ocean floor consist of coral reefs

- One quarter of marine species

- Importance

Coral Reefs

(Smithsonian 2015)

Scuba Diver ImpactsDirect damage

- Abrasion

- Breakage

- Sedimentation

Coral Impact

- Disease

- Bleaching

- Physical

(Hariott et al 1997; Hasler and Ott 2008; Luna et al 2009; Toyoshima and Nadaoka 2015; Uyarra and Cote 2007)

(Guzner et al 2010; Lamb et al 2014 )

- Intentional

- Limb

- Cause

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

4.5

5

St Lucia Florida Keys Bonaire Red Sea

Diver Contacts per Minute

Contacts per minute

(Barker and Roberts 2004; Camp and Fraser 2012; Medio et al 1997; Uyarra and Cote 2007)

Behaviour change

Value Belief Norm Model Human Environment Systems

(Scholz 2003)

(Stern 2000)

Study Site

Pulau Perhentian, Malaysia

Pulau Kecil

Pulau Besar

(Google Maps 2015)

Methods

Questionnaire- Demographic

- Obligations

- Awareness

- Values

(Anderson and Loomis 2002;Heywood 2002; Lucrezi et al 2013; Salim et al 2013; Stern 2000)

Scuba Diver observations- 10 minutes

- Contacts

- Behaviour

(Barker and Roberts 2004; Camp and Fraser 2012; Hariott et al 1997; Hasler and Ott2008; Medio et al 1997; Luna et al 2009; Toyoshima and Nadaoka 2015; Uyarra and Cote 2007)

Coral Reaction

- Coral Cover

- Coral Growth

- Ongoing

(English et al 1997; Kohler and Gill, 2006)

Results

- 104 participants

- 60.6% Male | 39.4% Female

- 11 Nationalities (45% Malaysian)

0.00%

5.00%

10.00%

15.00%

20.00%

25.00%

30.00%

35.00%

40.00%

45.00%

50.00%

18-29 30-39 40-49 50-59 60+

Age Groups

0.00%

10.00%

20.00%

30.00%

40.00%

50.00%

60.00%

OW AOW Rescue Pro

Certifications

0.00%

10.00%

20.00%

30.00%

40.00%

50.00%

60.00%

70.00%

80.00%

PADI SSI CMAS Other

Training Organisation

2.51

0.875

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

Pre-Intervention Post-Intervention

Average Contacts

p = 1.569E-10

- Gender (R = 0.071)

- Certification (R = 0.083)

- Number of dives (R = 0.042)

- Buoyancy (R = -0.23)

- Camera (R = 0.088)

0.00

0.50

1.00

1.50

2.00

2.50

3.00

Positioning Trim Finning

Behaviour

Pre-Intervention Post-Intervention

R = -0.24

R = -0.10

R = -0.18

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

Positioning Finning Buoyancy Look Trim Photography

Cause of Contact

Pre-Intervention Post Intervention

p = 0.05

- Point of contact (p = 0.23)

- Environmental outcome (p = 0.34)

- Accidental (p = 0.13)

Constant (Contacts)5.32**

(-1.13)

Buoyancy-1.27**

(0.45)

Positioning-0.69*

(0.32)

Keep Fins away-0.42*

(0.20)

Number of Dives0.83*

(0.34)

Damage Coral-1.18**

(0.25)

Touch Coral0.79**

(0.22)

R Squared 0.284

No. Observations 103

* And ** represent significance at 95% and 99% respectively

Multiple Regression Analysis

Environmental Value Environmental Awareness

Norms / Obligations

Diver Goals

Positioning

Buoyancy Control

Diver Action

Experience

Environmental World View

Intervention -briefing

Coral Health

Conceptual Model

Conclusion

- Contacts

- Interventions

- Relationships

- Recommendations

- Further study

Thank you for Listening

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