SCUBA Diver Specialization and Behavior Norms at Coral Reefs

Abstract

Abstract 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. Keywords: behavioral normscoral reefsrecreation specializationSCUBA diving Notes *Mean scores are based on a 1–7 scale, with the categories 1 = "strong obligation to never do," 2 = "moderate obligation to not do," 3 = "slight obligation to not do," 4 = "no obligation either way," 5 = "slight obligation to do," 6 = "moderate obligation to do," and 7 = "strong obligation to always do." Answers given in response to the statement "Please indicate the extent to which you believe all SCUBA divers have an obligation either to do or to not do each of the following at a coral reef." *Mean scores are based on a 1–5 scale, with the categories 1 = "not at all embarrassed," 2 = "somewhat embarrassed," 3 = "moderately embarrassed," 4 = "very embarrassed," and 5 = "extremely embarrassed." Answers given in response to the question "Imagine that you did the following at a coral reef and others saw you. How embarrassed would you feel?" *Mean scores are based on a 1–7 scale, with the categories 1 = "strong obligation to never do," 2 = "moderate obligation to not do," 3 = "slight obligation to not do," 4 = "no obligation either way," 5 = "slight obligation to do," 6 = "moderate obligation to do," and 7 = "strong obligation to always do." Means underscored by same line are not significantly different at alpha = 0.05 following Tukey's post-hoc test. Answers given in response to the statement "Please indicate the extent to which you believe all SCUBA divers have an obligation either to do or to not do each of the following at a coral reef." Mean values for the least specialized group, not included in the analysis, were 6.4 (SD = 0.7) for "tell others not to touch corals" and 5.2 (SD = 1.8) for "pick up garbage from the sea floor." *Mean scores are based on a 1–5 scale, with the categories 1 = "not at all embarrassed," 2 = "somewhat embarrassed," 3 = "moderately embarrassed," 4 = "very embarrassed," and 5 = "extremely embarrassed." Means underscored by same line or with same superscript are not significantly different at alpha = 0.05 following Tukey's post-hoc test. Answers given in response to the question "Imagine that you did the following at a coral reef and others saw you. How embarrassed would you feel?" Mean values for the least specialized group, not included in the analysis, were 2.8 (SD = 0.9) for "lost buoyancy control," 3.5 (SD = 1.0) for "touched corals with your hands," 3.8 (SD = 1.1) for "took pieces of dead coral," and 2.9 (SD = 1.4) for "touched marine mammals."