Published May 28, 2025 | Version v5
Dataset Open

DiverReef: The global repository of divers' and snorkelers' behavior during tourism activities and their interactions with reef environments over 20 years

  • 1. Instituto Meros do Brasil
  • 2. Universidad de Guadalajara
  • 3. ROR icon University of Technology
  • 4. ROR icon Sapienza University of Rome
  • 5. The University of Auckland
  • 6. Sheffield Hallam University
  • 7. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte
  • 8. Instituto de Ecología Litoral
  • 9. ROR icon Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade
  • 10. ROR icon North-West University
  • 11. ROR icon Charles Darwin University
  • 12. ROR icon University of Alicante
  • 13. ROR icon Natural England
  • 14. ROR icon Studio Associato Gaia
  • 15. ROR icon Charles Darwin Foundation
  • 16. Universidade Federal do Oeste do Pará
  • 17. ROR icon Florida State University
  • 18. ROR icon Bangor University
  • 19. Universidade Federal Fluminense
  • 20. ROR icon Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz
  • 21. Polytechnic University of Marche

Description

The DiverReef database provides the first public dataset on the underwater behavior of recreational divers and snorkellers in shallow reef environments (< 25 m depth) globally and their interactions with the reef seascape and/or reef benthic sessile organisms. The dataset comprises 19 years of data (2004-2023) by observing the behavior of 2312 recreational divers and snorkelers in 9 countries at 19 diving destinations and 176 diving sites. The data were collected through on-site observation of divers' behavior during tourism activities and their physical interactions with the reef structure and/or benthic reef sessile organisms. Observers discretely followed divers and recorded their behavior and interactions with the reef over set time periods. Interactions were described as "contact" and "damage", the latter refers to when physical damage to a benthic organism or the reef structure was observed. Besides behavior, observers also recorded data on the type of diving activity (scuba or snorkeling), profiles of the divers (gender and experience), use of cameras by the divers, visibility, type of reef formation and marine protection status of the dive site. This is the external repository where the DiverReef database is archived. This database has an attribution-share alike (CC BY-SA 4.0 Deed) copyright restriction. When using this database, the original paper in the Ecology journal (include DOI when available) must be cited.

Other (English)

This publication is contribution number 2614DS of the Charles Darwin Foundation for the Galapagos Islands.

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DiverReef_dataset.csv

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Additional details

Dates

Submitted
2024-05-28