Impact of recreational scuba diving on coral reefs in Seychelles

This datset was obtained from 205 recreational scuba divers who dived around the island of Praslin, Seychelles. Data on diver demographics, environmental variables and dive characteristics were collected and collated in order to assess what variables were mostly influencing diver contact rates on coral reefs at dive sites. <br>Information for diver demographics were taken from the forms required by the dive operator to dive with them. Environmental variables (depth and temperature) were taken with a Scubapro Chromis dive computer. <br><br>Diver contacts were recorded for the first 20 minutes of a scuba diver after a 1 minute adjustment period. Up to four divers in a group were surveyed per dive and divers were only surveyed once. The surveyor was responsible for all the data collection and stayed approximately 3-5 metres behind or to the side of the dive group and posed as a client to avoid arousing suspicion, thus influecing behavioural changes.<br>The type of physical contact made by divers were first classified into categories (grabbing hold, pushing offs, leg touches, knee etc) and were then split into intentional and unintentional contacts. Each contact was then classified by the severity of the impact i.e. break, fragment, abrasion etc. Also noted was the marine organism that was contacted at that time. Contacts from the contact type were totalled. Variables from the diver demographics, environmental factors and dive characteristics were analysed against the total contacts made by individual divers. <br>This research was commissioned by the Seychelles National Park Authority and abided by the ethical requirements of undertaking this study. <br><br>

本数据集采集自205名在塞舌尔普拉兰岛周边海域开展休闲水肺潜水的潜水员。研究人员收集并整理了潜水员人口统计学信息、环境变量与潜水特征数据，旨在探究哪些变量对潜水点珊瑚礁上的潜水员接触频次影响最大。

潜水员人口统计学信息来源于潜水运营商要求潜水员填写的入潜登记表单。环境变量（水深与水温）通过Scubapro Chromis潜水电脑采集。

潜水员接触行为的记录时段为入潜调整1分钟后的前20分钟。每次潜水最多调查4名同组潜水员，且每名潜水员仅接受一次调查。本次数据采集由调查员负责完成，调查员会在潜水组后方或侧方约3至5米处隐蔽观察，并伪装成潜水客户以避免引起怀疑，防止干扰潜水员的自然行为。

潜水员造成的身体接触类型首先被划分为若干类别（抓握、蹬踏、腿部触碰、膝盖触碰等），随后进一步分为有意接触与无意接触两类。每一次接触都会根据其造成的影响严重程度进行分类，例如破损、碎裂、擦伤等。同时记录本次接触涉及的海洋生物种类，并按接触类型对所有接触事件进行汇总统计。研究人员将潜水员人口统计学信息、环境因子与潜水特征变量，与每名潜水员造成的总接触事件数进行关联分析。

本研究由塞舌尔国家公园管理局委托开展，并严格遵循了本研究的伦理规范要求。