Papua Explorers Eco Dive Resort sends approximately 20 divers to the Dampier Strait daily. Employing a citizen science model and leveraging the collective efforts of over 20 divers and their guides as our eyes on the reef, we have been gathering valuable data since 2015.
By engaging Papua Explorers’ guests as citizen scientists who document sightings after each dive, we can acquire a significant scientific dataset. This dataset includes information such as total species count, maximum sightings in a single dive, the number of species present at a specific dive site, and overall species diversity. Additionally, this data enables us to monitor seasonal changes and assess the impact of dive tourism activity, crucial for both tourism development and environmental management.
The data is used to analyse the needs of the protected marine park area to ensure the longevity and the biodiversity of the ecosystem.