Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on SCUBA diving experience in marine protected areas

Faced with the need for isolation of most people to reduce the transmission of COVID-19, a great concern for the well-being of the population has resurfaced. Considering the numerous benefits of outdoor activities to human health and well-being, we assessed whether the quality of the experience of recreational divers in a marine protected area (MPA) was impacted during the pandemic. We applied a semi-structured questionnaire to divers, collected their socioeconomic profile, preferences, motivations, experiences, and compared the results with those obtained in the previous season. We found that the quality of the recreational diver's experience remained high even during one of the world's biggest health crises. This suggests that the combination of contact with a preserved environment and the adaptation of regulations in favor of visitor safety was enough to stimulate positive experiences. Therefore, we highlight the importance of investing in adaptive management so that MPAs continue to promote ecosystem services such as human health and subjective well-being. • Restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic impacted human well-being around the world. • Marine Protected Areas contribute to divers' health and well-being. • Divers' experiences pre and during pandemic were compared with quantitative analyses. • Satisfaction stayed high and divers were more sensitive to tourism beneficial effects.