Community centre collapse halts dive lessons, threatens eco‑tourism surge

Eco‑tourism arrivals to Puerto Azul climbed 12 percent in September, lifting off‑season hotel occupancy to 78 percent, according to the Costa Mar Tourism Board. The surge was welcomed by local businesses that rely on the steady flow of divers and bird‑watchers during the rainy season. Yet the optimism was shattered on Tuesday when the roof of the Coral Bay Learning Center collapsed under the weight of recent storm‑water accumulation.

The three‑storey centre, operated by the regional Marine Ministry, houses classrooms, a small museum and the dive‑school of the Sea Breeze cooperative. No injuries were reported, but the structural damage rendered the facility unsafe for public use. Marina Santos, director of the centre, told reporters that a recent inspection had flagged weakened beams, but repair work was delayed by budget constraints.

The collapse forced the Federal Fisheries Council to suspend the current dive‑cooperative quota of 1 200 dives per week, a measure intended to protect the nearby coral reef while the site is rebuilt. Captain Luis Delgado of Sea Breeze expressed concern that the pause could reduce September bookings by up to 15 percent, threatening the livelihoods of 42 local guides.

The Marine Ministry announced an emergency task force led by Minister Yuki Iwasaki to assess the damage and expedite reconstruction. Federal investigators from the Federal Court will also examine whether procurement procedures were followed. The Ministry pledged to restore the centre before the end of the year, pending a detailed engineering report.