Costa Mar's off-season quieter than usual as dive bookings thin

The dive cooperatives that anchor Costa Mar's economy are facing a quieter than expected shoulder season. Through late August, hotel occupancy in Puerto Azul and the smaller coastal towns has hovered around fifty-four percent, down from the historical sixty-two percent average for the same weeks. The Marine Ministry's latest survey, released yesterday, suggests the pattern reflects a broader reshaping of when international visitors arrive.

Captain Elena Vásquez, who has piloted dive boats out of Puerto Azul for eighteen years, said her cooperative's September booking calendar is running at roughly eighty percent of typical capacity. The shift has forced some operators to reduce their weekly schedules, though the cooperative has not yet moved to cut the federal fisheries quota it holds. Local hotel managers report the quieter weeks have given reef-monitoring teams better access to survey sites without the usual tourist traffic.

The Marine Ministry and the Federal Tourism Authority are examining whether the change reflects a permanent shift in traveller preference or a temporary dip tied to fuel costs and international travel patterns. Governor Solomon Adeyemi is convening regional operators next week to discuss whether quota adjustments might follow if the trend holds through the wet season.