Dive Cooperative Adjusts Quotas as Summer Arrivals Surge

The Federal Census Bulletin recorded 1,842 eco‑tourist arrivals to Puerto Azul in the first two weeks of August, a 22 % increase over the same period last year and the strongest off‑season surge since 2019. The rise has placed immediate pressure on the Alborada Dive Cooperative, which manages reef‑use quotas for the most frequented dive sites along the Coral Crest.

Sofia Calderón, the cooperative’s manager, explains that the quota system is designed to cap daily diver numbers at 120 per site to protect the coral’s resilience. With the sudden influx, the cooperative has had to re‑allocate slots, temporarily closing two marginal reefs and expanding monitoring patrols.

The cooperative’s response will be detailed below, including the data‑driven method that guides quota adjustments and the environmental safeguards that accompany the surge.