Marine Ministry releases updated dive‑quota schedule for Q4 2026

The Marine Ministry released an updated dive‑cooperative quota for the October‑December period on Friday. The new schedule limits the number of daily dives to 300 in the northern reef zone and 250 in the southern lagoon, a modest reduction from the previous 350 and 300 limits. The adjustment follows the latest data from the Costa Mar Reef Monitoring Network, which showed a 4 percent rise in coral stress indicators over the last quarter.

Dive operators have welcomed the data‑driven approach but warn that the lower caps could affect revenue during the peak holiday week in early December. “We will need to manage bookings more tightly and perhaps offer longer‑duration educational tours to compensate,” said Captain Luis Delgado of Sea Breeze. The Ministry assured that the quotas will be reviewed in spring, once the new reef‑health report is published.