The use of natural areas for underwater coastal marine activities such as snorkelling is growing, but the
amount of ecological and socioeconomic data on these activities is scarce and relates mainly to coral reef
areas. Three underwater self-guided routes were designed at Marinha Beach (Algarve, Portugal), based
on scientific information, with in situ interpretation and guidance, as a way to enhance biodiversity
awareness and, hence, reduce the probability of human impacts. The routes were implemented in two
consecutive summer seasons and after each season, visual census techniques were used to describe flora
composition and cover area (seaweeds and seagrasses) in order to understand patterns and evaluate
human impacts. Snorkelers' opinions and perceptions about several issues related to the routes' environmental
education role (e.g. role in enhancing biodiversity awareness) were investigated by questionnaire
after the snorkelling activity. An inter-annual difference inflora assemblages was found,
probably associated to natural variability, rather than snorkelers' impacts. Results indicate that, in fact,
in situ education and interpretation can raise environmental awareness if properly addressed, resulting in
a satisfactory way of engaging snorkelers in the protection and in the conservation of the visited environments,
thereby preventing negative ecological impacts.
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