How to save lives without scaring tourists away
Article in Civil Beat about ocean recreation safety in Hawaii
Is Hawaii doing enough to oversee commercial tour operators?
Article in Civil Beat about the lack of oversight on tour companies, including their safety record or whether swim guides are qualified and trained.
Families shoulder a hefty burden when a visitor dies in Hawaii
Article on Civil Beat about the tedious and costly process of getting a loved one back home from Hawaii
Snorkeling in Hawaii is a leading cause of tourist deaths
Article on Civil Beat about visitors overestimating their snorkeling abilities and underestimating ocean conditions
Death in Paradise is all too frequent for visitors of Hawaii
Article series on Civil Beat prompted by 147 tourist deaths in 3.5 years' time
New study suggests that "green" vacations might hurt wildlife
Article in the Washington Post about Dr. Daniel Blumstein's study of the risks of ecotourism for the wildlife
2015 Assessment of MR boating operations - Dr. Sam Kahng
A 2015 assessment of the risks in nightly manta ray viewing tours around Kona, Hawaii concluded that severe accidents are inevitable under the current circumstances. More details here!
Crowded Water
Article in Hawaii Business Magazine on overcrowding in dolphin and manta ray dives
2010 social Survey of Manta Ray Tour Participants
2010 survey into customer experience during manta snorkeling and scuba diving tours in Hawaii
HCR resolution 170 (2014)
HCR resolution 170 (dating from 2014) urges the DLNR to adopt rules to manage manta ray dive sites
Manta tour operator standards
Manta tour operators in Hawaii set up guidelines for manta ray tour safety. Find the highlights and download the original document here!