Schuhbauer, AnnaFavoretto, FabioWang, TerranceAburto-Oropeza, OctavioSala, EnricMillage, Katherine D.Cabral, Reniel B.Sumaila, Ussif RashidHsu, AstridLucrezi, SerenaTighsazzadeh, Mohammad NasirDe La Cruz, Marisol PlascenciaCisneros-Montemayor, Andres M.2025-09-042025-09-042025-07Schuhbauer A., Favoretto F., Wang T. et al. 2025, 'Global economic impact of scuba dive tourism', Cell Reports Sustainability, vol. 2, no. 7, art. 100435. pp. 1-14, doi : 10.1016/j.crsus.2025.100435.2949-7906 (online)10.1016/j.crsus.2025.100435http://hdl.handle.net/2263/104214SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION : Document S1. Methods S1, Figures S1–S5, and Tables S1–S3.Marine ecotourism is increasingly popular and important for local economies, but its aggregated benefits to the global ocean economy are little known and often overlooked in policy discussions. Here, we present a first estimate of the global economic impact of scuba diving based on an online survey of scuba dive operators across the world. We estimate the global annual revenue of scuba diving (direct diving expenditure) at between 0.9 and 3.2 billion USD per year and a broader economic impact (direct and indirect expenditure) at between 8.5 and 20.4 billion USD per year. Marine ecotourism is one of the most promising ocean sectors that can incentivize local sustainable economies, and with 9–14 million marine diving tourists worldwide supporting up to 124,000 jobs, the scuba diving sector could be at the forefront of transformative change for local and global ocean sustainability. HIGHLIGHTS • Scuba dive tourism generates between 8.5 and 20.4 billion USD globally each year • The sector supports up to 124,000 jobs worldwide, with most employees being local • Local dive operators overwhelmingly support conservation initiatives in their regions • Marine ecotourism can align economic growth with sustainable marine management SCIENCE FOR SOCIETY Scuba diving is not just an exciting recreational activity—it is also a significant contributor to the global economy. Our study provides the first global estimate of the economic impact of scuba dive tourism, revealing that the sector generates between 8.5 and 20.4 billion USD annually. This revenue supports local economies, creates jobs, and helps promote marine conservation. By highlighting the economic benefits of scuba diving, our research can help guide policies that balance ecological sustainability and economic growth in coastal communities.en© 2025 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).Scuba dive tourismMarine ecotourismSustainable marine managementMarine ecotourismGlobal ocean economyGlobal scuba diving tourismBlue economySustainable ocean developmentScuba diving economic impactDive tourism revenueScuba tourism employmentMarine protected area tourismDive operator surveyDive sector local livelihoodsArticle