The ocean absorbs about 30% of the carbon dioxide (CO2) that is released in the atmosphere. As levels of atmospheric CO2 increase from human activity such as burning fossil fuels (e.g., car emissions) and changing land use (e.g., deforestation), the amount of carbon dioxide absorbed by the ocean also increases (NOAA, 2022). Furthering the understanding of this issue, seawater becomes less alkaline as more CO 2 dissolves in it, causing hydrogen ion concentration in seawater to increase (Raisman and Murphy, 2013).

Coral bleaching is the term used to describe the loss by the coral animal of all or some of their symbiotic algae and photosynthetic pigments—with the result that the white calcium carbonate skeleton becomes visible through the now translucent tissue layer (Lough, 2018). Studies show that relatively small increases in sea temperature (as little as 1°C to 2°C) can cause mass coral bleaching and mortality across hundreds of square kilometers of coral reef (Guldberg and Cai, 2014). 

The loss of coral reefs is likely to make destinations providing reef-related tourism less attractive and result in a decline in tourist visits. The associated economic impacts will be reductions in revenues and profits for businesses that provide tourist services (e.g. dive operators, hotels, resorts, restaurants, transport) and employment for people working in the sector (Hoegh-Guldberg et al., 2000). (Ocean Acidification International Coordination Centre [OA-ICC], 2015). 

• Vulnerability is the ease of an affected system or the inability to deal with the adverse effects of climate change, including climate variability and extreme weather (Subiyanto 2020). Ocean acidification falls into this category of the inability to deal with.

• Risk occurs when the time comes and these snorkeling operations have less customers, they may be making some questionable decisions for their wellbeing.

• It is in our nature to recover when we face environmental crises and build up our resilience.