Understanding Characteristics of Upward and Downward Flows in Coral Reef Region for Safety of Recreational Diving

ABSTRACT Jeong, Y.M.; Kim, S.G.; Lee, J.H.; Yoon, J.S., and Lee, W.D., 2017. Understanding characteristics of upward and downward flows in coral reef region for safety of recreational diving. In: Lee, J.L.; Griffiths, T.; Lotan, A.; Suh, K.-S., and Lee, J. (eds.), The 2nd International Water Safety Symposium. Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 79, pp. 35–39. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208. The goal of this study is to gain an understanding of the flow characteristics in reef regions through numerical simulations for safe recreational diving in the region. The applied numerical model was first validated to verify its feasibility and validity for carrying out the numerical simulations. Subsequently, an underwater survey was conducted in the Visayan Islands in the Philippines to model the reef region. Based on the underwater survey results, simulations were conducted in a three dimensional numerical wave tank with a model coral island. According to the numerical analysis results, stronge...