This study adheres to the idea that it is not only the biophysical aspect of marine protected area development that has to be investigated but also tis social dynamics particularly at this stage that it has become popular to dive tourism. This has some implications to the future ot community-based marine sanctuary when stakeholders from the tourism sector tend to take role in its management and use. A total of 160 respondents were interviewed or 40 for each categories of stakeholders in Mabini and Tingloy in Batangas, Philippines which included the indirect and direct brokers, locals and tourists and identified through snowball technique. The study found out that the limited benefits enjoyed by the locals, their growing sense of alienation from the marine sanctuaries, and their loss of control in the management add to their frustration to actively support them. These reasons are considered potential threats to the sustainability of the marine sanctuaries because fishers will nol longer recognize and violate instead the "no-fishing" provision of its ordinance. But the study also recognizes the fact that the selective enforcement of the ordinance is a major source of tension between the fishery and tourism sectors. It prohibits scuba diving and snorkeling insided the marine sanctuaries but this is not strictly enforced and instead these activities are tolerated. The study recommends the amendment of the 1993 Marine Sanctuary Ordinance of Mabini upon consultation with all stakeholders affected if they would allow dive tourism directly function in biodiversity conservation efforts. And whatever income be derived from dive tourism in terms of taxes and user's fees of the marine sanctuaries should be converted to social benefits. The more the locals benefit from dive tourism, directly or indirectly, the more likely they will support in keeping the excellent condition of the marine sanctuaries that are major commodities for the dive tourism industry and in improving fishery production.
