The Berwickshire coast could attract an additional £2m to the local economy if its dive sites are cohesively marketed to domestic tourists.

According to an independent report commissioned by Scottish Enterprise (SE) Borders, the coast of the towns of St Abbs and Eyemouth – considered to be one of the top five dive sites in the UK owing to their reef and rock formations, marine life and famous shipwrecks – must be marketed as a single dive location in order to attract more visitors.

Julian Pace, executive director at SE Borders, explains: “Since the St Abbs and Eyemouth Voluntary Marine Reserve was created in 1984, the region has attracted around 25,000 divers a year.

“Most dive businesses, however, operate independently from each other with little cohesion and the report highlights that working together to promote what the area has to offer could increase the number of visitors from the UK and overseas.”

The report proposes that the supply of accommodation for large dive groups, such as a campsites or hostels, must be increased; changing facilities and restrooms with easy access to the shore must be installed and dive businesses in the region must be better linked to host a major watersports festival.

A new working group of regional dive-related businesses is being established to research the proposals and to discuss the potential of the area to tourism businesses such as accommodation providers and visitor attractions.