To touch or not to touch?

[on_two_wheels]

Okay, while I absolutely believe in the hands-off approach to most things, there ought to be some acceptable interaction. If the don't touch mentality were used in other areas, we wouldn't have pets, zoos, aquariums, etc, etc. I think there's a time and place for everything, even physical interaction with sea life. Education is the key to balancing preservation and safe interaction. I think touching a sea slug or nudi is far less harmful than the recent trend of shark diving.

 

[Deefstes]

I think touching a sea slug or nudi is far less harmful than the recent trend of shark diving.

True. Which touches on another one of my pet peeves... feeding the sea life.

 

[Pirate Lady]

You know the diving rule. Take only pictures, leave only bubbles.....I think that applies to touching, too.

 

[Guba]

When I go to the forest, I don't hug the bears.
When I go to the desert, I don't pick up the gilas.
When I go the rainforest, I leave the snakes alone.

Why should I feel a burning need to touch living critters on a reef?

Sure, I handle animals that are pets or are part of a "petting zoo". Those animals live in a different and altogether artificial habitat, and their safety and well being are not in question. On a reef, things are different, and I understand that I am the interloper. I need to behave like a guest.

 

[Deefstes]

Well said

 

[Cajuncru Diver]

What if you tip the Nudibranch REALLY well, and they like you?

Worth a try, it always worked for me at Cheeta Three's!

 

[Walter]

You know the diving rule. Take only pictures, leave only bubbles.....

There is no such rule. Why don't you try to convince Spencer it's a rule of diving?

I know that nudis feed on stinging creatures like Hydras.

Some do, some don't. Some are safe to touch, others aren't. If in doubt, it's wise to refrain from touching. If you do your homework, you can know what you can safely touch and thumb your nose at those who use a blanket rule with no thought.

I just don't see why it is EVER neccessary to touch ANYTHING.

We are tactile creatures. It is part of our nature to touch. One of the things I most love about diving is the feeling of the water. I study marine life and when it is not harmful, I touch. It brings me more joy than merely watching. Voyeurism is not my bowl of cherries, I touch.

So when I see pictures of people touching manatees, dolphins, mantas and turtles I just get majorly irked. I mean, I can contain myself, why can't everybody?

I can, but I have no wish to contain myself. Perhaps if you did not contain yourself, you would feel less desire to control other people and would not be "majorly irked" by things that are none of your business.

 

[Deefstes]

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Perhaps if you did not contain yourself, you would feel less desire to control other people and would not be "majorly irked" by things that are none of your business.

Holy smokes! I must have hit a raw nerve there. I'm sorry for you if you feel like you are being "controlled" but that is not what I was saying and I'm not sure what you are hoping to achieve with your choice of invective.

If other divers touch and feed creatures under the sea it is very much my business. The behaviour of those creatures may change and in turn affect my opportunities to enjoy them.

Next thing you will probably tell me that its none of my business if you choose to break off pieces of coral to take home with you...

 

[highdesert]

Deefstes, I think there is absolutely nothing wrong with your point of view. Don't let anyone beat you up about it. And it's everybody's business.

 

[Zieg]

Holy smokes! I must have hit a raw nerve there. I'm sorry for you if you feel like you are being "controlled" but that is not what I was saying and I'm not sure what you are hoping to achieve with your choice of invective.

If other divers touch and feed creatures under the sea it is very much my business. The behaviour of those creatures may change and in turn affect my opportunities to enjoy them.

Next thing you will probably tell me that its none of my business if you choose to break off pieces of coral to take home with you...

I re-read Walter's post and I didn't see anything in it about him condoning feeding the creatures.

But, what I do in the ocean is NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS. If what I am doing is not breaking any written law, bug off. If you don't want to touch anything, fine, good for you, just don't try and force your beliefs on me. I too like to touch things underwater. Some of these things I even take home for dinner. Besides, I've had some of these creatures touch me without asking, so it is fair play.

If just the picture of someone touching anything upsets you, you do have a problem.

Oh, and it is none of your business IF I decide to break off coral.

Deefstes, I think there is absolutely nothing wrong with your point of view. Don't let anyone beat you up about it. And it's everybody's business.

You are both right and wrong, there is nothing wrong with deciding not to touch. What is wrong is deciding that everyone else is not allowed to touch either. Again, it is none of your business what I touch. Do I tell you what you can or can not touch? No. So, go touch whatever you want. Multiple times even.