To touch or not to touch?

[mjh]

I am in the no touch camp, the rare exceptions could be turtles, seals, and such that might initiate contact. But only if the animal comes in for the contact. Even here you must be careful, the mantas in Kona are starting to show signs of infection from their contact with divers.

This topic has been debated many times and the simple fact is that 99% of the time any contact with any wild creature in the sea causes it some stress. How do you know you did not just pull them off a food source that they needed to survive or off the trail of another of their species they could have mated with, etc.......

Others are correct in there are no Laws regulating us but I personal let dive guides and dive buddies know I avoid touching any creatures and don't look for them to pull open crynoids or disturb creatures so I can get a better photo.

 

[seaducer]

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.

Exactly. Leave wild things wild, and just be greatfull you had a chance to see it. Very few wild animals are not harmed in some way by human interaction, so it is best to be a passive observer.

 

[perdidochas]

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...

If something isn't harmed by touching, then what's the big deal? If I just wanted to look, but not interact, I could just watch videos of sea life, with a lot less trouble and cost.

 

[seaducer]

If something isn't harmed by touching, then what's the big deal? If I just wanted to look, but not interact, I could just watch videos of sea life, with a lot less trouble and cost.

Thing is that creatures are harmed by touching them. Most sealife is covered with a slime coating that we remove when we touch them. This layer protects them from parasites and disease, by picking up something or running your hand down their body you have compromised their immune system.

Other factors include changing their behaviors or causing them to flee cover, food sources or mating oportunities.

Please, if you can't keep you hands to yourself stay home. It is not OK.

 

[highdesert]

If something isn't harmed by touching, then what's the big deal? If I just wanted to look, but not interact, I could just watch videos of sea life, with a lot less trouble and cost.

So what does that mean, "isn't harmed?" Are you certain you can be the judge of whether your physical contact does no harm, either physiologically or in terms of altered behavior? In our area, some idiots like to feed the bears. No harm done, right? Then they're back, their behavior changed, then they get an ear tag. Next time, which is now almost inevitable, they get popped and they're history. Still no harm done?

 

[b1gcountry]

I'm a big toucher, not necessarily nudis (too small) but other things. I've found out the hard way that critters can sting (even through gloves - Crown of Thorns). I tend to limit my touching somewhat these days!

Reaction: hands turned blue, hurt and were numb at the same time! I was lucky, I think!

This is a way better argument that I could ever make about not touching anything.

I don't care what anyone else does, and I have a feeling bad buoyancy causes way more harm than any amount of touching. What does irk me is when a DM decides to harass a critter just to give me a show of things. I usually swim away, and I won't tip those DMs.

Tom

 

[highdesert]

What does irk me is when a DM decides to harass a critter just to give me a show of things. Tom

I'm with you on that one, particularly when it's at a resort famous for its reef preservation and no touch policies. I think some DM's feel that if they harrass the hell out of a creature with a piece of stainless steel, and not their finger, it's an OK thing.

 

[Guba]

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

I guess I'm just conditioned by the places in which I do most of my diving, two of which are Cozumel and the Flower Gardens NMS. Both of these sites are protected areas, and the responsible operators/divers who frequent these areas most definitely consider it their business if you damage the coral there.
Never doubt that we, as divers, can affect the places we visit underwater. One has only to look around at sites where divers are unsupervised (all groups to the sanctuary in Coz must be accompanied by a DM, and the FG usually attracts more experienced divers) to see how poorly some coral ecosystems are faring due to contact.
If I ere, it will be on the side of the natural habitat.

 

[perdidochas]

So what does that mean, "isn't harmed?" Are you certain you can be the judge of whether your physical contact does no harm, either physiologically or in terms of altered behavior? In our area, some idiots like to feed the bears. No harm done, right? Then they're back, their behavior changed, then they get an ear tag. Next time, which is now almost inevitable, they get popped and they're history. Still no harm done?

Using your standard, no diving should ever be allowed. How can you ever be certain that what you have done won't effect the living things.....

(also, feeding wild animals does harm them. I would never advocate that.)

 

[Saltwater Junky]

I was wondering about the physical stress placed on a creature? Mainly the chance of infection and disease. I have read about the protective cover on fish and if disturbed there is an increase chance of infection. For me causing no harm far out weighs the my benefit in fullfilling my need/desire to touch.

But only if the animal comes in for the contact. Even here you must be careful, the mantas in Kona are starting to show signs of infection from their contact with divers.

Curious if the mantas, that are showing infection, have been repeatedly touched? Have they made the area their home, which increased their chances of interaction? Do the biologists know if the infection is from physical or psychological stressors?