Buoyancy Issue / Dilemma

[adurso]

Here are the three photos I took. They were from a distance away with the camera zoomed in, so they're not the best images, but they do show what I'm talking about. In the first, he's standing on the reef. The second has her hand on a small piece of brain coral. The third has his hand doing the same.

What group was this? You can't just give us half the info yanno...

 

[DevonDiver]

I agree with ALL the other posters. These actions are caused by either bad education, or sheer selfishness.

To change behaviour, you have to demonstrate that behaviour is not tolerated or correct. Inform the club... the instructors....it is their JOB to put things right. If the club and/or instructors are not interested, then inform the agency concerned.... so many instructors and clubs spout off about their environment conservation 'practices'..and get credit from their agencies and the public for doing that.

When those divers showed so little regard for the environment - it was a product of the weak training, education and role-modelling that they have recieved.

 

[alcina]

The first image is clearly a bad thing & is a great illustration of what you say you encountered.

The other two are simply not clear enough - we have patches that look awfully like that and it's actually limestone rock, not coral. Please don't flame me, my stance is that when bringing something to someone else's attention one should always present clear and straightforward information/data or it is too easy for the receiver to get sidetracked away from the overall issue.

I think the first image definitely should go to the group. I'll bet they have a president or if they are affiliated with a shop, send it to the shop, too.

I'm disappointed to hear the resort did not step up with at least an additional briefing to remind people to take more care. There are ways to to make the point - some more subtle than others and some using large rocks. Dive resorts need to know that they CAN and SHOULD require a high standard of behaviour from their guests. No amount of money spent gives someone the right to do whatever the heck they want.

I do understand that it's hard to do, as a dive shop operator, but knowing that there will be greater support out there from those of us who believe in taking care of the underwater environment will help more resorts stand up.

 

[Aquaventurewhitetip]

I agree with all the above. mail them and if the reply does not please you, post them so we my all flood there inbox with suggestions on what the club should do.

 

[miketsp]

I have to agree with Alcina; while the one with a person standing on the reef is flagrant, the others look much more like rocks than coral. Especially given the bare hands.

 

[bjf123]

The other two are simply not clear enough - we have patches that look awfully like that and it's actually limestone rock, not coral. Please don't flame me, my stance is that when bringing something to someone else's attention one should always present clear and straightforward information/data or it is too easy for the receiver to get sidetracked away from the overall issue.

I agree the two images are not that clear. I had to take the photos quickly, from a distance. However, after the divers moved on, I swam over and looked. It was coral and not rock being grabbed. I probably should have taken a close up photo of it.

I just sent an e-mail to the group's workshop committee chairman. I'll post back with the response, if any.

 

[bjf123]

I got a very nice response from their workshop committee chair in which he apologized for the behavior of the group members. He and their newsletter editor are going to work this subject into upcoming announcements and workshops to better educate their members on proper reef protection.

 

[Thalassamania]

Fantastic!

 

[trigfunctions]

Way to go!

 

[carrielsal]

Here are the three photos I took. They were from a distance away with the camera zoomed in, so they're not the best images, but they do show what I'm talking about. In the first, he's standing on the reef. The second has her hand on a small piece of brain coral. The third has his hand doing the same.

WOW..I have never seen anyone STAND on a reef before. AMAZING!!