Abuse of marine life by Scuba Schools of America.

[lamont]

Chopping up creatures to feed to other creatures for your simple amusement shows a basic disrespect for both creatures. If you would feed an urchin to a fish, would you feed the fish to a dolphin? Would you feed that dolphin to an orca? Why not? What's the difference?

Would you feed a cow to another human?

What about the senseless mutilation of worms in order to catch fish?

 

[LeFlaneur]

Would you feed a cow to another human?

What about the senseless mutilation of worms in order to catch fish?

You might try reading my post again.

 

[drbill]

You likely are doing more harm than good if you consider that any outside interference is harm, and the fact that petrochemicals are likely being consumed to transport you, fill your dive tanks, make your gear, etc. Of course, all of this has much more impact on the environment, flora and fauna of the planet than my 1-on-1 interaction with the occassional eel or garibaldi.

WHAT? You mean you divers use petrochemicals to get to dive sites??? Why I just carry all my dive and video gear to my dive site on my handcart, going uphill a mile in both directions (through the ice and snow to boot). The only petrochemicals involved are in the manufacture of the handcart (and my dive gear).

Seriously, there is a point here and that's why I don't use a vehicle on Catalina unless absolutely necessary. Realize it would be hard to do in "the real world" (although I used to bike to work there years ago). However, I also don't kill urchins or other marine life to feed fish for "education." I'd much rather videotape natural interactions and educate divers and non-divers that way.

Dr. Bill

 

[scubadoguk]

You might try reading my post again.

I seem to remember a story about mad cow disease in the UK being started by feeding pigs and chicken bits into a bovine feed in powder form.
Cows are herbivores I believe.
But that is about cheap feed not ecology

 

[LeFlaneur]

Seriously, there is a point here and that's why I don't use a vehicle on Catalina unless absolutely necessary. Realize it would be hard to do in "the real world" (although I used to bike to work there years ago).
Dr. Bill

Biking to Catalina? I would have to get up a good head of steam in Marina del Rey or I'd never make the jump.

It seems to me that there is a pretty clear distinction that can be made between killing an animal for food and killing an animal for entertainment or "education." And there is another distinction that can be made between observing a creature in the wild and habituating it with food.

Of course we are never going to avoid impacting the earth and the creatures on it. But wouldn't it be wise to try to limit that impact to situations where it is necessary?

What is necessary is, of course, always going to be an individual judgement call. I think a lot of it comes down to intent and attitude. I consider diving to be an unnecessry but highly rewarding activity where I am a guest in a very special place.

If my neighbor invites me over, I don't rifle thorough his fridge, flick on his tv and prop my feet up. Being on a reef is no different.

 

[TomvdH]

http://www.scubaschoolsofamerica.com/

Go to video footage entitled "Angel Sharks of Catalina Island."

If you don't like what you see, SSA's e-mail & phone number are on the home page.

Best regards.

DocVikingo

From reading the thread from this posting I saw that the school had removed the Angle Shark video in April. Well I checked today, they may have pulled it for a while, but it is back.

Nice try but we all know that maturity does not always come with age - case in point.

 

[Sideband]

I'm writing them to find out how much the "molest the wildlife" package is. Hopefully that is cheaper than signing up to molest one species at a time.
I'm also curious how that diver would react if I went over to his house and grabbed his dog by the tail while it was asleep just to watch it shake and try to get away.


Joe

 

[Sideband]

Here's what I sent:
"
Do you offer a "molest the wildlife" package or do we only get to mess the the animals we chance upon? When I dive I like to touch every animal I come across and if I can maybe make them exhibit signs of fear I really get off. It's no fun just observing a creature in its natural state. My motto is: If it has a tail then it is meant to be grabbed by it. From what I saw in the vids, you have the same motto and I would love to set up dive trip through you and really cause some stress. let me know. Thanks
"
Joe

 

[squee!]

Here's what I sent:
"
Do you offer a "molest the wildlife" package or do we only get to mess the the animals we chance upon? When I dive I like to touch every animal I come across and if I can maybe make them exhibit signs of fear I really get off. It's no fun just observing a creature in its natural state. My motto is: If it has a tail then it is meant to be grabbed by it. From what I saw in the vids, you have the same motto and I would love to set up dive trip through you and really cause some stress. let me know. Thanks
"
Joe

N-I-C-E!

Keep us posted on the response. And i checked too, the video is indeed up.

 

[fgray1]

You guys should spend more time trying to care as much about people as you do animals.
Wonder how many emails you sent to "Save the Childern". Wait a minute they walk up right so they do count. Spend more time worring about your fellow man the animals will take care of them selves.