Angel Shark riding video

[Rickster]

Hi All,

Well it seems we may have done some good here...at least until the next time it gets posted.... The video is off the SSA website!

Good to see that! I shot an email to SSA this morning, with no answer, of course!

Rick

 

[Ann Marie]

Just saw this post. Didn't make it to the site before they took down the video. Good job for all of you who took the time to write to SSA!
:10:

 

[HilaryRN71]

Well I'm glad to see it's down. I did think it was inappropriate behavior but I also didn't think it was "rape" or "terrorism." Just some inconsiderate macho ************s taking advantage of helpless marine life. Akin to the class bullies.
I'm an SSI diver (and a former SSA diver) and they do advocate respect for the marine environment, as I think all agencies do. Just don't judge an agency by one bad shop.

 

[DiverBuoy]

Rusty Berry, owner of the Montclair SSA shop put the video up last year and took a ton of abuse for it. He was defiant on the various boards and even denied there was any holding of the sharks on the video. He finally removed it after a week, but I noticed it was back up again. It is entirely his doing and does not reflect the training of SSA or the West Hills shop.

But the video is seriously casting a negative light on the agency and associated shop(s). It's beyond asinine.

 

[murphdivers286]

I missed the video also, but from reading this post I'm guessing some real idiots were making divers in general look back. We don't need any negative publicity. I just wished I could have seen the video to fully understand the severity of their actions.

 

[WannaLaguna]

I missed the video also, but from reading this post I'm guessing some real idiots were making divers in general look back. We don't need any negative publicity. I just wished I could have seen the video to fully understand the severity of their actions.

Hi Murphdivers286, yes the video was disgusting. Here's the gist of it: two divers with rebreathers (seriously geared out). Divers find a resting angel shark that has settled itself into the sand. Diver approaches from behind and DIGS his hand down on either side of the sharks and pulls it away from the bottom. Holds onto it as it struggles to get free and then looks very proud of himself for his capture...this happens a few times. There was also a scene with a crab...same method...same result....same poor judgement....same lack of respect...

Glad its gone.

Safe Diving all.

 

[WannaLaguna]

Well I'm glad to see it's down. I did think it was inappropriate behavior but I also didn't think it was "rape" or "terrorism." Just some inconsiderate macho ************s taking advantage of helpless marine life. Akin to the class bullies.
I'm an SSI diver (and a former SSA diver) and they do advocate respect for the marine environment, as I think all agencies do. Just don't judge an agency by one bad shop.

Hi Hilary,

You are absolutely right. We cannot paint everyone with the same broad brush. *But*, because SSA posted the video on their site THAT looks bad on them. I would believe (hope) that anyone who gets into scuba does so for a love of the water and its inhabitants.

Of course there are bad apples in every walk of life.

But the SSA had an opportunity to review and reject the posting of that video....which they did not....which in turn looks very poorly on them as a shop and the agency. SSI the agency should be outraged that a shop that represents them would post such garbage. And, if I was SSI I would demand an explanation into the divers behavior representing the shop and the decision of the shop to post the video.

I think that is why we are so upset with both the shop and SSI.

Safe diving,

 

[WannaLaguna]

Good to see that! I shot an email to SSA this morning, with no answer, of course!

Rick

Hi Rick, I didn't get a reply to my email either.

Safe diving!

 

[HilaryRN71]

Jeff... SSI seems to keep a pretty tight rein on their shops in this area...I wonder if the regional SSI guy even knows about the video's existance.

And I agree..it's in poor taste. Not just to post it once, but TWICE. Apparently a longer version. They figured they had let the ruckus die down enough that no one would remember.

I'm sure it was a rebreather training dive with a new rebreather client. I found all the posts about the divers in the video " obviously have alot of training as evidenced by the gear" interesting because I know them to be not true. I know of an SSA diver (who is a nice guy and I'm certainly not bagging him) that has logged less than 50 dives, and something like all but 4 were on a rebreather. He got certified and went straight to a rebreather. I just have SUCH a hard time with that. I know of NO diver, no matter how good he is as a new diver, who is ready for the task-loading of a rebreather. It's like...do you give a 14-year-old with a learner's permit a Corvette? I see it about the same. But for whatever reason, he was willing to spend the $10K and they sold it to him. Maybe they figured if he truly wanted it, he would have bought it anyplace, so let's give him the training here. But I still have issues with it.

 

[mccabejc]

Let me be the first to suggest a total boycott of SSA 4420 Holt Blvd, Montclair CA 91763. This is unacceptable behavior IMHO.

This shop is only a few miles from my home, and I've been in full boycott mode of this store for a while now. It has achieved the distinction of being one of only two stores I've ever placed in "Platinum Lifetime, Till Hell Freezes Over" boycott.