Another vandalism (Bahura)

[Hammerhead]

Larry,
Do they have vandalized coral there as well?

Not any more

What happened was that I was diving with AD in Coral Gardens and one of the group (European BTW) broke off and picked up a small, perfectly round dark brown coral off the bottom. I hadn't seen the species before, it was about the size of a softball.

The DM tried to get the offending diver to replace it (probably too late for the coral anyway) but the diver wanted his souvenir.

Back on the boat, the DM told him very simply "put it back or you never dive with AD again". He wouldn't. Until this point, I thought the fool was lugging a coconut around on the dive and had no idea what had actually happened.

Fast-forward to 7PM in the Point bar, I asked the DM what the procedure was if something like this happens, I thought the guy would walk off and join another outfit for his next dive, a thought which depressed me.

In fact what happens is that all of the reputable shops, which is all of them are alerted unofficially when a diver is banned by any one of them and voluntarly, they refuse to take him on. It's very much a trust thing, but according to the DB, it does work. You might be able to find a freelancer, but that's not easy in PG unless you've got the connections.

Many of the DMs - foreigners included - have lived there for years and appreciate the place for what it is; great diving and their own livelihood. They will go a long way to defend it.

Edit - the diver was a package customer with Asiadivers and El Galleon and they lost more than the value of a couple of dives by banning him. I believe he never even paid his existing bill or was asked to.

I spoke to the manager about it and how they ought at least not to be out of pocket. His reply, spoken like a true Aussie was "I don't give a **** about the money as long as I never see that **** again."

Wise words don't always need to be polite.

 

[pakman]

In fact what happens is that all of the reputable shops, which is all of them are alerted unofficially when a diver is banned by any one of them and voluntarly, they refuse to take him on. It's very much a trust thing, but according to the DB, it does work. You might be able to find a freelancer, but that's not easy in PG unless you've got the connections.

so the K dive shop welcomed him with opened arms...?

 

[Hammerhead]

Nah, his bouyancy was too good.

 

[greatwolf]

:lol:

 

[Vie]

"Venus Muroami" is what is inscribed on the coral.

http://wps.prenhall.com/esm_thurman_introocean_9/0,7305,348041-,00.html

"While removal of the fish may harm reefs ecologically, some methods of collection, such as dynamiting, kill the hard coral colonies directly. Another method, called muro-ami, involves bouncing rocks tethered to lines off the coral to herd the fish. This method, employed in the Philippines, typically destroys about 17 m2 (183 ft2) of coral cover per hectare (10,000 m2 = 108,000 ft2) per operation. Typically thirty muro-ami boats repeat the process about ten times a day. It may take forty or more years for reefs that are destroyed by fishing practices to recover (if allowed to)."

 

[S. starfish]

I feel an apropreate retribution would be to carve the scientific name of the coral into whomever vandalized it. Eye for an eye right?

 

[Wolverine]

Not any more

What happened was that I was diving with AD in Coral Gardens and one of the group (European BTW) broke off and picked up a small, perfectly round dark brown coral off the bottom. I hadn't seen the species before, it was about the size of a softball.

The DM tried to get the offending diver to replace it (probably too late for the coral anyway) but the diver wanted his souvenir.

Back on the boat, the DM told him very simply "put it back or you never dive with AD again". He wouldn't. Until this point, I thought the fool was lugging a coconut around on the dive and had no idea what had actually happened.

Fast-forward to 7PM in the Point bar, I asked the DM what the procedure was if something like this happens, I thought the guy would walk off and join another outfit for his next dive, a thought which depressed me.

In fact what happens is that all of the reputable shops, which is all of them are alerted unofficially when a diver is banned by any one of them and voluntarly, they refuse to take him on. It's very much a trust thing, but according to the DB, it does work. You might be able to find a freelancer, but that's not easy in PG unless you've got the connections.

Many of the DMs - foreigners included - have lived there for years and appreciate the place for what it is; great diving and their own livelihood. They will go a long way to defend it.

Edit - the diver was a package customer with Asiadivers and El Galleon and they lost more than the value of a couple of dives by banning him. I believe he never even paid his existing bill or was asked to.

I spoke to the manager about it and how they ought at least not to be out of pocket. His reply, spoken like a true Aussie was "I don't give a **** about the money as long as I never see that **** again."

Wise words don't always need to be polite.

Totally agree with way to deal with vandals and other unpleasant folks. As long as all the operators of the area agree to protect their livelihood, we should see less of these people around. Better still, circulate their names on SB and make sure everyone knows who they are!

 

[clgsamson]

so the K dive shop welcomed him with opened arms...?

they had a welcoming party for him...they made him a grandmaster diver in charge of monkey wreck..

 

[pakman]

http://wps.prenhall.com/esm_thurman_introocean_9/0,7305,348041-,00.html

"While removal of the fish may harm reefs ecologically, some methods of collection, such as dynamiting, kill the hard coral colonies directly. Another method, called muro-ami, involves bouncing rocks tethered to lines off the coral to herd the fish. This method, employed in the Philippines, typically destroys about 17 m2 (183 ft2) of coral cover per hectare (10,000 m2 = 108,000 ft2) per operation. Typically thirty muro-ami boats repeat the process about ten times a day. It may take forty or more years for reefs that are destroyed by fishing practices to recover (if allowed to)."

Vie- thanks for the info on muro-ami...

Woahh... well waddya know... ya think this was not a recreational diver but a local fisherman who wrote that on the coral?:huh:


Edit: another link on muro-ami

In 1986, muro-ami was banned throughout the Philippines because of the pervasive use of minors and the damage it caused to reefs.

http://reefsatrisk.wri.org/casestudy_text.cfm?ContentID=123

Now the question is why would someone write muro-ami on the coral? Was it a fisherman marking the coral for muro-ami or was it just some recreational diver with a sick sense of humor?

 

[clgsamson]

Guys, the etched words "Venus Muro-ami" may not have been done by a certified diver but instead by a "diver" on hookah from a muro-ami boat, muro-ami is an illegal way of fishing and is banned in the country. Maybe Venus is short for MV Venus, name of the boat, who knows?.

The vandalized coral is at 30-40ft (right on top of the hole in the wall) of Bahura kanto. I'll try to take clearer pics if there will be an oppotunity to dive there this DOR IV. Currents can be unforgiving in that part of bahura though.

OTH, if it was done by a certified diver, no explanation needed. He should be banned from diving and be sent off with a kick right between his legs.