Info Clampdown on UW Cameras

[Centrals]

No dive shop or most commercial business in the Kingdom will never ever say NO to money.
Why so many russian are in Thailand.

 

[Pearlman]

The fact that OW students are even allowed on Similan's LOBs says it all...it's all about the baht! As to shops checking log books, very few will be willing to loose the business, especially when there's likely another shop down the street who will take them.

Slightly off-topic but I’ve been to Similans twice and didn’t see any conditions not suitable for OW students at most dive sites. At least not in December… Richelieu Rock perhaps might be an exception on a bad day …

 

[JonnieB]

Slightly off-topic but I’ve been to Similans twice and didn’t see any conditions not suitable for OW students at most dive sites. At least not in December… Richelieu Rock perhaps might be an exception on a bad day …

It takes at least 40-50 dives to develop acceptable bouncy skills in most divers. I'm not worried about dangerous conditions for the divers, I'm worried about the dangerous conditions for the marine life.

 

[jborg]

I was diving on Koh Tao this week and noticed the policy at the dive shop we were with; they would not rent you a go pro or let you take a camera if you weren’t AOW or if you were doing a course.

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

It seems to me PBB would be more valuable than anything else.
Aren't photogs known for doing ANYTHING, even a little fin here and a knee there to get the shot, even very experienced ones?
Maybe start with an attitude class about the fact that they are not the most important person in the ocean at that given moment.

 

[Centrals]

Check out dive for everyone regardless of certifications and experiences perhaps for returning customers who had proved themselves previously.
The check out dive is NOT free. How about that?
I have no issue with that.

 

[JonnieB]

I was diving on Koh Tao this week and noticed the policy at the dive shop we were with; they would not rent you a go pro or let you take a camera if you weren’t AOW or if you were doing a course.

Check back in 6 months.

 

[tursiops]

Aren't photogs known for doing ANYTHING, even a little fin here and a knee there to get the shot, even very experienced ones?

Some, maybe. All, definitely not. You are generalizing much too quickly. It is not appreciated.

 

[Centrals]

LOL.
I do not think the requirement will be lifted officially. It is entirely up to the operator to enforce it and if it is required by law then no one will argue about it. And some OW certified divers might even decide to do the AOW course.
Operators should mention it on their web site so as to eliminate any disagreement.

 

[TostitoBandito]

The problem here is unskilled divers with a camera but the bigger problem is unskilled divers without a camera. I just watched a few days ago a woman with free dive fiberglass fins water walk across the top of the reef ledge flapping her arms like an eagle. And she did not have a camera. And those dragging consoles and inflators. And none of that requires a camera to damage the reef. And divers who despite being told not to touch must touch everything as if somehow they are exempted.

Not sure how being a "deep" diver or whatever will prevent reef damage as no advanced course I know of produces actually skilled advanced divers. Maybe it is time for there to be an Environmental Advanced Diver course that requires demonstration of skill and an understanding to not touch, grab or hold the reef and a minimum of 100 dives upon completion and demonstrate perfect trim/buoyancy, situational awareness of where they are and environmental awareness and the ability to maneuver 100% with fins only. With or without a camera.

Sure it's obviously not gonna fix everything, but I feel like it's better than nothing. Just as some inexperienced underwater photographers cause damage, some very experienced ones do as well. And as you point out the majority of divers don't have cameras and there are plenty of bad ones in that group too. As long as this doesn't lead to irrationally blaming photographers for everything, I'm fine with it.

I think the other piece which would help here is if the biggest certification agencies like PADI were to significantly tighten up their open water certification process. No teaching in a circle sitting on the bottom, actually testing skills, not auto passing everyone, heavy emphasis that it is unacceptable to touch ANYTHING underwater, etc... But that's not gonna happen because $$$. I got my NAUI open water in 2003 and it was night and day watching my partner's experience in her PADI open water class a few years ago. She came out of that with a card but with hardly any actual diving skills. She's solid now, but those first few dives after certification were an adventure.