When it comes to the DM's role in promoting dive ecology, I thought I would offer a couple of anecdotes and a conclusion:
1. I was diving in Cozumel, and one of the other divers on the boat pulled on his gloves and attached his collection bag to his side in preparation for the dive. I waited for the DM to say something. I noticed he was looking at the diver but not speaking. I finally said to the diver, "We're in the marine park. You aren't allowed to wear gloves or collect anything from the reef." The diver said, "Oh! Sorry!" and took off the bag and the gloves. (The operator was Dive Paradise.)
2. I was diving off Amergris Caye in Belize, and a father and 2 sons joined the group. They were just wearing bathing suits and T-shirts because the water was so warm, but they pulled on heavy gloves before the dive, much to my surprise. As we did the dive, I saw why. They rarely used their fins for propulsion. They instead grabbed whatever aspect of the reef was readily available and pulled themselves along. I pointed this out to the DM with a "WTF?" look, but he just shrugged. We returned to the shore between dives, and I had a very pointed conversation with the DM about it. He said he would talk to them about it. They were on board for the next dive, and it was the same thing all over again. I admit not doing anything during the dive, but I made sure the owner knew I would never use his operation again. The operator was the Belize Academy of Divers.
3. I could list a bunch of times I have seen DMs harassing animals for the viewing pleasure of the divers. It was clearly the company policy to do this, and they were doing their jobs. One of those DMs was so bad about it that I let the operator (Big Island Divers in Kona, Hawai'i) know that I would not be back. I would mention another particularly bad one in Belize, but they are out of business now.
4. I was on a boat in Grand Cayman, and I saw a diver pulling on his gloves. The DM walked over to him and said "$500,000 fine for wearing gloves in the marine park." He laughed and continued to put them on. She said, "$500,000 fine for wearing gloves in the marine park. Take them off!" Her tone was quite stern, and he did indeed take them off. That operator was Ocean Frontiers.
There is a clear difference between operators when it comes to the DM's performance. I assure you that in the first three anecdotes, the DMs were told to ignore destructive diver behavior because they are paying customers who must not be upset. They were also told to do whatever it took (inflate puffer fish, create clouds of octopus ink, flip nurse sharks over, chase turtles, etc.) to amuse the paying patrons. In contrast, some operators, like Ocean Frontiers in Grand Cayman, clearly have a strong ecological conscience and make sure their DMs act accordingly.
As a DM, if you want to keep your job, you will follow the company policy. If you want to promote ocean conservation, make sure you work for a company whose policy you respect.
[I mentioned the names of the operators in the hope that it will have at least a minor ripple effect.)
1. I was diving in Cozumel, and one of the other divers on the boat pulled on his gloves and attached his collection bag to his side in preparation for the dive. I waited for the DM to say something. I noticed he was looking at the diver but not speaking. I finally said to the diver, "We're in the marine park. You aren't allowed to wear gloves or collect anything from the reef." The diver said, "Oh! Sorry!" and took off the bag and the gloves. (The operator was Dive Paradise.)
2. I was diving off Amergris Caye in Belize, and a father and 2 sons joined the group. They were just wearing bathing suits and T-shirts because the water was so warm, but they pulled on heavy gloves before the dive, much to my surprise. As we did the dive, I saw why. They rarely used their fins for propulsion. They instead grabbed whatever aspect of the reef was readily available and pulled themselves along. I pointed this out to the DM with a "WTF?" look, but he just shrugged. We returned to the shore between dives, and I had a very pointed conversation with the DM about it. He said he would talk to them about it. They were on board for the next dive, and it was the same thing all over again. I admit not doing anything during the dive, but I made sure the owner knew I would never use his operation again. The operator was the Belize Academy of Divers.
3. I could list a bunch of times I have seen DMs harassing animals for the viewing pleasure of the divers. It was clearly the company policy to do this, and they were doing their jobs. One of those DMs was so bad about it that I let the operator (Big Island Divers in Kona, Hawai'i) know that I would not be back. I would mention another particularly bad one in Belize, but they are out of business now.
4. I was on a boat in Grand Cayman, and I saw a diver pulling on his gloves. The DM walked over to him and said "$500,000 fine for wearing gloves in the marine park." He laughed and continued to put them on. She said, "$500,000 fine for wearing gloves in the marine park. Take them off!" Her tone was quite stern, and he did indeed take them off. That operator was Ocean Frontiers.
There is a clear difference between operators when it comes to the DM's performance. I assure you that in the first three anecdotes, the DMs were told to ignore destructive diver behavior because they are paying customers who must not be upset. They were also told to do whatever it took (inflate puffer fish, create clouds of octopus ink, flip nurse sharks over, chase turtles, etc.) to amuse the paying patrons. In contrast, some operators, like Ocean Frontiers in Grand Cayman, clearly have a strong ecological conscience and make sure their DMs act accordingly.
As a DM, if you want to keep your job, you will follow the company policy. If you want to promote ocean conservation, make sure you work for a company whose policy you respect.
[I mentioned the names of the operators in the hope that it will have at least a minor ripple effect.)