Do you touch?

[Lonefox]

I try to touch but I can't get my hand far enough down my wetsuit.... :11:

Isn't that what a buddy's for ?

 

[Zoomer]

To: Fishboy, in response to your questions.
Most corals get at least a portion of their nutrition from capturing other miniscule organisms. As you probably already know, this is done by stinging cells called nematocysts that have a set "trigger" that, once touched, fires a poisonous "harpoon" designed to debilitate the prey. When one touches a coral, even with a gloved hand, many of these stinging cells will be deployed by the coral organism. These cells must be replentished, and that takes time, energy and resources. Therefore, to haphazardly touch a coral diminishes its ability to snare food and, ultimately, weakens it. What other divers have mentioned may be superficially true. Simply touching most coral will not immediately kill it. However, its chances for survival are diminished, and in a crowded community of organisms such as a reef, that may very well spell the difference in life and death. Therefore, as a diver and a professional science educator, I will not touch the reef except to remove man-made debris, and then only if removing the material will not further damage living organisms.

Guba,
http://jellieszone.com/nematocysts.htm
http://www.pacificwhale.org/childrens/fsreef.html

Can you tell me why it is then a swimmer can wear a simple nylon suit to keep from being stung by a jellyfish (nematocysts not fireing)? and how it is possible that corals survive and thrive in a properly maintained home aquarium?

 

[Ishie]

I try to touch but I can't get my hand far enough down my wetsuit.... :11:

So that's why shorties were invented...

 

[RadRob]

So that's why shorties were invented...

What "shorty" are you referring to? Wouldn't having a shorty make it that much more difficult?

 

[Potapko]

Found this on the page of a Dive op here in Europe.

 

[Walter]

That's much more than a touch. I hope the turtle bit the diver's butt.

 

[Guba]

Hi, Warnberg
Certainly...Nematocysts are "large microscopic" structures located in specific regions on corals. i.e. they are usually too small to be viewed with the naked eye, but there are exceptions among some sea creatures. Therefore, when a nematocyst fires, the "harpoon" portion (with its toxin) has a very limited penetration. Subsequently, even very thin clothing is sufficient protection. Of course, if the organism is of the type that can differentiate between prey and non-prey contact, the nematocysts won't fire at all. The most delicate, and therefore easily damaged, life forms are often the ones that cannot distinguish between prey and causual contact by a diver. These are the ones that run the risk of being harmed by touching. As for the types of corals in most maintained aquariums, usually they are the more hardy species and can withstand more contact. As you noted, many species in WELL-MAINTAINED aquariums do well, sometimes because they have ample food and conditions and can weather contact with little difficulty. However, even those species may suffer from contact if place under stress. Unfortunately, many of the world's reef systems are currently suffering environmental stress due to pollution and constantly warming waters. That's why I believe, as a conscientous diver and scientist, that contact with coral reef structures should be avoided.
p.s. As for the glove issue...I've been on expeditions that REQUIRED gloves...no exceptions. However, that was because we descended on fixed mooring lines, and as many of the respondents noted, critters live on those lines. Still, we didn't touch things once we got down.

 

[drbill]

Despite the warnings we gave to diving passengers on a cruise line I worked for, there were always those who had to touch. For example, I was filming a hawksbill turtle coming straight at me off Lighthouse Reef, Belize, when I saw a hand reach into my viewfinder and the turtle alter course. Grrrr. There were further warnings topside after that.

 

[Bruciebabe]

It is a big pity that diving certs cannot be pulled.
As a PADI professional it would be just perfect if I could pull the cert off an idiot who shouldn't be diving.
Then I would be pretty busy at PG in the Phillipines!!!!

 

[sea nmf]

To those who advocate touching if we know the creature, take note of a recent encounter with a Great White here in Hawaii. The op owner was free diving and "stroked" the shark. This is not a story. There is video.

My guess is he weighs in on the "OK to touch" side of this debate!