Trip Report Emperor Explorer - Bad Environmental Behavior

[happy-diver]

Any night dive can quickly become a disgrace, with anxious people and their million billion lumens light sabres
looking for the next creature that will kill them with those unaware camera types chesting turtles, blinding stuff

 

[kommisarrex]

I've done a Maldives liveaboard with Emperor and found the operation very professional and committed to safety. I think I'd give them the benefit of doubt ton this one. If the dive guides haven't been given instructions on shining the light at night, then it's hard for them to change things up based on a guest sharing a government policy on a screen. I think the right thing to do here would be to contact Emperor corporate and ask about the policy. BTW, does this policy also end the practice of setting up lights in the shallows for mantas? That was a pretty magical.

 

[Centrals]

I guess all night diving should be banned because it disturbs sleeping fish and gives predators who use our lights an advantage. And stop sinking wrecks which attract fish which end up on a fisherman's line. And make shark feed dives illegal. As well as spear fishing which can't be too healthy for the fish that get hunted. And don't get me started about lobstering.

Predator hunting at night does not require light, they hunt by smell.
Have you seen parrot fish sleeping inside a cocoon, the whole idea is to cover the smell as well as from parasites.
I have seen white tips hunting in Cocos Island at night, They hunt by smell and a large group of them can really turn the reef upside down. Someone should teach them to stay clear from coral reef when hunting at night.

Tourist is NOT above the law. PERIOD.

 

[Centrals]

Tell that to all the animals you love to kill.

No experiences whatsoever.

 

[gamon]

Predator hunting at night does not require light, they hunt by smell.

I've had tarpon and other nocturnal hunting fish use my dive lights to scout their prey.

This is a known thing, it's rather surprising you are unaware of it.

Here's some remedial reading for you. It's just one link of dozens that come up when you search on "predatory fish using scuba divers lights to hunt prey".

Night Diving with Giant Tarpon - DiveDoggie, LLC

Night diving is an adventure that very few life adventures surpass. It is a unique experience and very rarely the same experience, twice. At night, you have the opportunity to see critters you wouldn’t normally see in the daytime. Some fish and underwater creatures go to bed while the night...

divedoggie.com

These fish hunt in our lights and swim along with you, nearly the size of you, and don’t seem to mind the nuisance you offer as long as your light provides their next meal

 

[Parlem]

I've had tarpon and other nocturnal hunting fish use my dive lights to scout their prey.

This is a known thing, it's rather surprising you are unaware of it.

Here's some remedial reading for you. It's just one link of dozens that come up when you search on "predatory fish using scuba divers lights to hunt prey".

Night Diving with Giant Tarpon - DiveDoggie, LLC

Night diving is an adventure that very few life adventures surpass. It is a unique experience and very rarely the same experience, twice. At night, you have the opportunity to see critters you wouldn’t normally see in the daytime. Some fish and underwater creatures go to bed while the night...

divedoggie.com

These fish hunt in our lights and swim along with you, nearly the size of you, and don’t seem to mind the nuisance you offer as long as your light provides their next meal

Lionfish in the Red Sea will most definitely follow divers during night dives and will happily hunt prey that you have unwillingly shown them with your torch. This is a fact. I've witnessed it.