Marriard
Contributor
When I saw a bunch of green algae on the ocean floor, I hoped I'd find one of these guys. After a couple of minutes of hovering upside down, I finally saw this one on the side of a smaller section.
Unfortunetly, one of the DM's saw me and came over with his gaggle of divers. I didn't see him coming and suddenly this happened.
I was furious (not for the first time on this trip). All the DM's carry these metal rods and think it is ok to use them to point out, touch, move and occasionally prod the marine life. They justify it by saying it is not 'touching' and it is OK because they know what they are doing.
IMHO even if they do 'know what they are doing' (which I doubt), they are setting a bad example for other divers who believe they can do this as well. I fee this was a fair conclusion as several guests were also carrying these rods around and using them. When I asked one of them to stop prodding the marine life he said it was OK because the DM's were doing it and so does his instructor.
BTW, this resort also has a 'no gloves' rule and makes you sign a a diving document that includes a 'no gloves' paragraph. On this policy it says that gloves are not allowed as they encourage touching the marine life.
M
Unfortunetly, one of the DM's saw me and came over with his gaggle of divers. I didn't see him coming and suddenly this happened.
I was furious (not for the first time on this trip). All the DM's carry these metal rods and think it is ok to use them to point out, touch, move and occasionally prod the marine life. They justify it by saying it is not 'touching' and it is OK because they know what they are doing.
IMHO even if they do 'know what they are doing' (which I doubt), they are setting a bad example for other divers who believe they can do this as well. I fee this was a fair conclusion as several guests were also carrying these rods around and using them. When I asked one of them to stop prodding the marine life he said it was OK because the DM's were doing it and so does his instructor.
BTW, this resort also has a 'no gloves' rule and makes you sign a a diving document that includes a 'no gloves' paragraph. On this policy it says that gloves are not allowed as they encourage touching the marine life.
M