Possible southern reef closure

[ggunn]

Could you maybe expound on those first seven words, as it pertains to Cozumel and Quintana Roo? Thanks!

Also, on another note (the one pertaining to this thread), there sure are a lot of people stating for a fact that this or that does not cause reef trouble. But none of you are saying what has caused it. Makes me wonder if you know what you're talking about. Please come back when you do know what caused it. Thank you.

I'm pretty sure I know what it's not. It's not (as Undercurrent reportedly claims it is) divers putting their hands all over hard corals.

 

[krbailey]

 

[deepsea21]

That would make a nice spin but I've seen no signs that this park council are big fans of scuba divers and really trying to support the industry. They didn't even give ANOAAT (large association of dive businesses) a heads up much less any special input. And their public statements have only talked about all the diver contacts and damage they do but really nothing about the cruise ships.

If the powers that be in Cozumel don't want divers, don't care about those employed by the dive industry and don't care about the local businesses we frequent - Fine... We'll all take our $ somewhere else that welcomes our business and knows we are not the cause of the dying reefs in the world. Anyone with common sense knows the widespread bleaching of the Great Barrier Reef isn't caused by divers and neither is this. I mean, theoretically how many millions and millions of lousy divers racking up how many billions and billions of dives would it take to cause that?

 

[John Bantin]

Divers in the Egyptian Red Sea are banned from wearing gloves so that they are discouraged from touching the coral.

 

[krbailey]

Divers in the Egyptian Red Sea are banned from wearing gloves so that they are discouraged from touching the coral.

Gloves are not permitted in the Marine Park

 

[mikeycanuk]

are the photogs still allowed to use those metal prongs to stablise the shot? or more what I've seen- stab and poke the reef?

 

[Manatee Diver]

are the photogs still allowed to use those metal prongs to stablise the shot? or more what I've seen- stab and poke the reef?

Muck or reef sticks are banned in the park.

 

[Charred]

The Cozumel dive industry and its customer base are apt to look unfavorably upon reef-endangering or destroying measures such as installing more cruise ship piers. Given the number of cruise ships and the money involved with them, I keep coming back to this nagging, theoretical concern...

If the popular reef closures become extended and/or repetitive, will this weaken the dive industry? Cozumel is so equated with scuba that it seems insane at first glance, but they've got other revenue streams via industry (e.g.: cruise ships) with conflicting interests. Would a weakened dive industry make it easier for adversaries to gain ground in some way?

And I haven't heard of any plans to cut back the number of cruise ships for 3 months or so, to 'see if it helps.'

I'm not advocating this as the way things are. I'm asking if it's theoretically plausible, and thus worthy of consideration. If so, even if it had nothing to do with the decision to close reefs, it might contribute to consequences we won't like. If the dive industry brings less money into Cozumel, how will Cozumel try to make up for it?

I don't see how this doesn't hurt the dive industry. I'm going in Nov because we are going in a group and cannot change our plans. I'm pissed.

The closed reefs are why I go to Cozumel. Further, with the closure, there will be too many divers on the open reefs. I'm expecting Santa Rosa Wall to be a parade.

I am going to be booking my spring dive trip soon. Since I cannot guarantee that Cozumel's best reefs will be open, Cozumel is not on my list. In fact, until I deem Cozumel reliable, its off my list. It kills me to say that. My vacation time and money are valuable and there are many other dive destinations better than the Cozumel's un-closed reefs. There are however, very few better than the closed ones.

I hope the dive ops understand this so they can be making their case.

 

[cvchief]

So, John at Undercurrent won't let go, he is like a dog with a bone. However he does not know me. I never let a bone go in my life.....

He claims his reports are from "informants were both at the official meeting and are unimpeachable". Then he says he double checked with Aldora's PDF. (anyone got the PDF?) So @Dave Dillehay You are in on this as backing them up. And you owe me a margarita....

1. Specifically, Undercurrent states: "White syndrome starts with the coral showing well-defined areas of whitening, which then expand and, apparently spread to all other coral colonies by contact, mainly through divers touching infected coral during dives"

I suggested that there is no science to that. Further I don't believe a direct causal relationship was suggested by Parque Marine. I *think* the Marine Park said divers kick the reef alot, the coral is sick and we need to do something. I don't think they said 'divers are the primary method SCTLD is spread.'


2. Undercurrent states that 'The areas where most diving in Cozumel occurs -- from Palancar Gardens (on Cozumel’s southwest quadrant) to Maracaibo, and Playa Bosh in the extreme south (including dive sites Columbia, Punta Sur, and El Cielo) will be closed'.

I believe those are some signature sites, but I have never seen a shortage of boats on the sites north of there. I think their statement is simple not correct. Beyond the fact El Cielo aint a dive site.... They only list 7 open sites include Barracuda and San Juan. I count at least 15 site still open in the Park alone. And you have to get to the 3rd paragraph to see any park sites are open.

3. Undercurrent states "so government scientists may investigate the causes of ‘white syndrome’ affecting hard corals there and gauge the amounts and effects of pollution discharged by the large hotels that border the marine park."

I know we talked about it, but did the Marine Park lay blame on the hotels like this? I kinda doubt it.


So if you own a dive shop or more importantly were at the Park's meeting, drop John an email at john@undercurrent.org and set him straight.

Sure is the closure sucks and some people won't want to come if they can't hit the signature sites, but there is still lots of diving that can be done.

And lets not pretend that Parque Marine solved SCTLD.

The truth is bad enough without Undercurrent sensationalizing it and making stuff up. Yea, I'm defensive, but most people who come even once to Coz on cruise ship call it 'their island."

I always say:

Of course it has been said about me:

 

[deepsea21]

I wonder how much trash will be littering the southern reefs after 3 months of divers not being there to collect it?