- Messages
- 10,954
- Reaction score
- 4,130
- # of dives
- None - Not Certified
A never ending, multi-faceted argument.
Carnival Ride Experience versus Shark Dive... what is it ?
Warping Animal Behaviors or Observing Animal Behaviors... which one ?
Abusing Critters or Creating Awareness... what does more benefit or damage ?
The Roatan Shark Dive is one of the better such concessions that I have seen. There really is no required skill set to participate, so you will find any number of noobs decrying in grand detail what kind of slap-dash operation that it appeared to them. I lump them into the general category of Canned Shark Rodeos, not intending to be any more derogatory than the equivalent Dolphin Pester.
I have written very descriptive pieces on the actual play-by-play of the dive here on ScubaBoard and elsewhere. Bottom line: if you pay attention and have a modicum of u/w abilities, this will be simple. Did I mention that you should pay attention to the briefings?
In terms of seeing things in the wild, in their own time, that is the crux of the biscuit.
How many posts from noobs have you seen.... "We just got certified and want great diving. Where will we see Whale Sharks?"
In this current 4.0 version of instant gratification, SCUBA has long ago followed suit. The streamlining of dive certification process was long overdue, but as many point out... at what cost?
I make a standard offer: Pay for a week of diving, plus an extra $1000 and I will guarantee that you will snorkel with Whale Sharks. Money back guarantee.
But no-one takes me up on it. Get past the laugh of it, and think about the logic. Most everyone knows that seeing a holy grail is a matter of doing a lot of diving, either that or you pay for the Canned Shark Rodeo.
StingRay City (Cayman) is brilliant. It's shallow, accessible via pontoon boats, hard to get hurt, easy to charge big money for. It is the perfect circus dive. Everybody wants one. Thus, the Roatan Cara-a-Cara Shark Dive. It got so popular that even DM's went all Thunderball on each other when competition bumped into each other.
My wife had seen some fleeting glimpses of big Sharks in the wild. Unexpected chance encounters that do indeed make your butt-cheeks squeeze, I'd say a pucker factor of 9.8
She did the Roatan Shark Dive, as a matter of fact, we were two of the first paying customers. She flops in the water, and from the surface, looking 60 feet to the bottom, she saw circling White Tips, obviously conditioned to expect a meal at depth. "Huh", she thought, "Sharks. That's nice." Bored within 5 seconds. "Okay, now what will we see that is interesting?".
Once you have seen one in the wild, whether it's a Shark or Dolphin, being herded into a circle where you can see them congregate, lured by food... well- you get to take a lot of pictures to show back home. Maybe that is your goal.
Most divers are new divers. New divers can't see anything smaller than a Lobster, a Moray, a Channel Crab, or a yellow school bus parked on the reef in 15fsw with its 4-way flashers going. Big and recognizable, especially with names that we know and can pronounce- that's a big draw.
That's why they love wrecks and crave reef architecture shapes.
Some people try to make the comparison to this type of diving versus going to Vegas and hiring "a $150 escort". I think there are substantially better arguments for the latter.
RTB Diver: Me. Now if I was simply diving and one swam by then that would be an exciting dive
Car[-]r[/-]ibbeandiver: Perhaps you should call Dr Schwartzenheimer at 555-555-1234. I believe he will help you fight through these suicidal tendencies.
The difference between actively seeking out such encounters versus the beauty of a chance encounter is lost on many. It is unforgettable when it happens. Like the difference between that previously mentioned "escort" and your high school love.
Roatan's South side has wonders far greater than some hungry Sharks. We spent on entire Shark dive looking away, back at the reef wall- there were two Pipefish right there.
Carnival Ride Experience versus Shark Dive... what is it ?
Warping Animal Behaviors or Observing Animal Behaviors... which one ?
Abusing Critters or Creating Awareness... what does more benefit or damage ?
The Roatan Shark Dive is one of the better such concessions that I have seen. There really is no required skill set to participate, so you will find any number of noobs decrying in grand detail what kind of slap-dash operation that it appeared to them. I lump them into the general category of Canned Shark Rodeos, not intending to be any more derogatory than the equivalent Dolphin Pester.
I have written very descriptive pieces on the actual play-by-play of the dive here on ScubaBoard and elsewhere. Bottom line: if you pay attention and have a modicum of u/w abilities, this will be simple. Did I mention that you should pay attention to the briefings?
In terms of seeing things in the wild, in their own time, that is the crux of the biscuit.
How many posts from noobs have you seen.... "We just got certified and want great diving. Where will we see Whale Sharks?"
In this current 4.0 version of instant gratification, SCUBA has long ago followed suit. The streamlining of dive certification process was long overdue, but as many point out... at what cost?
I make a standard offer: Pay for a week of diving, plus an extra $1000 and I will guarantee that you will snorkel with Whale Sharks. Money back guarantee.
But no-one takes me up on it. Get past the laugh of it, and think about the logic. Most everyone knows that seeing a holy grail is a matter of doing a lot of diving, either that or you pay for the Canned Shark Rodeo.
StingRay City (Cayman) is brilliant. It's shallow, accessible via pontoon boats, hard to get hurt, easy to charge big money for. It is the perfect circus dive. Everybody wants one. Thus, the Roatan Cara-a-Cara Shark Dive. It got so popular that even DM's went all Thunderball on each other when competition bumped into each other.
My wife had seen some fleeting glimpses of big Sharks in the wild. Unexpected chance encounters that do indeed make your butt-cheeks squeeze, I'd say a pucker factor of 9.8
She did the Roatan Shark Dive, as a matter of fact, we were two of the first paying customers. She flops in the water, and from the surface, looking 60 feet to the bottom, she saw circling White Tips, obviously conditioned to expect a meal at depth. "Huh", she thought, "Sharks. That's nice." Bored within 5 seconds. "Okay, now what will we see that is interesting?".
Once you have seen one in the wild, whether it's a Shark or Dolphin, being herded into a circle where you can see them congregate, lured by food... well- you get to take a lot of pictures to show back home. Maybe that is your goal.
Most divers are new divers. New divers can't see anything smaller than a Lobster, a Moray, a Channel Crab, or a yellow school bus parked on the reef in 15fsw with its 4-way flashers going. Big and recognizable, especially with names that we know and can pronounce- that's a big draw.
That's why they love wrecks and crave reef architecture shapes.
Some people try to make the comparison to this type of diving versus going to Vegas and hiring "a $150 escort". I think there are substantially better arguments for the latter.
RTB Diver: Me. Now if I was simply diving and one swam by then that would be an exciting dive
Car[-]r[/-]ibbeandiver: Perhaps you should call Dr Schwartzenheimer at 555-555-1234. I believe he will help you fight through these suicidal tendencies.
The difference between actively seeking out such encounters versus the beauty of a chance encounter is lost on many. It is unforgettable when it happens. Like the difference between that previously mentioned "escort" and your high school love.
Roatan's South side has wonders far greater than some hungry Sharks. We spent on entire Shark dive looking away, back at the reef wall- there were two Pipefish right there.
