Scuba diver impact on coral reefs - Fins, knees and gauges

[Stephan]

Hi there folks,

I would like to inform you that we have created a blog & podcast (audiofiles and videofiles) with weekly topics about marine life and best diving practices.

Last entry for best diving practices was a discussion of a scientific paper about diver impact on coral reefs - and we dicussed impacts of fins, knees and gauges. This blog and podcast (audiofile) can be found at the following address:
http://blog.beautifuloceans.com/?p=49

This weekend, I will be discussing diver impact of photographers - hold your breath, as I think it will stir quite some controversy... please dont blame me (but rather the scientific study). I am really looking forward to this discussion...


I hope you find it interesting - we welcome all comments to improve our weekly postings,

Thank you, Stephan

PS: I was planning to maybe post the titles of new 'best diving practices' additions here in the Basic Scuba Discussion forum - would you find this useful?

 

[H2Andy]

well... pollution, over-fishing, and global warming will probably kill every reef
in the world in the next 20 years

so...

sorry to be such a downer

 

[1_T_Submariner]

Unless we are headed for an Ice age as was predicted in the 70's....

 

[H2Andy]

well, then the coral will freeze to death

either way, the days of coral reef tours are quickly coming to an end

(theoretically, in a few hundred thousand years they may grow elswehere,
but i don't think my DAN insurace will last that long)

 

[fishb0y]

Please... I'm not saying that reefs are healthy, but they are stronger than you give them credit to be. I am not disagreeing that pollution, over-fishing, and global warming are causing HUGE amounts of damage. I believe that if the actions of people do not change (and I think they are), the health of the reefs will be drastically affected, but not to the point where they are all extinct. For example, the State of Hawaii with our Governor, Linda Lingle is well on the way to creating the largest marine preservation area.

As far as the impact of divers, what negative (if any) impact that a diver unintentionally causes, is more than erased from positive interaction of divers and the Ocean. I believe that divers, much like hunters, are some of the greatest conservationists.

 

[H2Andy]

but they are stronger than you give them credit to be.

i sure hope so

this is one of those thigns i want to be wrong about. like the time i knew
my mother had seen my porn mag when i was 15.

(she didn't see it... no way.... of course not)

 

[Diver Dennis]

Good point fish. Ducks Unlimited has been a huge force in protecting marshlands here in Saskatchewan as well as many other places. I too hope that Andy is wrong but I fear he might be right... as usual.

 

[H2Andy]

dang, i should print Dennis' post and show it to my wife

 

[Kim]

Sorry guys....a couple of posts have gone or were edited. Keep political references out of it please.

 

[Cacia]

Please... I'm not saying that reefs are healthy, but they are stronger than you give them credit to be. I am not disagreeing that pollution, over-fishing, and global warming are causing HUGE amounts of damage. I believe that if the actions of people do not change (and I think they are), the health of the reefs will be drastically affected, but not to the point where they are all extinct. For example, the State of Hawaii with our Governor, Linda Lingle is well on the way to creating the largest marine preservation area.

As far as the impact of divers, what negative (if any) impact that a diver unintentionally causes, is more than erased from positive interaction of divers and the Ocean. I believe that divers, much like hunters, are some of the greatest conservationists.

ditto. yay _____________. she is great. sorry, did not see it Kim. (gee really, even in the context of marine conservation? ...) I suppose we could say "we, in the great state of Hawaii have a governor who will declare a huge area of the Northwest Hawaiian Islands the largest marine santuary in the world"? That is okay, right?