Show some respect... bug hunters at Casino Point

[Blow.Fish]

most of the lobster divers I see about should be called "reef wreckers" as I have seen that repeatedly..also on wrecks...but I made a joking comment that one of these "reef wreckers" airline should be cut from behind, and that was a mistake, cause the whole dive shop (employees included) are lobster hunters, and then they told the reef wrecker that I was referring to what I said, and then he acted like a little bitch, and blew up my phone with tons of texts...what to do..maybe revoke their dive card?.

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[oceaneering98]

most of the lobster divers I see about should be called "reef wreckers" as I have seen that repeatedly..also on wrecks...but I made a joking comment that one of these "reef wreckers" airline should be cut from behind, and that was a mistake, cause the whole dive shop (employees included) are lobster hunters, and then they told the reef wrecker that I was referring to what I said, and then he acted like a little bitch, and blew up my phone with tons of texts...what to do..maybe revoke their dive card?.

Either the Casino is a protected area or it is not. I have not dove there in a long time. If it is not then hunting is one of many legitimate functions of diving. Just because you don't like it doesn't make it wrong. Do not judge lest ye be judged. If poaching is going on then there should be repercussions like loss of C card maybe.

I also understand that other people who live there like the dr. want to keep it pristine so get it protected if it is not.

 

[Leejnd]

Either the Casino is a protected area or it is not. I have not dove there in a long time. If it is not then hunting is one of many legitimate functions of diving. Just because you don't like it doesn't make it wrong. Do not judge lest ye be judged. If poaching is going on then there should be repercussions like loss of C card maybe.

I also understand that other people who live there like the dr. want to keep it pristine so get it protected if it is not.

This is what happens when people who are not from around here, post in a thread about an area they know nothing about, having not read the entire thread.

There are many reasons why many of us who live here, and love the dive park, feel that it IS wrong, if not legally, at least morally. Read the thread to understand why. To turn your words around: just because something is legal, doesn't make it RIGHT.

Btw, poaching does not result in loss of one's dive certification - ANYWHERE. There's no such thing as the scuba police. A c-card simply means that you have received the training to be able to dive, and have passed the tests indicating that you understood the training. It's not a "license" to dive, and not having one does not even mean one CAN'T dive. It probably means one can't rent equipment or get an airfill or go on a dive boat, but there is no law against diving without a C-card.

 

[MooreaMike]

While it is perfectly "legal" for me to break off all of the sponges, sea fans, and soft corals on many of the 'unprotected' dive sites in Fiji, Polynesia, PNG, or several of the other areas I dive, the legality of it doesn't make it right!

 

[divergal80]

Wow, I've been diving the park since 1980 and I've always thought it was protected! And I've told many others that it is, too. Now I understand why it's changed so very much in those years with so much imbalance in the marine life. I'm very surprised it's not sanctioned and I know a lot of other long-time divers are also under that impression - what will it take?! Can we help?!

 

[spoolin01]

I think the irony of this can't be overlooked. MLPAs, opportunism, lack of respect, selfishness over the resource. Gotta love it.

 

[Leejnd]

Wow, I've been diving the park since 1980 and I've always thought it was protected!

You're not the only one. The other day I was at Sport Chalet in Thousand Oaks. They had a flyer for some dive event they were holding at the dive park - in a section that said "Hunting:" it said, "None - no take zone". So even dive ops think it's protected!

We should try to promote that misunderstanding.

 

[oceaneering98]

This is what happens when people who are not from around here, post in a thread about an area they know nothing about, having not read the entire thread.

There are many reasons why many of us who live here, and love the dive park, feel that it IS wrong, if not legally, at least morally. Read the thread to understand why. To turn your words around: just because something is legal, doesn't make it RIGHT.

Btw, poaching does not result in loss of one's dive certification - ANYWHERE. There's no such thing as the scuba police. A c-card simply means that you have received the training to be able to dive, and have passed the tests indicating that you understood the training. It's not a "license" to dive, and not having one does not even mean one CAN'T dive. It probably means one can't rent equipment or get an airfill or go on a dive boat, but there is no law against diving without a C-card.

I have lived in Southern California all my life. Born in the San Fernando valley, lived in Reseda. Just recently moved out of Cali due to economics. I have dove Catalina many times. It is truly a wonderful place and hope that you guys make it protected. But what you think is morally acceptable or not the law is the law and hunting is a valid part of diving so if you don't want it to happen any more like you have made most hunting in California then put it up for a vote! The comment about the c card was to humor the one who made the ridiculous claim.

 

[dpbishop]

Like divergal, I always thought the park was protected. I mean, it's a park, right!!! Here's a suggestion - why not get the City Fathers / Conservancy to post a "Please Don't Take" sign until the MLPA is in place. While not legally binding, it would at least let divers know the local ethos so they're not acting out of ignorance. Put some signs up in the dive shops too.

 

[ChrisM]

OK, count another one as (perhaps naively) thinking the park was protected. Spears aren't allowed there, right? (this is what I recall, haven't been in several years.....)