The other side's version

[ggunn]

This thread needs to start becoming a little nicer and less argumentative.

Well at least they are beating someone up who is not here.... ;^)

 

[cowdog77]

Some things do agree and on those we can probably all agree:

---The diver touched a seahorse in a Federally protected Marine Park. He admits this. He shouldn't have done this.
---The DM wrote the word "*********" on her slate in anger. She admits this and has said she is ashamed of having done so. She shouldn't have done this.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Pretty well sums it all up....and I don't know the diver, Christy, her DM, her fans, the eyewitness, the seahorse or anyone else on this board!

 

[sharky60]

Version, schmersion...I'm still willing to cut his hose!

 

[sharky60]

I have just read all 3 message .....QUOTE]

Please don't let this one instance jade you from visiting Cozumel, Christi, her DM's and 98% of the dive specialists on the island do a fantatic job. Sure, everyone has a bad day...don't you? A DM once snapped at my wife for breaking the dive plan and going too deep, it really upset her and he later appologized for being harsh, but she had to admit that she was in the wrong and should have been repremanded.

These people are working very hard, everyday to ensure vacationers like us have a good time.
Whoever was in the right or wrong here, this one instance may actually give some people food for thought and make Cozumel even safer for divers and sea life alike.

Come on down and get wet with us, there is no better way to get better with your diving skills than to DIVE! No one will put you down or harass you for being a novice, we were all there at one time.

 

[Panchita]

I have just read all 3 message boards about this situation and it scares me. My family and I are new divers and were considering a trip to Cozumel. We were trained by a retired commercial diver who is a NAUI instructor, and felt confident in our training. However, after reading all Christi's messages along with opinions from others, I am very afraid. I am afraid to make a mistake (unintentional) and be physically repremanded under water and in the international forum. My bouancy control is still lacking, and I have been told it takes practice (many dives). I am afraid of people like Christi and her DM who seem to believe that it is OK to handle themselves unprofessionally, without self control, tempermental and are inconsiderate of the people who pay them. How do new divers protect themselves from people like this in the diving world? We did not learn about being physically acosted under water by dive professionals and what to do about it. If I were the diver, it would of frightened me so bad, that I might of lost focus and shot to the top! What is a new diver to do?

First of all, this is a subject that many are pasionate about - conservation and diving go hand in hand for a lot of divers, and to see people blatently flaunting the rules and handling the marine life is ignorant and selfish on their part and frustrating for the rest of us. If you look back at reviews of Christi's service and that of her shop, you'll find that she gets very high marks for safety and service from new divers and seasoned ones alike. Christi cares deeply about the marine environment - it is her livelihood and her passion. For what it's worth, Christi certified me some years ago and yes, I had to learn to control buoyancy and navigate the currents without running into things - I had a dread fear of damaging everything I came within ten feet of! I learned, and I couldn't have had better instructors than the team at Blue XTSea - that they care so much only increases their esteem in my eyes - I'd rather dive with someone who slapped my hand for putting a delicate creature at risk than someone who thinks it's cool to handle it for the delight of the tourists. Relax - unless you plan on breaking the well-publicized rules and being boorish about it, you should be okay.