Whaleshark sighting near Kittiwake
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EastEndDiver
Contributor
nipi thanks
SAPIUS
Registered
What this group of uninformed divers did is called 'molesting' and simply put is forbidden and shows a total lack of diving ethic. And BIG thumbs down to the dive operator (whose license should be suspended for one year) who not only permitted this ignorant incident, but posted pictures showing how great this whole thing was. Simply dumb...
Here is the Cayman Island Marine Conservation and Marine Parks laws/guidelines>>> http://www.gov.ky/pls/portal/docs/P...ENCIES/ENV/DOCUMENTS/RULESMARINEPARKS2008.PDF
Here is the Cayman Island Marine Conservation and Marine Parks laws/guidelines>>> http://www.gov.ky/pls/portal/docs/P...ENCIES/ENV/DOCUMENTS/RULESMARINEPARKS2008.PDF
I'm inclined to agree. But with such a small diving community here, its hard to make a statement like that without getting a BUNCH of anger. Too tight-knit to concern themselves with the right thing to do - they'd rather tie together as a group in such an attack here... That's why I'm hoping the DOE would do something.
I have dove with SeaSports and am quite concerned with some statements. Jim is qualified and competent. He gives detailed dive briefs and is very specific about the no touching rules. It is unfortunate that there are Yahoo divers that are not so concerned. From watching and observing to "molesting" is only a fin kick away. I am sure that Jim took immediate action when the diver actually got close enough to touch it. In knowing Jim I'm sure there was a very detailed post dive brief in which the divers were again reminded of their duties of conservation.... I know it's easy to go after the operator yet the offending divers could just jump on another boat and do it all over again. And it was not the owner operator that took or posted the offending pictures. These were posted by one of the offending divers. There should be some way to report divers like this to have there C cards revoked directly from the agency.
---------- Post added at 04:22 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:58 PM ----------
Quick update, It seems I was defending someone who needed no defending. Seasports did take pictures. They are posted here https://plus.google.com/photos/1062...222420263832890380/albums/5720943732398607297
There is no "molesting" going on in these pics that were also posted on the local news. The offending part was the minimalist diving "no BC etc." looks like he got to the party late and jumped in to take a few pics......
As to the Twitter post. (which has been deleted)
Cortie Criswell claims to be an scuba instructor on Cayman Islands. Although I have yet to find an affiliation, her name pops up a lot on the Off theWall web site. So yes it was an instuctor who posted it. and no she is not with Seasports.
---------- Post added at 04:22 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:58 PM ----------
Quick update, It seems I was defending someone who needed no defending. Seasports did take pictures. They are posted here https://plus.google.com/photos/1062...222420263832890380/albums/5720943732398607297
There is no "molesting" going on in these pics that were also posted on the local news. The offending part was the minimalist diving "no BC etc." looks like he got to the party late and jumped in to take a few pics......
As to the Twitter post. (which has been deleted)
Cortie Criswell claims to be an scuba instructor on Cayman Islands. Although I have yet to find an affiliation, her name pops up a lot on the Off theWall web site. So yes it was an instuctor who posted it. and no she is not with Seasports.
nfarrar
Contributor
To start I agree with most of the concerns in this post. That being said remember you can catch more fly with honey than vinager. I think it could be solved very easily by a few local dive operation owners calling the offending operation. Maybe a "friendly" call from DOE saying "this is bad and please dont let it happen again". "Its bad for all of the operators on the island". I think that might get further than the jump to suspend licenses or revoke c cards. If that starts this type of action will just become taboo and unspoken. Then offenders will be harder to idenify and correct. Every dive op owner and DM I have run across in GCM understands that the ecosystem there is unique and has to be protected but tourism is what fuels it all The turtle farm for example. Tourist keep the operation open and half of the hatchling are put back into the wild. Im not a fan of randomly starting to make examples of people. Give to Dive ops 1 warning and from there.... Get'em. Has anyone that is so concerned about this called the Dive op just to ask about it? They might have already reprimanded the DM that was in the water.
I'll be diving the Kittiwake in June and maybe I'll be as lucky but i'm not holding my breath. Thats because you should be continously exhaling! lol.
I'll be diving the Kittiwake in June and maybe I'll be as lucky but i'm not holding my breath. Thats because you should be continously exhaling! lol.
Testudo
Contributor
In the eye of the beholder
I only speak from what I hear around the island. And what I've heard is that the man riding the shark is the divemaster.... shame. I so hope this isn't true.
SAPIUS
Registered
I think the photo is damning and certainly shows a diver molesting (e.g. riding/grabbing fin/being pulled along etc) the animal... more than just 'got close enough to touch" Appears SeaSports was there, but not the dive shop with the divers shown in the picture... now appears dive shop responsible is 'unknown'. Looks like Wendy hit the nail on the head about the dive community. This should become the 'poster child' for what NOT to do
Or this one>>
Or this one>>
Last edited:
Sunny2012
Registered
Sapius - I strongly agree, scuba diving is a "no-contact" sport! Poster should include HUGE fines for any violations...
More photos below from a blogger in GCM @ Living in Grand Cayman
[h=1]Living in Grand Cayman[/h]
1 Comment
Last saturday, a group of divers just off Seven Mile Beach had the experience of a lifetime. Unfotunately I was not with them though, so this is all second hand information.
Although they have the name “shark”, they are much more “whale” if you ask me. They eat plankton and are known to be extremely docile. This particular specimen is estimated to be about 35ft long and stayed for a long while with the divers. As you can see the divers in these pictures got very close and seem to even have been able to pet this gentle giant. It must have been quite a sight.
I can only hope to see one someday ; they seem to be quite rare, but I think this is the second time I hear about a sighting off Seven Mile Beach. From what I read, they can live an impressive 70 years! Amazing.
Pics taken from :
Divers have fun with whale shark at Kittiwake site - Cayman 27
More photos below from a blogger in GCM @ Living in Grand Cayman
[h=1]Living in Grand Cayman[/h]
Mon 19 Mar 2012
[h=2]Whale shark[/h]Posted by micho under Living in Cayman1 Comment
Last saturday, a group of divers just off Seven Mile Beach had the experience of a lifetime. Unfotunately I was not with them though, so this is all second hand information.
Although they have the name “shark”, they are much more “whale” if you ask me. They eat plankton and are known to be extremely docile. This particular specimen is estimated to be about 35ft long and stayed for a long while with the divers. As you can see the divers in these pictures got very close and seem to even have been able to pet this gentle giant. It must have been quite a sight.
I can only hope to see one someday ; they seem to be quite rare, but I think this is the second time I hear about a sighting off Seven Mile Beach. From what I read, they can live an impressive 70 years! Amazing.
Pics taken from :
Divers have fun with whale shark at Kittiwake site - Cayman 27
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