Why "No Glove" areas?

[medcop]

I was reading other posts and some members mentioned about "No Glove" areas. (They mentioned Mexico by name)

Why would an area be a "no glove" area?

Thanks

 

[Damselfish]

The theory is that people are less likely to touch (and damage) stuff if they're not wearing gloves.

 

[Tassie_Rohan]

Teach new divers what fire coral is and, at the same time, reinforce that it is not a good idea to touch everything on the reef: for the sake of both the coral and the diver.

 

[DandyDon]

Carry your gloves in your pocket and don them on safety stop so you'll be protected on the ladder.

 

[Jeff Toorish]

To me, NO GLOVES rules signify that many divers are, to put it bluntly, not proficient. Either they are lacking in bouyancy control; or they don't understand ecological considerations; or poehaps they are not very well versed in safety issues.

There aer NO GLOVES laws in some countries and NO GLOVES rules at some dive sites. They are designed to discourage divers from touching fragile reefs and other marine life.

In point of fact, the rules probably do prevent damage to reefs. But there is a dark side for divers in all this. These rules also put divers at peril. Gloves are part of our overall barrier. Rules that require us to disregard an important piece of safety equipment becuse some divers do not understand that coral is fragile are focused on the wrong problem.

For me, I always have my gloves. I may not wear them when I exit the boat, but you can bet they are on before I don't hit the bottom.

Jeff

 

[medcop]

Thanks for the replies....being a new diver I still have alot to learn.

 

[Nut Bubblefish]

Gloves are part of our overall barrier. Rules that require us to disregard an important piece of safety equipment becuse some divers do not understand that coral is fragile are focused on the wrong problem.

For me, I always have my gloves. I may not wear them when I exit the boat, but you can bet they are on before I don't hit the bottom.

Jeff

I agree with jtoorish. Gloves is a protection, and I do not agree to leave it. I also tend to think that when you have gloves, you will not touch animals, because you will feel nothing.

Rather than creating " no gloves" policy, which do not prevent some divers to touch anyway, dive centers should reinforce education on the topic, and include it in every pre-dive briefing.
Why not creating an underwater sign for " Don't touch?"

 

[DandyDon]

It's a park regulation in Cozumel, not a dive center option. So I carry them and don them on safety stop.

 

[MarkUK]

In cold waters, like here in the UK, yes, I agree, 3mm or 5mm neoprene gloves are an important part of my exposure protection, but why do some of you guys see them as an important part of your kit in warm waters?

It isn't exposure protection, because your hands aren't going to get cold (unless you have some medical condition, etc, there are always going to be exceptions to the rule), and if you have good buoyancy control, you aren't going to be touching the bottom, so you don't need to protect your hands from stings, cuts, etc.

And why would you need gloves on to climb the ladder on a dive boat? If you screw up and put your fingers where they are going to get trapped, neoprene gloves or any other type of glove, for that matter, aren't going to prevent your fingers getting damaged.

In my experience, the vast majority of the people I see wearing gloves in warm water are touching stuff, be it coral or marine life. I agree that boat briefings should stress don't touch anything, but if people didn't have gloves and went and touched the fire coral/stonefish/cone shell anyway, they wouldn't want to do it again...

Mark

 

[String]

In the UK i will never dive without 5mm gloves for exposure protection. However even in warm climates (such as where i am now) i ALWAYS wear gloves to protect against cuts and so on. Ive had plenty of cuts from boat ladders and other bits of equipment and before now have been stung by jellyfish on the hands leading to swelling and infection. Ive yet to see a "no glove" area and until i do i class gloves as important to my own safety and well-being.