57 replies to this topic

[Divegirl412]

I do touch critters, sometimes to get a better camera angle, sometimes to elicit behavior to film. However, I only touch critters that (as a marine biologist) I feel fairly certain are tolerant of such contact and not injured by it. Generally I don't touch under other circumstances.

Accented words make my exact point.... Those who truly know versus those who don't.

[Capn Jack]

This is very extreme behaviour....granted I may have considered it ESPECIALLY if this person were part of the SD group but to take this extreme behaviour may have ended up with a cat fight or worse a fist fight with her husband.

It would not have been pretty, but it would not have lasted long - why I carry a big knife - helps make up for shortcomings in my other equipment

[Scubatooth]

It may seem extreme but i have seen dive guides do just that, and in one case turn the person over to the local Dept of natural resources to explain there actions and to pay some stiff fines.

if they want to argue the situation fine but let it be infront of everyone so that everyone can add their .02 cents. personally reefs take centuries to millennium + to build and only takes one tard 2 seconds to destroy, sorry thats just plain wrong as i follow the ideal of "take only photographs, leave only bubbles (or less depending if your on a CCR)". As for a fist fight, my only comment is you had better knock me out in one hit cause after that its all over but the crying. I can certainly take care of my self and do a self patch job.

Edited by Scubatooth, 07 January 2009 - 02:25 PM.

[WreckWench]

This is very extreme behaviour....granted I may have considered it ESPECIALLY if this person were part of the SD group but to take this extreme behaviour may have ended up with a cat fight or worse a fist fight with her husband.

It would not have been pretty, but it would not have lasted long - why I carry a big knife - helps make up for shortcomings in my other equipment

Mark you ain't right!

[WreckWench]

I do touch critters, sometimes to get a better camera angle, sometimes to elicit behavior to film. However, I only touch critters that (as a marine biologist) I feel fairly certain are tolerant of such contact and not injured by it. Generally I don't touch under other circumstances.

Accented words make my exact point.... Those who truly know versus those who don't.

Point well taken!

[Victoria]

You know the thing is that, while I had the most heavenly experience playing with the whaleshark, and might be tempted to caress a dolphin if given the opportunity, I would not ever have even considered touching coral, sponges, nudibranchs or any other reef life.... even in my "really new to diving" phase!

[georoc01]

You know the thing is that, while I had the most heavenly experience playing with the whaleshark, and might be tempted to caress a dolphin if given the opportunity, I would not ever have even considered touching coral, sponges, nudibranchs or any other reef life.... even in my "really new to diving" phase!

Just don't rub the belly of a male dolphin. He may get the wrong idea!

[drbill]

Well, Capn Jack, if you ever get the notion to cut one of my hoses... make sure it is the exhaust hose on my vintage double hose reg.

[Victoria]

You know the thing is that, while I had the most heavenly experience playing with the whaleshark, and might be tempted to caress a dolphin if given the opportunity, I would not ever have even considered touching coral, sponges, nudibranchs or any other reef life.... even in my "really new to diving" phase!

Just don't rub the belly of a male dolphin. He may get the wrong idea!

[WreckWench]

Here is a picture of a DM holding a nurseshark. And this is quite prevelent on several sites on Ambergris Cay in Belize.

[Divegirl412]

Here is a picture of a DM holding a nurseshark. And this is quite prevelent on several sites on Ambergris Cay in Belize.

I saw worse this week while diving Ambergris. In addition, some of the guests at my hotel said while they were snorkeling at the Hol Chan marine preserve, some of the guides caught and carried over a nurse shark to the snorkeling group in the boat.

[georoc01]

Over at Isla Mares just north of Cancun they have a shark exhibit where you can get in and have your picture taken similar to the one above where you hold the shark. That poor animal looked so sad in its pen it just didn't feel right.

[Victoria]

I think we can all agree that created/manipulated conditions as those mentioned immediately above are a substantial crossing of a line which should not be crossed by responsible divers. Certainly a couple of the divers on the Fling took strenuous exception to my having touched and interacted with the whaleshark at the Flower Gardens and, if my behavior actually was unwise, I would seek to understand why so that I can be more conscientious.

If my serendipitous adventure with the whale shark was not a crossing of that line (for I truly don't know), my question of the members here would be this: Where is that line?

To clarify, I'm referring to the interaction with larger life forms. I wouldn't dream of touching, poking, scraping corals, or other life forms that are (at least to me) obviously fragile.

What guidelines would or should be applied? When, if ever, is it acceptable for a recreational diver to interact with a large life form, as I did?

[Capn Jack]

What guidelines would or should be applied? When, if ever, is it acceptable for a recreational diver to interact with a large life form, as I did?

Being simple minded and not fond of guidelines/rules that aren't easy to remember - I prefer never.

[gcbryan]

I think we can all agree that created/manipulated conditions as those mentioned immediately above are a substantial crossing of a line which should not be crossed by responsible divers. Certainly a couple of the divers on the Fling took strenuous exception to my having touched and interacted with the whaleshark at the Flower Gardens and, if my behavior actually was unwise, I would seek to understand why so that I can be more conscientious.

If my serendipitous adventure with the whale shark was not a crossing of that line (for I truly don't know), my question of the members here would be this: Where is that line?

To clarify, I'm referring to the interaction with larger life forms. I wouldn't dream of touching, poking, scraping corals, or other life forms that are (at least to me) obviously fragile.

What guidelines would or should be applied? When, if ever, is it acceptable for a recreational diver to interact with a large life form, as I did?

If they interact with you that's one thing but holding a fin and riding along is crossing that line to me. Touching is actually crossing the line but I'm only talking about what should be done not what I would have done in every case. As a newer diver of course you end up doing a little more touching than after you have been diving for a while. Any interaction changes their behavior.

There are harbor seals that buzz divers at night in the winter at our local dive site. They bump into you. I've sometimes pushed back out of habit. Doing anything to encourage them is not good although nothing a diver does will keep them away since they are using our dive lights to hunt their prey. It's fun the first few times it happens and annoying after that (they silt the place up big time). You could try to "ride" one but that IS crossing the line and could get a future diver bitten.

Edited by gcbryan, 11 January 2009 - 05:34 PM.