In fairness, here is a link to another side of the story from someone who was on the boat with the diver. I am posting it as a new thread since the others were locked earlier this afternoon.
Naturally, I find this account very disturbing. I suspect that the real "truth" lies somewhere in between. However, if this latest version is closer to the truth than the other accounts I received, then obviously the DM's behavior is unnacceptable and I will handle it accordingly. I have offered to assist the eye witness in reporting this DM to PADI if she feels that standards were violated and feels this is what she needs to do. I will not stand in her way.
My witnesses maintain that she was not overly aggressive towards him and that she was doing her job as a marine park guide.
Just for the record, this WAS NOT one of my normal DM's, so not to worry.
I have been accused of being on a "seek and destroy" mission. This was/is simply not my objective. My original goal was to identify the diver handling the seahorse and have the dive shop revoke his diving privileges for the trip. Other points of view were not immediately forthcoming until yesterday afternoon, and yet another account was given today. As some have implied, it was never my intention to publish this individuals name, only for him to be aware of the seriousness of his actions, based on the information I had from five accounts of the situation. This is why I went to the DO to find more information, to ID the diver, and to hear his side of the story, and take appropriate action.
Posting this on the boards was a way to bring awareness to the dive community...which it certainly did. Those of you who know me personally, know how extremely passionate I am on the topic of reef preservation. However the way that this situation has escalated, it seems that the initial behavior which instigated the incident was lost and the entire focus now revolves around the DM's "behavior" rather than the diver who was serioulsy violating marine park regulations.
This is the last you will hear from me on this matter. My words and intent have been twisted and taken out of context, and people who do not know me feel they have insight to my objectives and motives. My heart is in the right place, and that's the only thing left I feel can say.
Here is the link from the eye witness on the other boat. The thread was going before this post as well if you want to read the whole thing.
http://dive.scubadiving.com/talk/read.php?1,26689,27028#msg-27028
Naturally, I find this account very disturbing. I suspect that the real "truth" lies somewhere in between. However, if this latest version is closer to the truth than the other accounts I received, then obviously the DM's behavior is unnacceptable and I will handle it accordingly. I have offered to assist the eye witness in reporting this DM to PADI if she feels that standards were violated and feels this is what she needs to do. I will not stand in her way.
My witnesses maintain that she was not overly aggressive towards him and that she was doing her job as a marine park guide.
Just for the record, this WAS NOT one of my normal DM's, so not to worry.
I have been accused of being on a "seek and destroy" mission. This was/is simply not my objective. My original goal was to identify the diver handling the seahorse and have the dive shop revoke his diving privileges for the trip. Other points of view were not immediately forthcoming until yesterday afternoon, and yet another account was given today. As some have implied, it was never my intention to publish this individuals name, only for him to be aware of the seriousness of his actions, based on the information I had from five accounts of the situation. This is why I went to the DO to find more information, to ID the diver, and to hear his side of the story, and take appropriate action.
Posting this on the boards was a way to bring awareness to the dive community...which it certainly did. Those of you who know me personally, know how extremely passionate I am on the topic of reef preservation. However the way that this situation has escalated, it seems that the initial behavior which instigated the incident was lost and the entire focus now revolves around the DM's "behavior" rather than the diver who was serioulsy violating marine park regulations.
This is the last you will hear from me on this matter. My words and intent have been twisted and taken out of context, and people who do not know me feel they have insight to my objectives and motives. My heart is in the right place, and that's the only thing left I feel can say.
Here is the link from the eye witness on the other boat. The thread was going before this post as well if you want to read the whole thing.
http://dive.scubadiving.com/talk/read.php?1,26689,27028#msg-27028
