Manatee Abuse and Harassment Caught on Tape

[Jim Lapenta]

Called the numbers you posted and left messages with all that answered. Also forwarded video to one of my local lds's.

[Tammie Palmer]

I can be a witness to everything Mark has on tape and more... I live in Crystal River and have lived in the same house for over 18 years and has seen the abuse that American Pro does everyday... I too have photo's to back this up.

Just yesterday I called a complaint in when one of the dive boat operators told one of the other boats to cut the mother and baby manatee off to keep them out of the shallows where they couldn't go.

I called that into the enforcement Captain. Arrival on the scene is always after the fact and they say they need to witness it. Unfortunately.... I see this everyday...sad.

Tammie

[Jim Lapenta]

I hope you are calling the authorities everyday. Only persistence in contacting enforcement officials will get anything done. Could them being so big have anything to do with the inaction on the part of the authorities? Are they paying somebody off? Are there cops, or other officials who are taking these trips? After seeing this stuff perhaps banning manatee snorkeling and swimming is a good idea. If idiots can't behave then you need to take their toys away. Has anyone considered contacting PADI about this as well. Does not do much for project aware does it. They also on the site talk about having their Divemasters take ow certed divers into King's Spring cavern. They even call it an overhead environment but no mention of the dangers, also no real mention of manatees being a federally protected species and not to be harrassed. All they say is you can only touch them with one hand and their own video shows someone stroking one with both! It's also a very tight shot so you don't get the full context of how the video was done, although now we can make a good guess.

[Missdirected]

Sadly this behavior on the part of American Pro is not a one-off lack of judgment, but part of a long term pattern. I had a similar run in with them a couple of years ago. I wrote about it on Wetpixel. The archived thread can be found at Manatee Snorkeling and diving etiquette - Wetpixel :: Underwater Photography Forums

Non-moderator comments: American Pro Dive Center is a member of this board because they already had to come on here and defend themselves in the past.

ScubaBoard - View Profile: American Pro Diving

American Pro Divers? GRRR!

Seems with American Pro we don't just get bad reports we get really bad reports. Here is mine: 12-2 Manatee dive Crystal River and if I remember correctly they were also taking people out, whom had only an OW cert, to The Eagle's Nest

I don't think anyone whose been with the board any length of time would use American Pro.

Ron's ** attitude and/or reported attitude is the same in each of these threads and it seems to be the same with his guides.

I don't usually jump on the band-wagon but this guy and his operation are bottom of the barrel!

[speargirl]

I can be a witness to everything Mark has on tape and more... I live in Crystal River and have lived in the same house for over 18 years and has seen the abuse that American Pro does everyday... I too have photo's to back this up... please email me I have plenty of photo's of American Pro... just yesterday I called a complaint in when one of the dive boat operators told one of the other boats to cut the mother and baby manatee off but stay 100 yards away... I called that into the Captain which he has recorded.... American Pro asking there customers to ask me to take there picture...they rarely have only a few people they always have 10 or more so they can harrass the mantees and hold them while they get there photo's.... I see this everyday...Tammie Palmer

Ms. Palmer,

First and foremost thank you for stepping forward to help. I have a name, address, phone and fax number of who you can send your pictures to.

James Kraus
Refuge Manager
1502 SE Kings Bay Drive
Crystal River, Fl 34429
352-563-2088
Fax: 352-795-7961
chassahowitzka@fws.gov

I am sure everyone on Scubaboard feels the same when I say Thank You for stepping up and willing to help.

[DebbyDiver]

American Pro asking there customers to ask me to take there picture...they rarely have only a few people they always have 10 or more so they can harrass the mantees and hold them while they get there photo's.... I see this everyday...Tammie Palmer

Do I understand this correctly...American Pro Dive's staff actually tell their customers to ask you to take their picture for them??

[Tammie Palmer]

I just wish they would stop running their tours the way they do. Too many people, surrounding, corralling, chasing, holding. It's just too much. Good to see the dive community get involved. Thanks Scubaboard.

[Tammie Palmer]

How do you delete a post you made? I wasn't being constructive...Just frustrated.

[Tammie Palmer]

Mr. Kraus, who is the wildlife refuge manager in Crystal River says is he doesn't have the budget and there is nothing he can do. Maybe we need to go above his head to Atlanta at F&W headquarters. I hope you divers will continue to speak up and put pressure on the shops that behave so poorly. Ok, I'm done. No more posts.

[frogman_5]

I think the only thing worse that the behaviour I saw on this film is the attitude of public officials saying they can't do anything about it! Can't, or just won't?