Politics and Dive Travel

[HBO MD]

Just curious as to whether any of you have crossed a dive destination off your list due to the political situation ? I realize there's a great deal of conflict out there in the world and not trying to make this into a thread of political declarations and indignation, but I imagine that through concern, anxiety or protest some destinations may be problematic. Should we relate to travel as we are here for the diving only ?
I recall recently going through Malaysia where bookshops displayed books about the imminent downfall of the "American Satan", while a friend e-mailed me this from the Maldives papers.

DRP Condemns Opposition Over White Foreigners And Jews In Maldives
3 August 2008

The President's Dhivehi Raiyyithunge Party (DRP) has launched an attack on opposition parties for bringing White foreigners and Jews into the country....

....The three (parties) called upon the people to be extremely cautious of the spread of Judaeo-Christian views, and alleged the Maldives was threatened by international intervention in domestic affairs.

Any thoughts?

 

[seaducer]

Not really. Unless we start seeing tourists kidnapped by terror cells or something then I think the danger is more in our minds than it is reality. Look at how many British citizens post from Middle East countries? If America is the "Great Satan", then the UK is our little brother. Or Daddy, depending on your historical context

I do think that our own government would have us believe it is more dangerous outside the borders than it really is.

 

[OldNSalty]

Well, I'm not catching any boats out of Somalia right now and for political reasons I can't dive off Cuba (unless it is from Gitmo) Other then that, there may be some travel destinations that I am not allowed to go to because Uncle Sam says so but I can't think of any locations that would worry me too much.

 

[Doc]

There are some places in the Caribbean I would think of avoiding long before any far-flung international destination. Fortunately, the true ratholes of the Mar Caribe have equally sucky diving.

Since the Maldives were in the original post, I would add from personal experience that if you travel there to dive, you are not likely to encounter any such hostility in the "high tourism value zones" that you would likely travel through or stay at/with. The airport is a non-issue and the resorts and live abaords are likely filled with vacationing Europeans.

Hard to find many Americans in the Maldives. Go quickly before it gets destroyed

 

[robint]

yes, Red Sea area is off our list currently. A friend was there a few years ago and when he told the DMs he was American it all went south..... :depressed: He was treated very badly, so he complained to the dive op, they moved the DM who was the worst to another boat but it still was uncomfortable. He also said there were lots of guards and machine guns walking around the hotels and it made him feel very unsafe rather than safer. Since we are both former military with TS clearance, I doubt my hubby's current job would let him go there (still working for military though retired).

Other places - we are both a bit nervous about some south pacific locations just because things seem so unstable gov't wise. I don't know if it would make us turn down a great deal on a trip, but for now there are plenty of other places we want to go....

robin

 

[tgsmith]

I'm personally wondering if Iraq has any good dive spots. Hey, I'll be going there anyways so I might as well get a dive in, lol.

 

[Doc]

Red Sea.... A friend was there a few years ago and when he told the DMs he was American it all went south.....He was treated very badly, so he complained to the dive op, they moved the DM who was the worst to another boat but it still was uncomfortable. He also said there were lots of guards and machine guns walking around the hotels and it made him feel very unsafe rather than safer.

I don't guess either of us was there, but I find that a stretch. I look like an American from 300 yards and I have a Jewish heritage last name (and a Christmas tree in the living room ) Never a problem in Egypt~ Sharm at any rate. Money is money, and they all speak capitalist with a distinct Greenback Accent.

Maybe he's the kind of guy who finds those guards with "machine guns" to be disquieting rather than the acceptable norm in some conflicted areas. A lot of tourists to the Middle East, Pacific Rim, Africa or Central America get all keyed-up over that kind of sighting. Americans are simply not used to seeing heavily armed police patrols. Either you accept it as part of the deal or vacation in Cayman.

A higher clearance occupation here is the USA is a non-issue as long as you follow the proper notifications to supervisors prior to a vacation.

 

[TSandM]

I have to admit -- I have a big trip to the Red Sea planned for this fall, and I sure hope things have quieted down there just a little bit before we go. But I'm not ready to cancel the trip yet. It does worry me some.

 

[robint]

I don't guess either of us was there, but I find that a stretch. I look like an American from 300 yards and I have a Jewish heritage last name (and a Christmas tree in the living room ) Never a problem in Egypt~ Sharm at any rate. Money is money, and they all speak capitalist with a distinct Greenback Accent.

Maybe he's the kind of guy who finds those guards with "machine guns" to be disquieting rather than the acceptable norm in some conflicted areas. A lot of tourists to the Middle East, Pacific Rim, Africa or Central America get all keyed-up over that kind of sighting. Americans are simply not used to seeing heavily armed police patrols. Either you accept it as part of the deal or vacation in Cayman.

A higher clearance occupation here is the USA is a non-issue as long as you follow the proper notifications to supervisors prior to a vacation.

Well, you would be wrong about my friend. He was harrassed every second of his trip by the DM regarding politics, not being able to talk to other people on the boat between dives as the DM kept getting in his face and wanting to discuss his views of our gov't. He put up with it for several days before complaining to dive op and as I said, they moved the DM to a different boat. But the other crew members weren't happy about it and made him feel uncomfortable and unwelcome the rest of his 2 week trip. The others in his group were European and not hassled at all. As far as the guards with guns - as I said, he was told they were there to make everyone more safe but he didn't feel safe. His feelings about going in and out of the hotel daily. This guy has been my close friend for 4 yrs, I know him well, he has traveled the world his whole life and is very comfortable with it, and if he was uncomfortable on his trip to Red Sea, I believe him.

As far as higher clearance and giving notification - yes, and no. He must fill out paperwork and be briefed by agents before he goes anywhere on a watch list. He even had to fill out paperwork to get permission to go to Roatan. :shocked2: He would be allowed to go to dive at Red Sea, most likely, but it would be an issue. But I doubt we would go since our friend had such a bad experience. No matter how good the diving is, I wouldn't go somewhere that I was made to feel unwelcome.

robin

 

[Deefstes]

I don't think I'll be diving Zimbabwe any time soon - which is just as well seeing as they don't have a coast line or any significant water bodies.