Riding marine life

[fresh_fish]

If anyone has had an aquarium, you'll know about the stress coat. It's a thin layer that marine animals have on them that protects them from the environment and some toxins that it may come across. I doubt that brushing the fin of a turtle is going to put him in harms way, as it's likely only a small hole in it's defense system. If you grab him by the shell, that's at least 2 gaping holes where it's vulnerable. Not to mention how many other divers may have done that in the past couple days.

Think of rain on a roof with a small hole or 2 big ones. You can put a bucket under the small one, but the big ones will leave you soaking!

I'm all for letting them approach you, as they are obviously not stressed by your presence. If you approach them, however, you never know what damage you could be causing even weeks or months down the road.

 

[ZenDiver.3D]

While I teach my students to look with their eyes, not their hands, I still pick up the sea urchins and set them on my hand so they can see how the things attach to stuff.

I did ride a whale shark. Not on purpose. I was above him and he just rose up under me. I found myself laying on his back. I did not grip him and he stayed there for a few minutes. When he descended a little, he dropped away and I didn't go after him. He still stayed around us for another half hour or so. We named him Steve..... He really liked brushing up against us, because that would knock the remoras off of him. He stayed by me, and rubbed his face against me so I would wipe my hand along the bottom of his chin and knock them loose. I would move away and he would follow. I loved this. So touch, yes I have, initiated? No, not so much.
Honestly, it was the most amazing experience of my life. I can't say I didn't enjoy it, because it was unbelievable. Would I chase one to ride? No. But, wow, it was incredible.

 

[Soakedlontra]

I don't think that grabbing turtle hurts it. but it prob does stress it out.

The reason it swims when you grab it is that it's trying to get away. It also could make turtles afraid of divers or cause one to get aggressive and bite a diver, which would then give the turtles a bad name for biting tourists.


However, on the flip side, no one seems to get upset if someone pics up a crab or pushes a jellyfish out of the way. Why? they aren't loveable like dolphins, turtles, etc. go figure.




You're telling me! this Dolphin wasn't distressed at all.

I tell you, this is the last time I volunteer at Sea World for the Dolphin "Interaction" :shocked2:

The video that you posted make me feel sick! I am glad that you have decided to quit volunteering at Sea World. I wish that people would stop going to those kind of marine circuses and make them bankrupt!

 

[Soakedlontra]

It would be my guess that a sea turtle or dolphin or whale shark, interacting once with humans and being touched or ridden, might be lightly stressed but would quickly recover. If any encounter with a potential predator were so stressful that an organism couldn't survive it, not much in the sea would live very long!

It may be the case, but still I don't think it is a good idea to 'endorse' these kind of interactions with marine animals even if you are diving alone in a remote corner of the planet never touched by other divers.

I just want folks to reflect on this. We think of these animals as cute and lovable as our pets. They are not pets but wild animals and we project our desire to make them into pets onto them. They did not ask for it!

I take pictures and videos underwater and I must say sometimes the temptation to let the arm of an octopus grab my camera so I can shoot a cool video is very strong etc...but I haven't let that to happen so far.

 

[The Chairman]

I take pictures and videos underwater and I must say sometimes the temptation to let the arm of an octopus grab my camera so I can shoot a cool video is very strong etc...but I haven't let that to happen so far.

I vividly remember playing with an octopus in a port hole on the Spiegel Grove while it was still on it's side! It reached out to me, and I enjoyed it figuring me out for a half hour or so.

 

[Mikemccrsa]

The video that you posted make me feel sick! I am glad that you have decided to quit volunteering at Sea World. I wish that people would stop going to those kind of marine circuses and make them bankrupt!

Easy, easy tiger. Lets not forget this is a forum and not a boxing ring

 

[BDSC]

Of course I would see absolutely nothing wrong with riding a Mermaid.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

It may be the case, but still I don't think it is a good idea to 'endorse' these kind of interactions with marine animals even if you are diving alone in a remote corner of the planet never touched by other divers.

I just want folks to reflect on this. We think of these animals as cute and lovable as our pets. They are not pets but wild animals and we project our desire to make them into pets onto them. They did not ask for it!

I take pictures and videos underwater and I must say sometimes the temptation to let the arm of an octopus grab my camera so I can shoot a cool video is very strong etc...but I haven't let that to happen so far.

Sometimes what you "let" happen has nothing to do with it. You dive Keystone a lot ... betchya there's still a camera or two in that old octopus den under the rocks at about 40 feet. The former owners of that gear didn't "let" the octopus grab their camera ... but since they eventually had to come up, they did have to "let" the octo keep it ... :depressed:

These animals have a mind of their own. No, they're not pets ... nor do I want them to be. But if they don't feel threatened, they are often curious. I see no harm in interaction, as long as it respects the animal's ability to flee if it so chooses. We ... like they ... are a part of this world. Interactions with other inhabitants of our environment are part of life. Besides, if you think we stress 'em out ... think how they feel when approached by a ling cod or other predator ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[khblair]

during a shark feed, i reached out and stroked the side of one. i couldnt help myself. other than that incident i dont touch unless by accident

 

[CriticalMass]

If it has every appearance of an emotional reaction, why would I assume the creature feels nothing just because the creature can't do algebra?

OMG. Simply amazing.