Hassling the Fish

[uncfnp]

I have read some posts from people lamenting that there are not as many fish around on the reefs as there used to be.

I am a new diver but some examples of what I have seen are:

-in Thailand a sea turtle was lying on the bottom. There was 2 buddys diving and one had a video camera. One diver dove down and hassled the turtle from behind causing it to swim away so the other guy could get a good video shot.
-in Thailand there was a couple of cuttle fish lying on the bottom--they looked like rocks. A couple of divers with cameras got real close causing the cuttle fish to move away.
-in Mexico a stingray was lying on the bottom partially covered in sand. The DM swam up to it and touched one wing causing it to swim away.
-in Mexico the DM scooped up this fish that puffed up like a ball and started playing catch with it.
-in Mexico an eel had his head sticking out of his hole and the DM flapped his fin close to its mouth causing it to swim out and try to bite the fin.

I am not a marine biologist but I think its only common sense that if day in and day out the fish are hassled they are going to get stressed out and leave the reef.
Is there not some kind of ettiquette about not hassling the fish?

So I suppose that spear fishermen are the devil incarnate and let's not even discuss catching lobsters...

I find it funny that I had this stereotype of divers being soft spoken, educated, scientific minded, sensitive souls in awe of the wonders of the ocean. I guess I got that from watching Discovery Channel. Coming on this board has blown that stereotype right out the window. I am amazed at how many rednecks there are that dive. I woulda thought divers were Democrats all the way--but nope, most are hardcore Republicans--maybe even Libertarians.

I find it funny that you are so discerning in your observations..

 

[dmoore19]

Maybe you should start a thread in the Pub where you will find things are even more different than you think. Equating divers with a specific political party is laughable.

I find it funny that I had this stereotype of divers being soft spoken, educated, scientific minded, sensitive souls in awe of the wonders of the ocean. I guess I got that from watching Discovery Channel. Coming on this board has blown that stereotype right out the window. I am amazed at how many rednecks there are that dive. I woulda thought divers were Democrats all the way--but nope, most are hardcore Republicans--maybe even Libertarians.

 

[chillyinCanada]

Where is this Pub? I've been invited before but can't seem to find the door.

 

[redacted]

In the Forums: http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/pub/

 

[dmoore19]

Canadians are welcome in the Pub, most of the time.

Where is this Pub? I've been invited before but can't seem to find the door.

 

[Allison Finch]

Enter the pub at your own risk. This statement could describe it....

Abandon hope, all ye who enter there.......

 

[dmoore19]

Enter the pub at your own risk. This statement could describe it....

Abandon hope, all ye who enter there.......

A little friendly debate never hurt anything.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

... The Pub is a place for people who enjoy lively exchanges and who don't take themselves too seriously ... it can get a little rough at times ... but for the most part we all like each other ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[dmoore19]

Not much different than in other forums except the subject matter varies greatly.

... The Pub is a place for people who enjoy lively exchanges and who don't take themselves too seriously ... it can get a little rough at times ... but for the most part we all like each other ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[261311]

I think the idea of finding balance is never a bad thing. Just because we dive doesn't mean we have to destroy the things we see, and just because we ride a plane to get somewhere or use any other sort of inefficient transportation doesn't mean we can't be environmentally minded. Some of us weren't born engineers able to fix all the issues in the world but we can make an impact on a small scale by changing our own behaviour. Environmentalism isn't a switch you turn on or off, you don't need to live in the woods and eat moss to be earth-minded and respect the other life on the planet.