Lionfish - what dive shops will let you hunt?

[Lorenzoid]

On a recent trip we had one clown on our boat with a lionfish spear who could barely control his position in the water and, we thought, was a danger to the rest of us and to the reef. We stayed well clear of him. The DM later confided that although he saw two lionfish on the dive he didn't point them out to this guy for fear he would damage the reef. People need to have their own **** together before taking up spearfishing (or photography for that matter). Dive ops, for the safety of your customers and the reef, please be judicious about who you let bring aboard pointy objects.

 

[mstevens]

On a recent trip we had one clown on our boat with a lionfish spear

And some clown let him in the water with it, when there is no chance he could use it legally.

The DM should have just said "you can't have that in the water with you", but of course rules only apply to OTHER people and that probably would have jeopardized his tip.

 

[krbailey]

The other problem we are starting to have is aggression with the Morays and nurse sharks because these same people that are not authorized to be spearing are feeding the dead lionfish to the marine life - which is another thing the marine park prohibits. They are technically supposed to be bagged and brought up - alternatively, they can be left where they were killed - but feeding them to the marine life is conditioning them and creating some issues.

Christi - this video was posted in another thread. At the 7:15 mark, the nurse shark is definitely showing aggressive behavior and seems to be focused on the spear tip. At 14:00, the diver is seen feeding a nurse shark & a moray. At 16:00, more uncharacteristic shark behavior as well as inappropriate touching.

Thread: http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/un...665-video-cozumel-mexico-december-2014-a.html

[video=youtube;2pVfXmoKr-E]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pVfXmoKr-E[/video]

Per the OP, the shop was deep exposure dive center. Breaking a lot of rules, I would think.

 

[Zman96]

That video is terrible. I have seen numerous animals acting aggressively due to being fed down there. The groupers and snappers on some sites will follow you like lost puppies.

 

[cnherrick]

...probably would have jeopardized his tip.

You know, I read this type of comment fairly regulary. I have virtually no experience that the DMs are motivated by this.

In fact, just the obvious. I've seen many, many times the DMs on Coz tell bumpy, careless divers "touch nothing!". I've been in Aqua Safari Dive Shop back in the day when Bill owned it and watched as Bill berated a careless diver who was being uncareful after a dive taking care of the equipment.

I'm not saying that there are no DMs who spare the rod for a good tip. I am saying I've never seen it ... and that I therefore dismiss it.

 

[ggunn]

You know, I read this type of comment fairly regulary. I have virtually no experience that the DMs are motivated by this.

In fact, just the obvious. I've seen many, many times the DMs on Coz tell bumpy, careless divers "touch nothing!". I've been in Aqua Safari Dive Shop back in the day when Bill owned it and watched as Bill berated a careless diver who was being uncareful after a dive taking care of the equipment.

I'm not saying that there are no DMs who spare the rod for a good tip. I am saying I've never seen it ... and that I therefore dismiss it.

I don't question that dive ops on Cozumel strive very hard to give their customers a good experience, but like you, I see a lot of comments alleging that DM's are violating the rules just to maximize their tips. I have never seen any evidence of that, either. In fact, I have never had a DM say anything to me about tips. If I am ever on a boat in the park where a "civilian" is carrying a spear and sticking things with it, I will see that the information gets to the right people.

 

[krbailey]

I don't question that dive ops on Cozumel strive very hard to give their customers a good experience, but like you, I see a lot of comments alleging that DM's are violating the rules just to maximize their tips. I have never seen any evidence of that, either. In fact, I have never had a DM say anything to me about tips. If I am ever on a boat in the park where a "civilian" is carrying a spear and sticking things with it, I will see that the information gets to the right people.

Gordon - I think the video I posted is pretty good evidence of rule violation - whether due to tipping or not.. We know that the diver in the video is not the OP (of that thread). So it is either the DM or another diver. They also could be outside the park - no way to tell unless someone spots something familiar. Is diving sidemount common in Cozumel? Or would point to a DM?

 

[Dave Dillehay]

Just for the record, IN the nineties, before the park was formed, it was actually "obligatory" for DMs to feed the groupers and sometimes eels. That was just part of the show and virtually all dive shops did it, and I still have scars on both hands from aggressive groupers (small but hard teeth). I was very glad to see that the Park stopped that since the spotted eels started becoming VERY aggressive. But I do miss the friendly encounters with the groupers who seemed to have personalities and obviously enjoyed interaction with us.

AS for killing lion fish, it was my hope at that we could keep them under control, and we are. MY directive to DMs (for small one)is to would/kill them and let nature take its course where they lay. Feeding larger animals is not part of our program. The larger ones they must bring to me for observation (say ceviche!).


Dave Dillehay
Aldora Divers

Bienvenidos - Aldora Divers | Only the best of Cozumel

 

[cnherrick]

... Is diving sidemount common in Cozumel? ...

Absolutely not common.

---------- Post added March 27th, 2015 at 12:05 PM ----------

... That was just part of the show and virtually all dive shops did it..l

This perfectly encapsulates some of the stuff I love the most about Coz - the willingness to learn, the dedication to the environment, and the smart thinking that will keep Coz one of the best places to dive on planet Earth.

If you're diving Coz and paying attention to the DMs, you're a welcome part of the solution.

Now, if we could just get the dogs neutered and the horses sheltered from the sun and watered on a regular basis, we could change the name of Coz to "Paradise".

 

[mstevens]

You know, I read this type of comment fairly regulary. I have virtually no experience that the DMs are motivated by this.

In fact, just the obvious. I've seen many, many times the DMs on Coz tell bumpy, careless divers "touch nothing!". I've been in Aqua Safari Dive Shop back in the day when Bill owned it and watched as Bill berated a careless diver who was being uncareful after a dive taking care of the equipment.

I'm not saying that there are no DMs who spare the rod for a good tip. I am saying I've never seen it ... and that I therefore dismiss it.

So what do you think does explain the fact that the diver was allowed into the water within the Marine Park carrying a spear?