Abuse of marine life by Scuba Schools of America.

[tonyc]

What an arrogant response from Rusty Berry.

First, in response to his claim that those of us these boards don't dive and spend our time in the computer going from bulletin board to porn, I have been diving for 42 years now and do about 300-350 dives per year. I don't have time for porn (but would gladly make time for the "real thing").

Personally, I find the practice of killing marine life (sea urchins) to feed fish (garibaldis) very inappropriate. We should not be interefering with marine food chains any more than we already do.

I don't need to "play" with angel sharks or any other marine life for my personal pleasure.

Sounds to me like SSA is an outfit to avoid.

Dr. Bill

Right on Dr. Bill- You rock!

Tony

 

[sapphire]

What an arrogant response from Rusty Berry.

First, in response to his claim that those of us these boards don't dive and spend our time in the computer going from bulletin board to porn, I have been diving for 42 years now and do about 300-350 dives per year. I don't have time for porn (but would gladly make time for the "real thing").

Personally, I find the practice of killing marine life (sea urchins) to feed fish (garibaldis) very inappropriate. We should not be interefering with marine food chains any more than we already do.

Although I stopped hunting bugs, abalone and fish nearly 30 years ago, I do not have a problem with people who hunt strictly for their own personal consumption as long as they follow all rules.

I don't need to "play" with angel sharks or any other marine life for my personal pleasure. As a marine biologist, underwater videographer and educator, I will occasionally handle marine life if it meets a need for educational or research reasons. When I do, I try to minimize any stress and respect the organism. However, I would not "play" with any other marine life unless it initiates the play (as I have experienced with sea lions, Napoleon wrasse and other species).

Sounds to me like SSA is an outfit to avoid.

Dr. Bill

Bill, I could not agree with you more on every point... Rusty has always been like this, though. Our thoughts will not change him.

 

[LioKai]

Good response Dr.Bill.

Rusty's kind of thinking is completely wrong. The question should not be "does playing with the animal hurt the animal??" Rather, the question should be "Does playing with the animal HELP the animal??"
I include a similar phrase in my morning briefing every day before taking people diving.

As for the statment of feeding an urchin to another animal:
You, as the instructor, are setting an example, and handling and feeding is a bad example. Students are learning to dive to experience nature in its purist form. If you alter or create an aquatic feeding behavior this is not nature in its purist form. Perhaps you need to learn to instruct patence in your students so they can watch not only the natural feeding practices of aquatic life, but also the hunting behaviors as well.

 

[LioKai]

http://www.scubaschoolsofamerica.com/

Go to video footage entitled "Angel Sharks of Catalina Island."

If you don't like what you see, SSA's e-mail & phone number are on the home page.

Best regards.

DocVikingo

I called.

 

[DocVikingo]

It's been removed from the website.

Best regards.

DocVikingo

 

[tonyc]

I copied this from another message board...

"Playing with angel sharks doesn't hurt the animals in anyway. I read the posts on your board, and you can post this to your board as well. Whether it's chopping up sea urchins to feed the garibaldi, or doing shark feeds, spearfishing, lobster hunting or playing with angel sharks someone always has a beef with something..."

Rusty Berry, Aquatic Outfitters, Inc.
Scuba Schools of America
Montclair/Woodland Hills"

A hurricane triggered by a butterfly's wings

Tony.

 

[LioKai]

It's been removed from the website.

Best regards.

DocVikingo

Good work Doc.


Now, about those urchins.....
1) If you want to break open an urchin please take your gloves off first.
2) only pet large eels and barracuda, and only on the mouth.

 

[scubaxris]

What an arrogant response from Rusty Berry.

You could say that again!!


"I don't have time for porn (but would gladly make time for the "real thing")."


Stop it your killing me...and missing out on good porn!!!!



"Sounds to me like SSA is an outfit to avoid."

I could not agree more. Rusty is a tool and should not represent ANYTHING to do with the dive industry. I have to admit I have never met, spoken or communicated with him in anyway and can honestly say I have no desire. He should focus on developing his skills (I'm not sure which one he was in the video but they all really sucked as divers IMHO) as well as his students skills.


Dr. Bill

Christopher

PS How ya been Dr. B?

 

[H2Andy]

i only hope that they also stop the behaviour and not just hide it.

LioKai, I once saw a tshirt for DAN that was along those lines... very funny. it said:


Step on the sea urchin
Touch the Fire Coral
Pull the nurse shark's tail

And we thank you for your support.

Divers Assistance Network.

 

[pasley]

http://www.scubaboard.com/t52520.html
A little poll on the subject