Welcome to ScubaBoard, the world's largest scuba diving community. Registration is not required to read the forums, but we encourage you to join. Joining has its benefits and enables you to participate in the discussions.
Benefits of registering include
I expect something in Wicked Local also soon.Thank you Mike for representing the Cape Ann scuba diving community, members new and existing, in the local press. Until now I believe the local press has been largely one sided in its reporting of the public beach access issue, it was nice to see the Gloucester Times to provide some coverage from the scuba divers point of view. Was anything you said taken out of context, or any salient points you mentioned omitted in the article?
No - I don't think anything was taken out of context or misrepresented. I don't think I actually said "witch hunt" but that was the sentiment. The reporter did his homework and got info from the DPW and Police. He tried to get info from the chief complainant who didn't reply. The only thing missed was at the end - he asked what I was hoping the town would do. I replied 1) clarify the rules - what constitutes commercial activity, what constitutes a group, and what is the rationale for granting or withholding a permit? 2) make it known that the town understands and is in compliance with state law regarding beach access for divers, and 3) apply the permit process universally and consistently - not selectively to divers.Thank you Mike for representing the Cape Ann scuba diving community, members new and existing, in the local press. Until now I believe the local press has been largely one sided in its reporting of the public beach access issue, it was nice to see the Gloucester Times to provide some coverage from the scuba divers point of view. Was anything you said taken out of context, or any salient points you mentioned omitted in the article?
as do we all - but we still all hear the complaints: the divers are raiding lobster traps, they are urinating in the bushes, they are hoarding the parking spaces, they are not residents or shoppers, they show up in groups of 50, they are loud, they are "undressing" in public.This has been an ongoing issue. I just make sure to leave the site and ocean cleaner than I found it.
agree with you 100%. I make sure to always promote "people live here - show them respect"Unfortunately, I think that this may be a case where a few bad apples ruin it for the majority. I have been diving Rockport beaches (and teaching classes there) for several years, and I have some sympathy with the residents as I have witnessed some (often unintentional) behavior that I would consider annoying if I lived in one of the homes on the beach front at Back Beach. This can be anything from divers arriving at 6:00 or 7:00 am and shouting back and forth while getting dressed to divers blasting air from cylinders to dry dust caps or test regulators. I believe that there is room for all to co-exist and we, the diving community, must also be diligent to maintain and promote respect for the community we dive in as well as the ocean that we dive in.