Red Sea diving

Hi all

Firstly, I would like to share some photos from my recent trip to the Red Sea. All comments welcome. Red Sea photos

Secondly I would like to share some comments from my trip. I welcome your responses here too.

I had a fantastic diving trip to the Red Sea. The reefs were stunning, but I was saddened by the amount of diver damage. During my trip I saw lots of reef touching, kicking and hanging-on by 'experienced' and novice divers. It seemed as if the DM's were not explaining to their dive groups that corals are fragile and take years to regenerate broken pieces. Or if they were, the divers did not care whether they broke the corals or not. No one is perfect and we have all accidentally broken coral at some point in time. Scuba diving is classified as non-extractive. But it is really? If we want to dive on undamaged reefs, it is up to each of us to ensure that our sport (and livelihood for many) remains as non intrusive and non destructive as possible.

My two cents worth

Puffin

Thanks for posting.

You have lovely colours and compositions in your gallery: what camera are you using?

I have noticed that a few Red Sea guides are less active in "policing" the reef than some of their guests!. I also found that, in currents, I sometimes touched the reef with my fins, and invested in a shorter pair; so I would say that divers should never get complacent about their skills in moving around the reef!

Tim

Love the juvenille clownfish - he looks so cute just peeping out!

Some great pictures-I also like the clownfish one.

I think you are right about a too relaxed attitude towards diver damage on reefs-but am not sure this is a uniquely Red Sea phenomena. The diving industry as a whole has had a poor record in making divers aware of their environmental responsibilities. While individual organisations, instructors and dive guides may emphasise responsible behaviours, there does seem to be a reality gap between that and what divers are actually doing underwater. I think the only way to help bridge this gap is for every diver to take action when they see poor practices!

All the best

Adam

Lovely photos and great lighting!

In the red sea I have seen diveinstructors pick up cucumbers and urchins to exhibit them to divers. What a role model - uhh?! Touch everything that wont kill you?!

But allso I have met some very good diveguides, who are interested of protecting the marine life and respecting the privacy of living things in the sea.

Cant say is it only a problem in the red sea... hard to belive it tough.

Cheers

Karel

I had a fantastic diving trip to the Red Sea. The reefs were stunning, but I was saddened by the amount of diver damage. During my trip I saw lots of reef touching, kicking and hanging-on by 'experienced' and novice divers. It seemed as if the DM's were not explaining to their dive groups that corals are fragile and take years to regenerate broken pieces. Or if they were, the divers did not care whether they broke the corals or not.

Puffin

I recently returned from Fiji where I had some long forgotten lessons.

As a child, in the Bahamas, I knew nothing of diving etiquette. There were few people that visited the remote spot, and we knew no better.

Later I learned what "not knowing" or "not caring" could do to reefs. So I became a "more caring" and "better" diver.

Then I went to Fiji and dived for the first time in over 10 years, with a new camera housing. It was about the camera and the image and nothing else.

Then one night at dinner an Aussie, now living in London, was telling me about the amazing diving in Dahab on the Red Sea. He was explaining about how pristine the reefs were and why. "One fin strike and your out." I'm like what, I thought? Then I bowed my head as "I heard" the message. He was not judgemental in his delivery, just informative.

I had forgotten about being a good diver.

So talking about these things, and posting about these things ... does help.

Information is great, even if painful at times.

Thanks,

Hi All

Thanks for the comments on my photos and the diver damage. Yup, it is not just a Red Sea problem. It just gets my goat because so many divers just focus on the fish and ignore how important corals are. What they don't realise is that if the corals get damaged, the pretty reef fish will have no habitat and they will also disappear.

Any way, glad to see that there are some conscientious divers out there.

Tim, I am using a Nikon D50. Its getting a bit old, but buying a new rig is so darn expensive. I am saving though so maybe one day....I will the lottery!!

Stunning shot of the sunset.

... buying a new rig is so darn expensive...

Too **** right!

psssst... wanna buy a D200 so that I can upgrade?

Tim

Yeah, sadly it's not just the Red Sea. We see the same thing here in Lembeh - and even amongst divers who swear during the dive briefing, that they would never dream of touching the corals. And I'm sure they mean it. But once they have that camera system in their hand and the pygmy seahorse is in sight, watch that fan coral get smashed. I often speak to divers afterwards and (reasonably) gently remind them. They are usually indignant, in denial or, rarely, apologetic. Our dive guides too are briefed to gently tap the divers hand - and wave to stop holding on or damaging corals with their equipment.

What a dilemma: we want the business of course, we don't want to annoy the guest unnecessarily but we don't want the corals damaged. The more people who see beautiful underwater photographs, the more chance there is of the world recognising the value and perhaps preserving what remains. So whilst having more people seeing the underwater world might help save it, at the same time, it sure causes an awful lot of damage and destroys all we wish to preserve.

Constant reminders not to touch the corals and active involvement in high profile reef protection programs all help. But there sure is no easy solution to this issue.

I think the problem ly in that as soon as a camera is in hand all the focus goes into getting pictures and no or little effort/training goes into becoming a better diver.

Having good bouancy I believe is only a small part of the skill needed to move around and photograph uw.

I see so few people learning fining techniques such as frog kicks, helicopter turns and backward frog kick. Adding these to your available mentohds of moving uw will greatly reduce the need to touch.

Continued self training/development should be part of what is taught to new divers.

Would love to take your D200 off your hands Tim. You serious about selling?

TimG, you are right about people getting indignant. I try to tell people underwater to watch their fins and the death looks I get back would make any whip coral wilt. When I was on the liveaboard in the Red Sea, my husband was constantly telling me to be careful because the other divers didn't appreciate me pointing out their bad diving habits. I think it boils down to respect for your environment. I am sorry to hear about the guests in Lembeh. Wouldn't it be great if resorts/liveaboards could have a strike out system like in soccer. Damage the reef 3 times and you are out. Yes, I know, a bit extreme . Back to the drawing board.