Divers damaging the reef

Hi all,

I know that this subject must have been discussed in wetpixel before, but I thought I would bring it up again. I think this is especially important for those that are new to scuba diving and underwater photography, and with the increased popularity of compact digital cameras, I think this problem is getting worse than ever.

So, here it is, for the first time a scientific study was carried out aiming to quantify diver damage to a reef, and their findings were that divers carrying cameras were 4 times more likely to cause damage than non-photographers. I like their sugestions for improving diver behavior, and I was surprised to read that pre-dive briefings had no effect on behavior. FYI, here is the abstract of the article, I can send a PDF for those interested:

Scuba diver behaviour and the management of diving impacts on coral reefs

Nola H. L. Barker and Callum M. Roberts

Environment Department, University of York, Heslington, York YO10 5DD, UK

Abstract

Coral reefs worldwide are attracting increasing numbers of scuba divers, leading to growing concern about damage. There is now a need to manage diver behaviour closely, especially as many dive companies offer unlimited, unsupervised day and night diving from shore. We observed 353 divers in St. Lucia and noted all their contacts with the reef during entire dives to quantify rates of damage and seek ways of reducing it. Divers using a camera caused significantly more contacts with the reef than did those without cameras (mean 0.4 versus 0.1 contacts min−1), as did shore versus boat dives (mean 0.5 versus 0.2 contacts min−1) and night versus day dives (mean 1.0 versus 0.4 contacts min−1). We tested the effect of a one-sentence inclusion in a regular dive briefing given by local staff that asked divers to avoid touching the reef. We also examined the effect of dive leader intervention on rates of diver contact with the reef. Briefing alone had no effect on diver contact rates, or on the probability of a diver breaking living substrate. However, dive leader intervention when a diver was seen to touch the reef reduced mean contact rates from 0.3 to 0.1 contacts min−1 for both shore and boat dives, and from 0.2 to 0.1 contacts min−1 for boat dives. Given that briefings alone are insufficient to reduce diver damage, we suggest that divers need close supervision, and that dive leaders must manage diver behaviour in situ.

Sorry Luiz, old news. I think it was already discussed on the forum, but my search functions are failing me right now. I think that the general consesus was that it was the 'happy-snappy-point-and-shoot' newbies that were causing the majority of the destruction.

Ah, found it: http://wetpixel.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=6295&hl=

~Matt Segal

Luiz

I can only tell you what I have see in ReD SEA this year. Normaly I am freediving so there is no reef most off the time there but tihsi year I was done my PADI Adv. open Water in Dahab Red Sea and what I have see ist more a less "ELEPHANTS IN A GLASSHOUSE"

Many new fotografers with compact cameras hountig fishes try to hold on corals.

One think I will not forget. It was a ISLANDS out of Dahab. I was freediving and there was a big Lionfish hiding in some Corals

In about 30 minutes 5-7 Divers try to photograf the Lionfish and becauce it was depp in some corals and there was sallow water every time they come near to the Lionfish they have break some korals with the fins.

It is realy that bad and I offen think that I do great if I dont come to near to the reefs.

In Greece they are spearfishers and in the old days Dynamit that destroy the reefs. In Red Sea Scuba divers (Most off them beginners).

What I think is done wrong is education. If you make you PADI there must be some lessons about the Sea Reffs corals etc.. How long its take to build up how sensitiv this sytem is and how importand it is

Lambis

Sorry Luiz, old news. I think it was already discussed on the forum, but my search functions are failing me right now. I think that the general consesus was that it was the 'happy-snappy-point-and-shoot' newbies that were causing the majority of the destruction.

 

Ah, found it: http://wetpixel.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=6295&hl=

 

~Matt Segal

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Dang it! I knew it! My search wasn't working either, so I decided to post anyways. This always happens when I don't search before posting.

Luiz

What I think is done wrong is education. If you make you PADI there must be some lessons about the Sea Reffs corals etc.. How long its take to build up how sensitiv this sytem is and how importand it is

Hello,

SSI has one of the chapters in the book about marine life and preservation.

I think it is a good idea too to teach the new divers about how slow the coral grows and how to preserve it.

Vlad

I hate to sy that it isn't the happy-snappy shooters alone. I have witnessed a deplorable lack of awareness in very fine photographers too. The picture is worth more than the threat of losing the pic by fussing with your bouyancy, so grab or wedge yourself for the shot.

I hate to say I've seen it again and again.

I really try to value bouyancy over the picture, but I know we get so absorbed that we are probably hitting things and don't even know it. Luckily, no one has shaken their fist at me.....yet.

"Given that briefings alone are insufficient to reduce diver damage, we suggest that divers need close supervision, and that dive leaders must manage diver behaviour in situ. "

I just hope those companies adopting the recommendation advertise their adoptance. Then I can dive with their rivals.

1) a totaly agree that there is a lot of damage done by divers and especially by new divers with cameras. on the otherside i also have seen a lot of "old school" Pros and Semi-Pros that don't care about the reef as long they get the ir shot. they are much worse because the do the damage knowingly.

2) When i remeber the discussion right one main problem of the study was that they was any kind of contact the same. a well placed finger or a careful kneewing on sand counted the same a holding on life coral or fin kick into the reef.

Simon