[Coral-List] Dive marshalls

[Julie Hawkins]

Hi Julian

I snorkelled in such a place in Egypt  a couple of years ago (but
others were diving there). I can't remember the name of the place for
sure but it was something like Turtle Bay and it was reasonably close
to Marsa Elam in Southern Egypt. It was a so called protected area and
you had to pay a very small sum to get to the site. It could have been
as little as 1 Egyptian pound (~ 25 cents). The area of interest to
most people was a seagrass bed which contained several turtles and
there was a guard (or might have been more) in the water trying to
stop people from diving down to hold on to the turtles. Sadly he was
completely unable to manage the appalling behaviour of the many who
were trying (and succeeding) in grabbing these poor turtles.

As an aside when I investigated the reef adjacent to this seagrass
area I found as expected horrific levels of coral damage near to the
edges. However on venturing just a few a bit further away the damage
swiftly disappeared and I encountered some of the most spectacular
shallow water reef I have ever seen in the Red Sea. It revealed all
you need to know about the damage that divers and snorkellors can do.

Cheers

Julie

On 25 January 2013 05:28, Julian @ Reef Check <julian at reefcheck.org.my> wrote:
> Esteemed colleagues
>
> I acknowledge that this is not a scientific coral enquiry, but I think list
> readers probably cover most diving locations around the world, so can
> perhaps help.
>
> I am doing some research on the issue of dive site management. Does anyone
> know of any MPA that is a popular dive site at which the management regime
> includes dive marshals whose role it is to follow dive groups and monitor
> their activities, and who have the authority to insist divers leave the
> water for not "obeying" site rules (eg., touching coral reef with fins or
> fingers, interfering with marine life)?
>
> Any information gratefully received.
>
> Regards
>
> Julian Hyde
> General Manager
> Reef Check Malaysia Bhd
> 03 2161 5948
> www.reefcheck.org.my
> Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/rcmalaysia
>
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> generations can no longer be taken for granted."
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-- 
Dr Julie Hawkins
Lecturer in Marine Environmental Management
Environment Department
University of York
York YO10 5DD
United Kingdom
Tel +44 (0)1904 324 073