[Coral-List] Diver distance from Reef

Helder Perez helder.perez at gmail.com
Thu Aug 1 14:12:41 EDT 2013


Hello,

One thing that divers have in common is that they all love the ocean. So,
instead making rules and penalties for the bad behaviour underwater, why
don't we focus on highlighting the positives of mastering buoyancy so they,
the divers, can have a better and less invasive experience underwater? I've
been a Divemaster for a decade now and I have learned that when I share my
passion for the life below the surface its frailty and our potential
impact, people connect the dots. Nobody likes to be scolded on their
vacation, just think about it! Be kind, reinforce the positives and give
the (conservation) power to the people.

Helder I. Pérez

Vice-president
*Bay Islands Foundation
*www.utila-iguana.de/fib
www.facebook.com/iguanastation
Skype ID: helder.perez


On 1 August 2013 05:37, Alice Grainger <alicetgrainger at gmail.com> wrote:

> Hi  Julain,
> No, I'm afraid I have no data or case studies. I do know, from
> personal, professional experience, however, that dive guides and
> instructors DO police each other underwater. The frustrations arise
> when there are no means of reporting bad practices, and no enforceable
> penalties. If guide's tanks are labelled, and the park is able to
> restrict centers whose guides are irresponsible, this would go a long
> way to improving behavior.
> I am sure data could be obtained quite easily, though, with fixed
> transects and simple benthic and biomass surveys.
> Best
> Alice
>
> On Thu, Aug 1, 2013 at 4:03 AM, Julian @ Reef Check
> <julian at reefcheck.org.my> wrote:
> > Hi Alice
> > Thanks for sharing these ideas. We are considering something similar
> here,
> > particularly site zoning and temporary recovery periods. Not sure how it
> > will go down with the management authorities of our marine parks. As I
> have
> > asked other respondents: do you have any case studies on where this has
> been
> > done successfully - maybe with monitoring data before & after?
> > 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
> >
> > HEARD A FISH BOMB? TEXT US AT 012 647 1294 WITH DATE, TIME AND LOCATION!
> >
> > "The bottom line of the Millenium Assessment findings is that human
> actions
> > are depleting Earth's natural capital, putting such strain on the
> > environment that the ability of the planet's ecosystems to sustain future
> > generations can no longer be taken for granted."
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Alice Grainger [mailto:alicetgrainger at gmail.com]
> > Sent: Wednesday, 31 July, 2013 7:35 PM
> > To: Julian @ Reef Check
> > Cc: Steve Mussman; Gregor Hodgson; Georgina Bustamate; Rene Kantun;
> > coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
> > Subject: Re: [Coral-List] Diver distance from Reef
> >
> > Hello All
> > As an environmental conservationist AND dive instructor, this is an issue
> > very close to my heart.
> > It is appalling to see what goes on at dive destinations around the
> world.
> > In my experience there could be a number of ways to mitigate diver
> impact,
> > but again, enforcement is an issue. Though the following regualtions may
> be
> > easier to enfrce than a minimum distance:
> > 1) restrict access to 'sensitive' (nursery etc) sites only to experienced
> > divers (easy to spot inexpereinced divers underwater!)
> > 2) Set aside some sites for training - students do the most damage, break
> > the most corals, stir up sediments etc. Concrete training 'platforms' can
> > also be useful.
> > 3) Rotating closed sites - each site should be closed to divers for a few
> > months a year to allow for rejuvenation etc.
> > 4) Create an independent monitoring/enforcement agency. Ensure each dive
> > professional's tank is labelled "How's my guiding?" with a number to
> call to
> > report on bad practice, and penalties imposed upon centers/guides. Spot
> > checks on dive sites etc.
> >
> > There are also issues related to dive tourism above water - clearing
> > vegetation, mangroves for access to the beach from resorts, over fishing
> to
> > provide tourists with BBQ fodder, sediment run off from 'gardens',
> sewage,
> > etc etc.
> >
> > However, it has to be said, that there is GREAT potential for each dive
> > student to form an emotional connection with the underwater world by
> > experiencing it first hand, and these 'switched on' divers can be a huge
> > force for advocacy for marine conservation.
> >
> > Best
> > Alice
> >
> > On Wed, Jul 31, 2013 at 3:42 AM, Julian @ Reef Check
> > <julian at reefcheck.org.my> wrote:
> >> Steve
> >> I must support your email. I've just spent the weekend on Tioman
> >> island, off Malaysia's East coast, and if anyone doubts that the dive
> >> industry (and the wider tourism industry) is NOT doing enough about
> >> reef conservation, that would be a good place to start your research.
> >> Little in the way of diver supervision limits, except those imposed by
> >> the few conscientious dive operators; little in the way of involvement
> >> in conservation projects, except those implemented by the few
> >> conscientious dive operators - most won't even consider getting
> >> involved in dives to remove nets from the reef! And tourist numbers just
> > keep growing...
> >>
> >> PADI, NAUI and all the others have no interest whatsoever in reef
> >> conservation as you say - witness the thin attempts to greenwash the
> >> industry with programmes like project aware. That's mainly a marketing
> >> tool for dive operators, who fill their dive centre with lots of
> >> customers to help clean reefs...in fact so many customers they end up
> >> doing more damage than the conservation value of the dives. Been
> >> there, seen it with my own eyes...and I can hear the response from PADI
> > ringing in my ears already...
> >>
> >> I have tried framing the reef conservation message in terms
> >> businessmen might understand. No point telling dive operators how
> >> wonderful and diverse reefs are - that's generally why they became
> divers
> > in the first place.
> >> Better to encourage them to see it as a productive business asset.
> >> Perhaps an approach along the lines of "if Ford stopped maintaining
> >> its production line, it wouldn't produce any more cars; if Malaysia
> >> Airlines stopped maintaining its aircraft they would start falling out
> >> of the skies...and if you don't start maintaining your coral reefs,
> >> which are your most important business asset, then you too will go out
> >> of business." Too hard, cold and commercial? Well, that's what dive
> >> operators are - businessmen. Perhaps we should try talking to them like
> > businessmen.
> >>
> >> 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
> >>
> >> HEARD A FISH BOMB? TEXT US AT 012 647 1294 WITH DATE, TIME AND LOCATION!
> >>
> >> "The bottom line of the Millenium Assessment findings is that human
> >> actions are depleting Earth's natural capital, putting such strain on
> >> the environment that the ability of the planet's ecosystems to sustain
> >> future generations can no longer be taken for granted."
> >>
> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> From: coral-list-bounces at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
> >> [mailto:coral-list-bounces at coral.aoml.noaa.gov] On Behalf Of Steve
> >> Mussman
> >> Sent: Tuesday, 30 July, 2013 8:31 AM
> >> To: Gregor Hodgson; Georgina Bustamate; Rene Kantun
> >> Cc: coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
> >> Subject: Re: [Coral-List] Diver distance from Reef
> >>
> >>
> >>    To all,
> >>    This   thread   exposes   the   practical   difficulties  inherent
>  in
> >>    developing protocols designed to protect coral reefs from damage
> >> imposed by
> >>    divers. I'm not sure that a mandated minimum distance is the best
> >> approach
> >>    although a suggested range might be recommended.
> >>     There  are  several  factors  to  consider in addition to the
> obvious
> >>    problems of enforcement that would be central to any strict minimum
> >> distance
> >>    regulation. Even a two meter limit presents hazards to coral reefs
> >> if divers
> >>    are incompetent while a skilled diver can hover innocuously at a
> >> much closer
> >>    range.  Photography,  lionfish  hunting,  night  diving,  caverns
>  and
> >>    swim-throughs all present additional challenges to strict distance
> >> limits.
> >>     Based  on  my  experiences,  requiring  well trained dive masters
> who
> >>    can educate,  guide and oversee a limited number of divers is the
> best
> >>    solution. Dive masters in the Yucatan and other regions are
> >> generally highly
> >>    motivated,  conscientious and truly care about protecting their
> reefs.
> >>    Empower them and let them use their own discretion based on an
> >> evaluation of
> >>    the skill level of individual divers.
> >>     We  certainly can't leave it to the scuba industry. If protecting
> and
> >>    conserving coral reefs were a genuine objective dive training
> >> agencies would
> >>    already  be implementing higher standards that require basic
> education
> >>    regarding coral reef ecology and advanced buoyancy control before
> >> allowing
> >>    divers into MPAs. But in the end these forces are more focused on
> >> economic
> >>    growth  and  can't  be  relied  upon to  effectively  address
> critical
> >>    environmental issues. One only has to examine the industry's public
> >> position
> >>    on climate change as it applies to coral reefs to divulge this
> reality.
> >> Oh
> >>    wait a minute, they don't have a clearly articulated position on
> > climate
> >>    change. . . It must not be a threat after all.
> >>    Regards,
> >>    Steve Mussman
> >>    Sea Lab Diving
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>    -----Original Message-----
> >>    >From: Gregor Hodgson
> >>    >Sent: Jul 27, 2013 1:49 PM
> >>    >To: "coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov"
> >>    >Subject: [Coral-List] Diver distance from Reef
> >>    >
> >>    >Parks might want to consider a 2 m (or 6 feet) distance from a
> > practical
> >>    >standpoint. Most divers are about 2 m long (tall) when in the water
> > with
> >>    >fins but with legs bent, oriented at an angle and not completely
> >> stretched
> >>    >out. Hence any distance less than that risks bumping into the reef
> >>    >inadvertently when turning. It might be easier to remember and for
> >> divers
> >>    to
> >>    >conceptualize a body length of 2 m than 1.5.
> >>    >
> >>    >That being said, a lot of photographers enjoy macro-photography
> >> and a lot
> >>    of
> >>    >divers are photographers. By zoning the entire park as 2 m
> >> distance only,
> >>    >you are excluding macro-photographers. Also lot of dive guides
> >> like showing
> >>    >small creatures such as anemone shrimp to customers.
> >>    >
> >>    >Perhaps there should be a zone where closer observation/photography
> is
> >>    >permitted or when a guide is present who can enforce/remind?
> >>    >
> >>    >Regards,
> >>    >
> >>    >Gregor Hodgson, PhD
> >>    >Executive Director
> >>    >Reef Check Foundation
> >>    >PO Box 1057 (mail)
> >>    >17575 Pacific Coast Highway (overnight)
> >>    >Pacific Palisades, CA 90272 USA
> >>    >T: 1 310-230-2371 or 2360
> >>    >Gregorh at reefcheck.org
> >>    >Skype: gregorh001
> >>    >
> >>    >
> >>    >From:
> >>    >Reply-To: "coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov"
> >>    >Date: Saturday, July 27, 2013 9:00 AM
> >>    >To: "coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov"
> >>    >Subject: Coral-List Digest, Vol 59, Issue 23
> >>    >
> >>    >Send Coral-List mailing list submissions to
> >>    >coral-list at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
> >>    >
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> >>    >or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
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> >>    >
> >>    >You can reach the person managing the list at
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> >>    >
> >>    >When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
> >>    >than "Re: Contents of Coral-List digest...", e.g., cut and paste the
> >>    >Subject line from the individual message you are replying to. Also,
> >>    >please only include quoted text from prior posts that is necessary
> to
> >>    >make your point; avoid re-sending the entire Digest back to the
> list.
> >>    >
> >>    >
> >>    >Today's Topics:
> >>    >
> >>    > 1. Arrecife Alacranes Park manager needs documentation for
> >>    > proposed regulation re: divers distance from reef (Sustento
> >>    > t?cnico para regla de buceo en PN Arrecife Alacranes (Mexico):
> >>    > distancia del buzo al arrecife) (Georgina Bustamante)
> >>    >
> >>    >
> >>
>  >----------------------------------------------------------------------
> >>    >
> >>    >Message: 1
> >>    >Date: Thu, 25 Jul 2013 16:00:49 -0400
> >>    >From: "Georgina Bustamante"
> >>    >Subject: [Coral-List] Arrecife Alacranes Park manager needs
> >>    >documentation for proposed regulation re: divers distance from reef
> >>    >(Sustento t?cnico para regla de buceo en PN Arrecife Alacranes
> >>    >(Mexico): distancia del buzo al arrecife)
> >>    >To: "CaMPAM Forum" , "'coral list'"
> >>    >, "'Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries
> >>    >Institute Network'" , "'Bruce Potter at
> >>    >IRF'" ,
> >>    >
> >>    >Message-ID: <09ec01ce8971$aa681260$ff383720$@com>
> >>    >Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
> >>    >
> >>    >(My translation to English below)
> >>    >
> >>    >
> >>    >
> >>    >
> >>    >
> >>    >El colega Ren? Kant?n, director del Parque Nacional Arrecifes
> > Alacranes,
> >>    >necesita  ayuda  para  apoyar  una nueva regulaci?n en el parque:
> los
> >>    buceadores
> >>    >deben mantener una distancia m?nima de 1.5m del arrecife.
> >>    >
> >>    >Favor de leer su mensaje abajo y comunicarse con el si puede
> ayudarlo.
> >>    >
> >>    >
> >>    >
> >>    >GB
> >>    >
> >>    >
> >>    >
> >>    >
> >>    >
> >>    >From: Rene Humberto Kantun Palma [mailto:rkantun at conanp.gob.mx]
> >>    >Sent: Thursday, July 25, 2013 2:53 PM
> >>    >To: gbustamante09 at gmail.com
> >>    >Cc: renekantun at hotmail.com
> >>    >Subject: RV: Sustento t?cnico para buceo
> >>    >
> >>    >
> >>    >
> >>    >
> >>    >
> >>    >Estimada Georgina:
> >>    >
> >>    >
> >>    >
> >>    >Una disculpa por distraerte de tus m?ltiples ocupaciones.
> >>    >
> >>    >
> >>    >
> >>    >Te comento que estamos en el proceso de modificaci?n del Programa
> >> de Manejo
> >>    >del Parque Nacional Arrecife Alacranes, en el estado de Yucat?n,
> >> M?xico; en
> >>    >dicho documento estamos proponiendo incorporar como regla
> >> administrativa,
> >>    >respetar, en las pr?cticas de buceo, una distancia m?nima de 1.5
> >> metros de
> >>    >las formaciones coralinas, con objeto de evitar da?os a las mismas..
> >> Hemos
> >>    >hecho una investigaci?n bibliogr?fica, pero ninguna de las
> > publicaciones
> >>    >habla fehacientemente que para realizar sustentablemente el buceo
> >> se debe
> >>    >respetar distancia alguna, solo mencionan buenas pr?cticas y
> >> controlar la
> >>    >flotabilidad, incluso algunas AMP de M?xico contemplan o proponen
> >>    >distancias, pero no se?alan metodolog?a alguna para determinarlo,
> >> peor a?n,
> >>    >proponen distancias diferentes (Sian Ka?an 2.5, Cozumel 1.5, etc.)..
> >>    >
> >>    >
> >>    >
> >>    >Con base en lo anterior, atentamente te solicito tu apoyo a fin de
> que
> > a
> >>    >trav?s de tu red de contactos puedas hacer la respectiva consulta,
> de
> > lo
> >>    >cual  estoy  seguro  que algo saldr? en alg?n lugar del mundo, lo
> que
> >>    permitir?
> >>    >fortalecer la propuesta de imponer una distancia m?nima al realizar
> el
> >>    buceo
> >>    >en el PNAA.
> >>    >
> >>    >
> >>    >
> >>    >Por el amable tiempo de haber revisado el presente correo, te
> > agradezco
> >>    >infinito y aprovecho para enviarte saludos, con la esperanza que nos
> >>    >saludemos pronto, quiz?s en M?rida??
> >>    >
> >>    >Espero tus comentarios.
> >>    >
> >>    >Cordialmente
> >>    >
> >>    >RK
> >>    >
> >>    >
> >>    >
> >>    >
> >>    >
> >>    >Lic. Ren? H. Kant?n Palma
> >>    >
> >>    >Comisi?n Nacional de ?reas Naturales Protegidas
> >>    >
> >>    >Director
> >>    >
> >>    >Parque Nacional Arrecife Alacranes
> >>    >
> >>    >Reserva de la Biosfera R?a Celest?n
> >>    >
> >>    >Calle 18 No, 120 X Av. P?rez Ponce, Col. Itzimn?
> >>    >
> >>    >M?rida, Yucat?n, C.P. 97100
> >>    >
> >>    >Tel. 999 938 07 09 / 999 938 07 08
> >>    >
> >>    >Ext. 101 y 106
> >>    >
> >>    >renekantun at hotmail.com
> >>    >
> >>    >
> >>    >
> >>    >
> >>    >
> >>    >
> >>    >La informaci?n que se env?a al destinatario mediante esta
> >>    >transmisi?n es propiedad exclusiva de la Comisi?n
> >>    >Nacional de ?reas Naturales Protegidas. Si usted no es el
> >>    >destinatario de esta informaci?n o si la ha recibido por
> >>    >error, se le comunica que la copia, distribuci?n,
> >>    >modificaci?n, retransmisi?n, revelaci?n o uso en cualquier
> >>    >forma, est? estrictamente prohibida.
> >>    >
> >>    >------------------------
> >>    >
> >>    >CaMPAM members,
> >>    >
> >>    >Our colleague Rene Kantun, director of Arrecifes de Alacranes NP,
> >> need your
> >>    >help to Support a proposed regulation: for divers to keep a 1.5m
> >> distance
> >>    >from the reef.
> >>    >
> >>    >Read my English translation of his message below, and contact him if
> > you
> >>    can
> >>    >help.
> >>    >
> >>    >
> >>    >
> >>    >GB
> >>    >
> >>    >
> >>    >
> >>    >Dear Georgina:
> >>    >
> >>    >An apology for distracting from your busy schedule.
> >>    >
> >>    >We are in the process of modifying the Management Program of
> Alacranes
> >>    >Reefs National Park, Yucatan, Mexico. We are proposing to
> >> incorporate a new
> >>    >regulation on diving practices re: a minimum distance of 1.5 m to
> > coral
> >>    >formations in order to avoid damage to them. We conducted a
> literature
> >>    >search, but none of the publications justifies convincingly the
> >> distance to
> >>    >be respected, just mention good practice and control buoyancy,
> >> even some of
> >>    >Mexico AMP (2.5m for Sian Ka'an, 1.5m for Cozumel, etc..).
> >>    >
> >>    >Based on the above, I request your support for this query thru
> >> your network
> >>    >and contacts. I hope something will come out somewhere in the
> >> world, which
> >>    >will strengthen the proposal to impose minimum distance to make
> >> diving in
> >>    >the NPAA.
> >>    >
> >>    >Thank you ??. hoping to greet us soon, maybe in Merida??
> >>    >I await your comments.
> >>    >Cordially
> >>    >RK
> >>    >
> >>    >Lic. Ren? H. Kant?n Palma
> >>    >
> >>    >Comisi?n Nacional de ?reas Naturales Protegidas
> >>    >
> >>    >Director
> >>    >
> >>    >Parque Nacional Arrecife Alacranes
> >>    >
> >>    >Reserva de la Biosfera R?a Celest?n
> >>    >
> >>    >Calle 18 No, 120 X Av. P?rez Ponce, Col. Itzimn?
> >>    >
> >>    >M?rida, Yucat?n, C.P. 97100
> >>    >
> >>    >Tel. 999 938 07 09 / 999 938 07 08
> >>    >
> >>    >Ext. 101 y 106
> >>    >
> >>    >renekantun at hotmail.com
> >>    >
> >>    > ??
> >>    >
> >>    >
> >>    >
> >>    >------------------------------
> >>    >
> >>    >_______________________________________________
> >>    >Coral-List mailing list
> >>    >Coral-List at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
> >>    >http://coral.aoml.noaa.gov/mailman/listinfo/coral-list
> >>    >
> >>    >End of Coral-List Digest, Vol 59, Issue 23
> >>    >******************************************
> >>    >
> >>    >
> >>    >
> >>    >_______________________________________________
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> >>    >Coral-List at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
> >>    >http://coral.aoml.noaa.gov/mailman/listinfo/coral-list
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