A snorkeler, perhaps intent on getting a better view of an organism, grabs on to coral in order to steady himself.
“So what,” you might exclaim. “I see people do it all the time and have even done it myself.”
Following the admonition, “let he who is without sin cast the first stone,” I will not toss a rock of criticism at the diver and will confess, “mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa.” Luckily, penance for this transgression is easily achieved—stay off the live bottom in the Hawaiian spirit of “Ola na; papa i pulama ‘ia” (cherish the living reefs).
Simply touching corals can cause the problems when oils from our skin disturb the mucous membranes that
protect the animals from disease. Repeated handling in popular areas can cause the death of an entire colony. Small seemingly inconsequential actions can accumulate into major effects. We may think we are just swimming along, but plowing through the reef like a wrecking ball
with fins does even worse damage. I have
seen people do both. Both behaviors are
easily controlled.
The Australian Great Barrier Reef Park Authority observes:
- Although divers and snorkelers have had minimal impact so far, there are times when some divers and snorkelers can get a little too close and may stress the marine life or crush and break corals.
- Most damage occurs as a result of those who are unable to maintain good control in the water (for example, through fighting a current, or trying to get a closer look, or taking photographs).
- By having good snorkel and dive practices, you'll be able to preserve this special world for others to experience.
The Authority’s do’s and don’ts is pretty common sense:
- Practice buoyancy control over sand patches before approaching a reef - test buoyancy whenever you're using new equipment such as new wetsuits, buoyancy control devices (BCDs) and cameras.
- Make sure you are properly weighted before diving near a reef.
- Check that all your dive gear is secure before you get into the water so that it doesn't dangle and catch on the reef.
- Move slowly and deliberately in the water, relax and take your time - avoid rapid changes in direction.
- Avoid leaning on, holding onto or touching any part of the reef - this is particularly important when you are taking underwater photographs.
CORAL and PADI’s Project Aware offers these points:
Never touch corals; even a slight
contact can harm them and some corals can sting or cut you.- Carefully select points of entry and exit to avoid areas of reef.
- Make sure all your equipment is well-secured.
- Make sure you are neutrally buoyant at all times.
- Maintain a comfortable distance from the reef.
- Practice good finning and body control to avoid accidental contact with the reef or stirring up the sediment.
- Stay off the bottom and never stand or rest on corals.
- Avoid using gloves and kneepads in coral environments.
Coral can fight back if touched as I first learned when I brushed up
against fire coral in Bonaire.
I also think the education approach works best. At Looe Key in the Florida Keys in 1995, I
recall being roundly and loudly chastised by a fledgling divemaster who spied
rubberized cotton gloves in my dive bag.
The conversation went something like this:
“You can’t wear gloves, you’ll be tempted to handle the coral if you do.”
“Um OK. I don’t really plan on touching
anything. I know better. Sorry, I carry the gloves in my bag more out
of habit for working around wrecks.”
“Well, you are not diving wrecks. You
can’t wear them on the reef.”
"OK, but if you don’t want people to wear gloves, which I get, why does the
dive shop you work for sell them in the dockside store or do you do wreck
charters as well?”
He huffed and walked away.
I think every teen divemaster at a resort practices
that ‘I know better than you’ sneer that comes with the zealousness of a newly
issued DM certification card and a mission to fight coral molestation. His point was well taken; it just could have
been better made. A better approach might have been to engage in a conversation and education.
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