Chat Room Q&A Session

[cornfed]

I have a bunch of work to do this evening but I'll try to stop in when I take a breather.

[Big-T]

Tongith is the final night of the dart season....so....in the event I make it home in time....I'll probably be in no shape to type

[Aquabud Scuba]

Hi guys. All I want to know is how I start a topic about chumming and recreational divers. We are having a concern in South Africa – Aliwal Shoal where chumming is being done in a Marine Protective Area. It’s just matter of time before something critically happens to a few diver and the sharks will once again will be know as a man-eater monster. The diving community is about to explode. I need help!!!!!

This is the letter I sent to our dive magazine "DIVESTYLE"

Dear Johan
Not sure if you are being inundated with emails on this subject, but if you are it’s all for the well-being for everybody (sharks and fellow divers).
We are all aware that some existing divers on all levels are still afraid of sharks whenever they get into the water.

Let me tell you my incident at Umkomaas – Aliwal Shoal, dive site “Eel Skins”.
About a year and half ago, the sea conditions were perfect (like a swimming pool), however the viz was less then 5m. The dive ended at Eel Skins. My buddy (Martin van der Merwe (docvdmerwe@telkomsa.net)) and I were the last two divers to ascent. The charter boat was a bit of a distance away picking up divers from the water when all of a sudden we were surrounded by Blacktips and Bronzy whalers. By the time the boat reached us we were getting knocked on our legs by the sharks. How many sharks? Well, too many to count or even consider counting. Fortunately nothing happen, but it’s just a matter of time.

And when it does?
The whole industry will be affected. The authorities then will clamp down with extreme regulations & policies, which are not necessary. However, we need to be proactive now before any slight accident happens.

Shark dives are profitable to the charters; but divers have been harassed on such shark dives (BCD bitten, superficial cut on hand from a bite etc), and none of these incident have come to the attention of the media.

We in the industry know that the sharks don’t see divers as food, but they are relating divers with having food.

Johan this is not a bitching email. The above story happen to me. All I would like you to do or assist with is to follow up and use your magazine as the driving force for the well-being of all parties.


Kind Regards
www.aquabud.co.za
Tel: 082 450 6635
Miguel Nunes
Instructor Trainer
NAUI# 39657

The reply I got from the magazine was:
Johan is currently in Australia, will be back 7 March2008.
Kind regards
Amilda Boshoff

[B.gunn48]

I joined this site as you all may be able to give me some advice regaurding places that would be of interest to Diving Clubs.

I am located in West Stockbridge, Massachusetts, and my husband & I own 32.5 acres of pristing property that once was a marble quarry. In the middle of this private, recreational property is a basketball court size, 90' deep, springfed "swimming hole". In the early 1900's, while 100' down, the miners hit an underground spring. Water came in at 4000 gals. per minute, it is said that they had to leave some equipment behind. Last summer divers tried but could not go more than 26' due to the 49degree temp, & they didn't have dry suits.
My question is: Do you think that Diving Clubs might be interested in using this spot for practices, lessons, or sport?

[Aquabud Scuba]

I'm actually in South Africa - Durban. we are on the East coast, but quarries are used all the time for training, especially for commercial diving training and on the recreational side for deep training dives deeper then 30m.

Best approach your dive centres with a good incentive, water test results by local municipality and there should be no reason why not be used for some type of training.

[h2odragon1]

I'm from the Midwest, there are lots of quarry dives. If you add attractions, you can boost the appeal of your quarry for diving. Most quarries add small boats, some add small airplanes, obstacle course's, the equipment left behind by the mining operation should have some appeal. One quarry has a Port-O-Potty, and labeled it Port-O-Patti(PADI). An early diving quarry has an OLD school bus, (the quarry opened in the early 60's, and the bus was old then). Another quarry has a firetruck and a 727 aircraft. there are trucks, tricycles, swing sets, golf balls, bowling balls and many other things.
You can make your quarry more 'attractive' to divers.
GO FOR IT!!!