Aspects Of Etiquette Pt 1

Most of us like to feel that we’re in the know about the accepted way of doing things – and nobody more so than divers. SIMON PRIDMORE has been looking at ‘doing the done thing’.

- Simon Pridmore

IN SCUBA-DIVING, as in every sphere of human activity, conventions arise over time that govern the behaviour of the participants.

These may not necessarily be set in stone or legally required and enforced. Sometimes they just become established and generally accepted over time. Often they differ from country to country.

This is part one of a three-part series that covers a variety of scuba-diving situations in which certain forms of etiquette exist. Not everyone will agree with my recommendations, and I’m sure the more experienced among you will have your own particular opinions and bugbears. But that’s all part of the fun.

TOUCHING

The convention is to look, don’t touch! This doesn’t apply only to big animals such as turtles, manta rays and whale sharks but to the smaller ones too.

In fact, you could argue that the smaller the animal, the more vulnerable it is and the more reason to leave it alone.

Some operators prohibit their divers from wearing gloves in an effort to discourage them from laying their hands on the reef and its occupants.

There is much debate over whether a glove ban works, and it’s an issue that can arouse strong feelings.

I believe that educating divers is more effective than imposing rules. I don’t think that most of the people who wear gloves do so because they want to interfere with the marine life.

Gloves can make you feel more comfortable, or help to keep you warmer.

Nor do I believe that someone who wants to disturb the animals is going to be dissuaded if they have to do it with bare hands.

However, good etiquette also requires that if you want to dive with an operation, you abide by its rules. If a dive-centre has a no-gloves rule and you want to wear gloves, choose another dive-centre. But, whatever your preference, don’t touch the animals.