Showing posts with label harassing the animals. Show all posts
Showing posts with label harassing the animals. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Sunday, September 14, 2008
A Recipe for certain Disaster
Photo Copyright 2007 by Terry Goss
Upon my last visit to Fiji, we were blessed with a visit by Scarface, always a wonderful and endearing experience, and a privilege on top of that. But this time, far from being her majestic self, she barged in fast and furious and it took several minutes for her to calm down and resume her habitual circular feeding pattern. Needless to say that we were intrigued and alarmed.
But now I think I know what's going on.
What I'm about to do may be considered to be highly "unprofessional".
Frankly, I don't give a rat's ass. Will it lead to unending aggro? Most certainly!
And for you out there who already feel the blood pressure rising: for once, please, use your brain and not your gonads. This is an opportunity for reflection and ultimately, for self-preservation - both of us as individuals and Shark Diving in Fiji in general.
So there: there's a controversial video clip out there.
Having now had to answer the fourth e-mail asking whether this is our dive (and Andrew having had to gone thru the same exercise), the answer is unequivocally:
No, absolutely not, this is not our Shark Dive by any stretch of the imagination!
I've blogged at nauseam about the need for unequivocal and stringent Safety Procedures, so I won't bother you with any further rants.
In our case, they encompass -to name but a few- the clear separation of spectators and protagonists, full dark body suits and gloves, steel mesh gloves for the feeders, safety poles to push away any trespassing Sharks and a choreographed and predictable routine so that the animals know what is expected of them.
Our Fijian staff, wonderful as they are, have a penchant for improvisation and exuberance and Andrew has been spending countless hours reinforcing the message that this is all about being professional, Respectful and safety-conscious - not some macho game by reckless village kids!
Thankfully, at BAD, the message is sticking.
As to the following, you be the Judge of it.
But now I think I know what's going on.
What I'm about to do may be considered to be highly "unprofessional".
Frankly, I don't give a rat's ass. Will it lead to unending aggro? Most certainly!
And for you out there who already feel the blood pressure rising: for once, please, use your brain and not your gonads. This is an opportunity for reflection and ultimately, for self-preservation - both of us as individuals and Shark Diving in Fiji in general.
So there: there's a controversial video clip out there.
Having now had to answer the fourth e-mail asking whether this is our dive (and Andrew having had to gone thru the same exercise), the answer is unequivocally:
No, absolutely not, this is not our Shark Dive by any stretch of the imagination!
I've blogged at nauseam about the need for unequivocal and stringent Safety Procedures, so I won't bother you with any further rants.
In our case, they encompass -to name but a few- the clear separation of spectators and protagonists, full dark body suits and gloves, steel mesh gloves for the feeders, safety poles to push away any trespassing Sharks and a choreographed and predictable routine so that the animals know what is expected of them.
Our Fijian staff, wonderful as they are, have a penchant for improvisation and exuberance and Andrew has been spending countless hours reinforcing the message that this is all about being professional, Respectful and safety-conscious - not some macho game by reckless village kids!
Thankfully, at BAD, the message is sticking.
As to the following, you be the Judge of it.
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