Like a Scarf around Coral Reef
Large school of glassy sweeper fish is a common sight in the Coral Triangle, but this was an incredibly dense school. There were so many fish swimming along the bottom of the reef, you couldn't see through them at all.
Being a Responsible Modern Day Hunter
A Modern-Day Hunter’s Responsibilities to Himself and the Next Generation
By: Gabriel Lu
Edited by Garrett Lu
G. Lu Content Writing and PR
I am not a vegetarian and I do not oppose hunting. Occasionally I will even celebrate a catch with friends and family. So, as a hunter, I have gained some insights on this lifestyle that are worth sharing.
We all understand the natural environment is very sensitive and its resources are not inexhaustible. I often demand myself to study the background of each edible marine animal. In other words, if I eat it will it affect other life? Could I be damaging an entire ecosystem?
Current fish and game regulations all have their reasons. Still, we must not only abide by the laws, but instead act one step ahead of them. That is because policymakers may not always have the foresight to prevent catastrophes. Often in the past, people acted too late—only after a species’ extinction are strict regulations put in place to mend wounds. So, as the new generation of divers, we can only immerse ourselves in the environment, observe its behavior and changes, and adjust our standards and conscientiousness beyond the limitations of the law.
On another note I believe adapting to local customs is also an important notion. For instance, a Westerner boards a Chinese junk and joins in on a sumptuous meal with grilled fish. After finishing one side of the fish, he proceeds to flip it over. But this is a taboo! Flipping a fish aboard a junk could make it sink. Thus, taking care to understand and adapt to every locale’s customs is essential to avoiding discrimination and conflict. It is not excusable simply because of ignorance. All the same, we should still uphold the environment as the highest priority, because blindly following customs is not always right either.
For many years, there were many highly experienced California born-and-raised divers participating on my dive trips. They often hunt, not wishing for many fish, but rather using size as the measurement of “right” and “honorable.” Because of these norms they often have disdain for the Asian norm of eating all game, regardless of big or small. So before I dive to hunt, I always tell them: “I hunt medium-sized game for two reasons: For one, I cook by steaming the entire animal; big fish are inconvenient. Moreover, many large fish are like boars in a pig farm, their high sperm count carries genes and so their group’s reproduction depends on them. Killing them may reduce the group’s numbers, or even eliminate it entirely. (When these explanations do not suffice I have no choice but to invoke the Confucian teachings of moderation.) In time, even Westerners gradually begin to hunt medium-size fish. What’s more, many try tasting the fish whole, or at least sharing its head and bones with Asians—lest they waste food by scrapping everything but the fillets. Thus, using an exchange of soft-power communication, we create a harmony between cultures that comprises the customs of the Modern Day Hunter.
Further, before the kill, understanding your own motives is also a must. Do you hunt to satisfy your family and friends’ wish to eat a fresh catch? Or is it for the thrill of the hunt? Humans may have souls, but animals do too. So when you are preparing for a feast, remember where to draw the line. Enough is enough. Using the practice of moderation can be the best way of showing gratitude to the marine environment that sacrificed its precious life for our satisfaction. What’s more, we should know that satisfying the urge to kill is a mentality derived from causing others’ pain. I suppose that comes from primordial instinct. But as the self-proclaimed most intelligent animals on the planet, we should reflect deeply on this.
Wow! This has been quite the monologue. But I should stress that it is not for the sake of preaching. Rather, my hopes are that individuals around the world can exercise mindfulness for the sensitive environment we live in. By adapting to the customs of different cultures, learning about the environment we hunt, and understanding how to care for it, we are taking responsibility for both Mother Ocean as well as the next generation of divers. That is the responsibility of what I call a “Modern Day Hunter.”
Protect Our Reefs
The rare and one-of-a-kind Californian Purple Coral is found in 20 to 50 meters-deep (65 to 160 feet) of water on outer island pinnacles in strong currents. They take hundreds of years to grow to this size. Sadly, every time a boat drops anchor these precious organisms are damaged and destroyed. So because of the need to preserve marine life, Ocean safari Dive team is currently developing a "mooring buoy project" to minimize the impact that traditional anchors have on reefs. I hope that those who agree with this action can offer their support. If interested feel free to contact.
Colonies of Hump Corals
There are amazingly healthy colonies of stony corals, such as Porites compressa (finger coral, hump coral), in the Coral Triangle. It is a common coral species in the Indo-Pacific region, and often form massive colonies like this.
Cocktail Hour
A little break from the cold water dive pictures with a nice cocktail watching the sunset.
