Resorts with "No Gloves" policy?

[BigBlueTech]

We do our best to enforce this in Thailand, simply as an educational aspect as please don't touch anything, people with gloves might be more inclined to touch things and are wearing gloves more for that reason.

I think for the most part, if you're an experienced diver with a reason to have gloves (tech diving, videography etc etc) then they should leave you to.

[cowleyp]

Hi, it's good that the resort management is doing something to protect the reefs, better something than nothing. There are dives I would never do without gloves or a knife/cutting device so I sympathise with your issues but I have seen photographers/videographers doing real damage by wedging themselves in for a shot, some of them experienced and well published. Pity we can't do something about the realy serious threats to the ocean as easily as prohibiting gloves or teaching better control.

[The Publisher]

I am reading all these posts as I peal off dead skin from my thumb and index finger....

[acelockco]

I think the "No Gloves" policy is a bunch of BS. I went to Negril and they had a no gloves policy, funny thing is the local fishermen have and are currently destroying the reef every day. They drag weighted nets and drop their lobster pots right on the reef. I just don't see how gloves are going to make a difference.

I personally wear gloves on every dive, usually necessary for thermal protection, but even in warm waters I wear some thin gloves. I feel more comfortable knowing that my hands have some protection on them. I know not to put my hands on the reef, so I don't, but I do touch a lot of things when digging through a wreck for artifacts, or when trying to grab a lobster, and especially when going up an anchor line or mooring buoy line.

Anyway, it is my personal policy to keep a set of gloves in a pocket when there is a no glove policy somewhere. I figure I am happy they are trying to protect the reef, but I believe it is just as important for me to protect myself and keep my hands safe.

Oh, I also think more people kick the reef with their fins then put their hands on the reef. Maybe a better idea would be to offer a perfect buoyancy class before diving the reef.

[The Publisher]

Ace, I agree about the fins thing, maybe they ought to have a no fins policy! lol.

[acelockco]

Ace, I agree about the fins thing, maybe they ought to have a no fins policy! lol.

They are trying to do something to help the reef, however what they are doing does not really make any sense and was obviously not thoroughly thought out. I don't know of any US dive operation that has this rule, I am sure it is because once someone gets a hand injury the business would be sued.

[shinek]

I personally wear gloves on every dive, usually necessary for thermal protection, but even in warm waters I wear some thin gloves. I feel more comfortable knowing that my hands have some protection on them. I know not to put my hands on the reef, so I don't, but I do touch a lot of things when digging through a wreck for artifacts, or when trying to grab a lobster, and especially when going up an anchor line or mooring buoy line.

Ace, very good point re: mooring buoy lines etc. Lots of interesting little critters living on those and most of them seem to have some sort of "stinging" capability. Also, watch out for rusty fish hooks caught in the line. I don't always wear gloves, but if I don't have them with me, I have been known to grasp the mooring line in my elbow for the safety stop, if there's any sort of current. Either that or hang on to one of my buddies who's wearing the gloves

[acelockco]

...I have been known to grasp the mooring line in my elbow for the safety stop, if there's any sort of current. Either that or hang on to one of my buddies who's wearing the gloves

Exactly, and why should we have to do that? It is not a safe practice in my opinion, so by having a no gloves policy, the dive operator is essentially asking that we dive in an unsafe manor.

[shinek]

As was said earlier, the fact that US operators don't insist on this may be due to the potential for legal action were someone to get injured. Although in most cases it seems to be local authority rules, rather than the dive operators themselves.

Last time I was in Cozumel, where the Marine Park guys can be pretty strict on the no gloves policy (also no knives, as I recall), the dive boat was very quick to point out that it did not apply when diving the wreck. Can't remember the name of it, but it is a good dive, the Oxycontin or something like that. Anyway, they recognise that you may need to be able to push, hold, grab the wreck in certain parts to make your way through it and as an artifical reef, the no-gloves rules didn't apply. Just thought I'd add that to the discussion.