I hate that. People HAVE to know they shouldn't do it, but they still do. I think they should be kicked off the beach.

I know what you mean. Seems like people are always doing that on that part of Sapphire. Pure ignorance I would guess. I have spent time asking people not to do so and explaining why to no avail. Most often this happens when who I'm talking to don't speak a word of English. They kind of just nod and smile at ya. The USVI Tourism should make an effort to educate some of these folks. Have pamphlets available for visitors that deal strictly with avoiding damage to the Eco system coral and all. The Cruise lines should also provide the same to their passengers. It won't stop it but it may well help some. It really is sad. Ithnk that ifthey really knew the harm they were doing, they would act differently.

Let's start up an EcoPosse and go blast them with paintballs.

Good idea STT, we'd get some color back on the coral too - two birds.

That is sad. They need to have a huge sign at the exit of the airport and Havensite saying not to stand on coral.

Stt, I think your on to something there. I even know where to get bio-degradable paint balls with permanent non toxic paint!

As to the signs, Sapphire used to have a few, but some what innocuous. Besides, if some can't speak/read English it really doesn't help. Plus it's a concern not spoil the natural beauty of the Beach with signs every where. I was thinking of transplanting a very large colony of Sea Urchins to the reef there. Now that would be a deterrent.

As I watch those folks walk across the reef to deeper water (after I have yelled and thrown beer cans at em to no avail) it always amazes me, seeing the way they jump, wobble and often fall due to the pain to their feet, that they don't walk down the Beach a whole 50 feet or so and walk in on the sand. I have seen some try to snorkel there when the water is like a foot deep and less. Very scratched bellies come back out. Go figure. Something should be done if it's not too late already. As many Tourism $ as come into the Virgin Islands, I would think a minute portion could be spent to protect part of the reason the Tourist's come. God knows the reef structures and other unique Eco systems could use the HELP.

My Grandfather, rest his soul, who my siblings and I traveled with extensively as children, had a short poem he always recited to us when visiting some place, it went like this," Let No One Say, And To Your Shame, That All Was Nice Here Until You Came" Words that I have tried to live by.

Hell, i even police the beach when walking along it. Take the time to bend over and pick up junk, especially cigarette butts, along the way. Makes me feel good and get some much needed bending exercise to boot. Yea, I hear some thinking, how gross. I know. I skives me a little too, but worth it. I keep a small bottle of hand sanitizer and plastic sandwich bag for my trophy's. There was a thread about this subject not too long ago. Topic keeps coming up from time to time but nothing ever seems to get done. Maybe that is partially our fault.

I live on Sapphire Beach. The people are simply stupid. I get on their case when I see them.

I just hope that sometimes they step on a sea eurchin!!!!!

Billd

Hmm,
makes me think...... Next time I go down to register our boat (which will be soon), I will see if they have any brochures on the subject. If I can get some, I will see to it that they get put into our arrival packets for the guests that go to villas. This is a start! Maybe I can also suggest to them to put the brochures below in the arrival part of the airport, heck, I'll even do it myself!!!!!
We as a team can always try to remember to educate anyone we run into. The key tho, is not to be rude about it, but to educate them!!! 😉

I'm sorry but I doubt if people will listen. Just look around at how people behave while on vacation. Many leave common sense (not to mention manors) home when they come to the island. But one can hope that some will listen.

Also when the visitors rent snorkel equipment they should be told and also shown pictures of all types of coral - some answer me when I yell at them that they didn't know it was coral !!!

Pia

sherri, that is an excellent idea. Like you say, it's a start. And you are right a friendly caution and explanation as to what little it takes to cause significant damage goes a long way. It's the old "more bees with honey" adage. It's is the education that will help, if anything. There will always be those who just don't give a dam. Like Forest said, " Stupid Is As Stupid Does ". Ain't much we can do about that.

I think the people handing the snorkel equipment out at Saphire beach should police the reef for infractions along with giving out hand outs to read in different languages about proper snorkel protocol. These handouts can be laminated and chained to the counter, before equipment is handed out they should have to read in there language of choice. For the people who bring there own equipment there is no excuse obviously they need a pebble to the back of the head and a lesson in Reef, Island etiquette.

You konw this paint ball thing could work you could even charge people to be on the posse so you could be a shore trip for the cruise ships come blast the coral standers and serve rum punch all would be good LOL

In defense of Dive In!, there are signs at the desk and they yell when they see people doing it. People on the beach and in the water do a lot of yelling at the bozo's also, but it doesn't have much effect. My theory is that the dummies are here for a day off a cruise boat and just don't care about "our" reef. If only they realized the global impact, well, never mind; they still wouldn't care. There isn't an easy answer.