Respecting the ocean

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Nestor Cruz
  • 18th Wing Public Affairs
KADENA AB, Japan --  The clear turquoise waters and warm weather make scuba diving and snorkeling on Okinawa a popular activity. 

However, dive instructors from the Kadena Marina Dive Shop want people to be aware of the variety of dangerous marine life in local waters and mindful of the delicate environment in the ocean. 

"There is a lot of hazardous marine life out there," said Charles Glas, 18th Force Support Squadron Kadena Marina staff instructor. "Our number one rule is 'don't touch anything unknown.' If people are unsure about certain marine life, they can come in to our dive shop with questions. We're more than happy to help." 

One example of dangerous marine life is the cone shell. When people disturb this seemingly harmless shell, it whips out a radial tooth or "dart" and injects its attacker with poison. 

"There are more than 400 species in the cone shell family, but only a few are deadly," said Mr. Glas. "Instead of trying to distinguish what type of cone shell a person is looking at, it's best to just leave it alone." 

Typhoon season brings warmer waters to Okinawa which also brings box jellyfish. 

"Box jellyfish tentacles can get as long as 17 feet and cause a serious sting," said Ed Dunn, a master instructor with Kadena Marina. "If a person is hit by a box jellyfish and it's really getting to them, they definitely need to see someone and get it taken care of because everybody's allergic reaction is different." 

Mr. Dunn said box jellyfish tentacles still have the potential to sting people even if the tentacles have detached from the jellyfish and washed up on shore. He recommends that people leave washed up tentacles alone. 

Other types of dangerous marine life include sea snakes, blue ring octopus and moray eels. 

If any of these creatures feel threatened, they become defensive and either bite or release a deadly toxin. 

"All marine life is docile, but if they attack someone, 99 percent of the time they are just being defensive," Mr. Dunn said. "People have to respect the environment they are in." 

Mr. Dunn recommends immediate medical care for any injury resulting from water activities. 

"People should never participate in water activities without a first aid kit on hand," he said. "The best things to include in a first aid kit are peroxide, alcohol, vinegar, antibiotic ointment, forceps, scissors, gauze and heat and cold packs." 

Divers and snorkelers should also be mindful of the delicate ocean environment in addition to the dangerous marine life. 

"I like the saying 'Take only pictures, but leave only bubbles,'" said Mr. Glas. "If a person sees something incredible in the water, take pictures of it but leave it where it is." 

Coral is a delicate part of the ecosystem, Mr. Glas said. 

"Accidentally breaking a piece of coral can have a major impact on the ecosystem," he said. "Breaking a small piece of coral, as little as an inch, could be two to three years of growth." 

"It takes several years just to grow an inch of coral, but a split second for somebody to be careless, disregard the environment and destroy it," agreed Mr. Dunn. 

Both diving instructors teach their scuba students to distance themselves from coral and other marine life. 

"In our classes we teach people how to stay neutrally buoyant, the closest thing to being weightless, which keeps people away from coral and dangerous marine life," said Mr. Dunn. "If people are around sand at the bottom, they shouldn't kick up sand on the coral because it will choke the coral and keep it from getting the nutrients it needs to survive." 

People should also be careful not to leave garbage at dive sites, the same way people must care for the environment here on land, Mr. Glas said. 

"I teach my students to pick up at least one piece of trash they see at a dive site and never leave any trash behind," he said. 

Education, common sense and good judgment are the three best tools whenever people participate in any water activity, said Mr. Dunn. 

"People must be respectful of the ocean environment and realize many things we enjoy in life come from the ocean," the master instructor said. "Without the reefs, our children will miss out on the great things the ocean has to offer."