Hi Marianne
 MR> I am really sorry to hear that other divers are so irresponsible and 
 MR> destructive about marine life
Boy you otta see what dynamite fishing, in conjunction with draging nets 
does to an area.  It looks like a gravel parking lot!  Very, very sad to
see.  Not only is it messy, but when the fishing gets bad (big surprise)
the fishermen go elsewhere and wipe it out.  Talk about short sited!
 
 
 MR> although I'm not that experienced yet I
 MR> always remember what I was tought in my Scuba diving class, I try to 
 MR> constantly watch how close to the coral I'm getting not only to avoid 
 MR> scrapes and damage to coral but also not to get to close to 
 MR> scorpionfish and eels although I worry less about the eels than the 
 MR> scorpionfish, when I was snorkling at Haunamah Bay in Hawaii I went 
 MR> past the 1st and second reef when I was watching a turtle and started 
 MR> getting cold(just had my bakini on, no dive skin) so I was trying to 
 MR> get over the coral so I was tripoding on my fingertips and waiting for
 MR> the wave to push me over the coral otherwise I was fighting the surf 
 MR> then as I was waiting on the last reef I looked down and there was a 
 MR> spotted eel looking back at me, But I was not going to invade his
 MR> space  and so he never harmed me with the next wave I was over the reef
 MR> and  back to the main beach area. But I was really disappointed in the
 MR> coral  off Hawaii-it's dead and very damaged.
 MR> 
 
 MR> 
 MR> You've been to Thailand many a time hmmm, I take it you must be in the
 MR> military or work for an airline? 
Yep, about 20 times now.  Never in the military, and no self respecting 
airline would hire a private pilot with only 200+ hours of time!
 MR> My brother is a pilot for Delta 
 MR> Airlines and had about 12 years Air Force before that-his name is Jim
 MR> same last name(Ryan) Jim moved to Alabama about a year ago But it is 
 MR> funny his never traveled to another country.  
 It's a great name!  He needs to put in for overseas travel.  It's hard 
 on relationships, but the pay jumps up.
 
 MR> As for Thailand I can MR> believe that the waters have been stripped
Just in spots.  Near shore, etc. just about like us. 
 MR> I'm getting off subject-But that is why I really want to work with 
 MR> animal life but especially Marine life-so I'm debating between 
 MR> Veterinarian or Marine Biologist since I plan to go back to school. 
 MR> As  for the pups and helping out with them, volunteers are always
 MR> welcome. 
Bottom line is you are happiest when you are doing what you REALLY want 
to do and not just working for the money.  Sounds like rewarding things
to do.
 MR> As for travel, I've always wanted to travel but it's never happened in
 MR> the past but I think I will change that for the future.  And I'd still
 MR> love to hear more about Thailand or other dive sites including Truk, 
I have a friend over there who is always looking for dive masters and/or 
instructors.  The pay is about 2000 baht per month ($80) and any tips.
 MR> So I have been 
 MR> missing out on the seals and sea lions-adult seal and seal lions
 MR> aren't  very friendly unless they have been trained in captivity. But
 MR> I'd  definately like to get back to the MMC by November at the latest 
 MR> because that is when the training for Sea Otters starts-The Marine 
 MR> Mammal Center is going to be taking over the care of Otters.  
Hope you can get back to it.  I'm sure our little friends can use 
your help!
 
 MR> Thanks for writing back again-Where are you sending from? 704 area
 MR> code  where is that? 
I'm here in North Carolina.  Not a center for diving, but a nice place
none the less.  One day I'll have to go down to FL and check that out.
Don't think it will be this year, as I am going to burn up all my
vacation flying a little plane up to Canada (maybe Alaska) from WA,
and spending a couple weeks in Thailand.  Next year may be China or
visiting cousins in Europe.  (If you like travelling, make friends
in different countries so you have a cheap place to stay!!!  ;)
james
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