USVI-On-Line

Dave-a-roni, paint dry, for sure. We figured the star was good for at least two weeks!

The only animals I know of that you are allowed to touch are the sea stars and the conch. On our first trip we found some literature in our villa that talked about handling these animals--it might have been an nps for kids brochure or something? Anyway, it said if you pick up a sea star you should rest it on the flat of your hand and keep it underwater while looking at it though you can briefly bring it to the surface for observation.

The conch you are supposed to keep near the bottom though it is acceptable to turn it to observe the snail and check for conch fish as long as you put it back the way you found it.

If I was reading some rogue manual I am willing to be corrected!

We saw tons of Sea Cucumbers at Maho this year and had never seen them before this trip.

Dave-a-roni - I can't stand when I see people doing what you described. If I have to clear my mask, I first swim away from everything to where I am just over sand because depth perception is always off, and I don't want to accidently kick something.

nothintolose

chrisn wrote:For any of you interested, here is the report with the pics in question. Not saying they aren't great. They definitely are. I went back and read the comments. There was ONE that called their ocean romps into question, but in a very tactful way. Anywhoo, here you are...

http://www.ucalgary.ca/~mcdermid/BVI2007/

This link has drawn me back onto the forum like an angry hibernating bear being dragged out of a cave. I cannot believe that a responsible adult not only allowed a child to pull a turtle out of the water, but was stupid enough to post it on the server where they work!!!

Ok...back to bed for the next 31 days!!

Great pictures!
Real neat one of the starfish and cucumber!

I generally try not to touch anything in the ocean either. I figured that it can't be good to touch any of these things. Plus, I don't want to get hurt and have it ruin my vacation!

Cool. beautiful pic! Thanks for sharing. we also held some at coral world about two yrs. ago! would love to see some outsdide of that !

Wow,I never thought my topic would bring up 2 pages of discussions! Thanks for everyone's thoughts and concerns. I love S.T.J. and try my best to protect the island. I get upset one someone stands on coral or upsets the natural order of things.I have never touched anything underwater except for Seastars,Conch,and Sea cucumbers. When I did handle this creatures,I was very careful with them. The main reason I did handle them was to show my children for educational purposes. I will at this point leave Sea Cucumbers alone. I'm like most of you,don't touch things,it may bring harm to them or you! Now to answer a question for Nothintolose: At first,I did not find the cut out entrance to Princess Bay. I drug my wife through the "thicket" and entered the water. After we left Pricess I passed the cut out and looked at my wife and said "I guess we went the hard way ":D Parafins

Too funny parafins - sounds like something we would do - but it's all about the adventure - why go the easy way

nothintolose