The Evolution and Responsible Use of Pointer Sticks in Underwater Guiding

Pointer Sticks in Underwater Guiding

Pointer sticks, often made of durable metals like stainless steel, are familiar tools in the diving world. Originally, these simple devices were created to aid dive guides and instructors in pointing out hard-to-spot marine life, ensuring their group of divers could share in the awe of the underwater world. However, in recent years, their usage has expanded far beyond their intended purpose, leading to practices that are debated within the diving community. At Oceans 5 Gili Air, a PADI Career Development Centre, the belief is firm: dive guides and instructors should prioritize excellent buoyancy skills and thoughtful interactions with marine life, championing the ocean without leaning on devices like pointer sticks for unnecessary tasks.

The Traditional Role of Pointer Sticks

The primary function of a pointer stick is straightforward: to indicate marine life or points of interest that divers might overlook. This simple act is invaluable when guiding groups through vibrant coral gardens or sites with camouflaged critters, where pointing with a finger might not suffice to convey detail from a distance. A well-used pointer stick helps enhance the dive experience, allowing divers to focus their attention on unique marine life without getting too close and disturbing the habitat.

The Misuse of Pointer Sticks as Buoyancy Aids

An increasing trend seen among dive instructors and guides is using pointer sticks as a buoyancy control device. Instead of relying on proper breath control and body positioning, some divers put their pointer sticks into the sand or reef to steady themselves, believing this compensates for inadequate buoyancy control. However, this practice is problematic for several reasons:

1. Environmental Harm: Touching or pushing into the sand or reef with any tool can cause damage. Even in sandy areas, excessive use of a pointer stick can disrupt benthic organisms living beneath the surface or create unnecessary clouding that impacts the visibility for other divers.
2. Misrepresentation of Skills: For instructors and guides, buoyancy should be second nature. At Oceans 5 Gili Air, it’s believed that professionals should set an example by demonstrating impeccable buoyancy skills. An instructor seen using a pointer stick for stabilization sends the wrong message to their students, implying that such reliance is acceptable when it isn’t.
3. Safety and Control: The reliance on a pointer stick for buoyancy hints at a potential lack of confidence in an instructor’s or guide’s own diving abilities. Divers look up to their guides and instructors as role models. Therefore, showcasing excellent buoyancy, even in challenging currents or near delicate corals, reinforces trust and respect for the professional leading them.

Oceans 5 Gili Air’s Perspective on Buoyancy and Advocacy

A key philosophy at Oceans 5 Gili Air is that a dive guide or instructor should always exhibit top-tier diving skills. This includes the ability to maintain buoyancy without using external tools. The role of a diving professional extends beyond just leading dives; they are advocates for ocean conservation. It’s vital that their actions reflect this responsibility. Why should someone guiding divers need to plant a stick into the sand for balance when the focus should be on preserving the underwater world in its natural state?

Professionals should inspire divers with their confidence and skill. If instructors rely on external devices to maintain their position, it diminishes their ability to advocate effectively for the ocean. By demonstrating superior buoyancy, instructors communicate that this skill is both achievable and essential for all divers who wish to minimize their impact on marine ecosystems.

Tapping for Attention: When Is It Really Necessary?

Another frequent use of the pointer stick is tapping it against the tank to create noise and draw attention. While this method is effective for urgent communication, its overuse can be distracting and counterproductive. Around the Gili Islands, the marine life often consists of non-moving or slow-moving creatures. It’s common to spot a hawksbill turtle grazing on coral or a well-camouflaged scorpionfish resting on the seabed—sightings that won’t vanish in a flash.

The argument for incessant tapping becomes weak when considering that these creatures remain visible long enough for the guide to signal divers without urgent noise. Divers are already attentive to their guide’s body language, hand signals, and general movements. A guide who is in charge and comfortable underwater doesn’t need to create constant noise to direct attention. There’s ample time to maneuver and signal divers naturally.

Alternatives to Tapping:

• Hand Signals and Body Language: Guides can rely on pre-dive briefings that outline specific signals for different types of marine life. Divers who are well-informed will know to watch for cues such as a closed fist for a turtle or a sweeping gesture for a school of fish.
• Positioning: Experienced guides know how to position themselves so that they can catch a diver’s eye without noise. A small wave of the hand or an exaggerated movement can be sufficient to guide attention.
• Patience: As long as the fish or animal isn’t fleeting, there is no rush. Instructing divers to approach calmly and slowly reduces the need for abrupt attention-getting measures.

Pointer Sticks for What They Were Meant For

There’s a clear, responsible way to use pointer sticks underwater. Dive guides should use them solely for their intended purpose: to highlight marine life from a respectful distance. This ensures that divers get the experience they came for without compromising the well-being of the animals or their surroundings. It’s also essential to wield the pointer stick carefully, ensuring it doesn’t come too close to the marine life being pointed out. Overeager gestures can distress fish and other creatures or even cause accidental contact.

Ethical Guidelines for Using Pointer Sticks:

• Maintain a Safe Distance: Avoid using the stick to touch or come excessively close to animals. Let them remain undisturbed.
• Limit Use: The stick should only come out when necessary and should not replace thoughtful guiding techniques or strong diving skills.
• Keep Interaction Minimal: Use the stick to guide eyes, not hands. Divers are there to witness, not intrude.

Reinforcing Positive Practices at Oceans 5 Gili Air

At Oceans 5 Gili Air, training emphasizes developing essential dive skills without shortcuts. New divers are taught how to master their buoyancy with nothing but their bodies and equipment, setting a strong foundation. Instructors and guides are similarly expected to display these skills, instilling in divers a culture of respect for the underwater environment.

Pointer sticks are seen as helpful tools for specific circumstances, not a crutch. This approach is part of a broader mission at Oceans 5 Gili Air: to ensure that every diver leaves with a deeper connection to the ocean and the know-how to protect it. Being an advocate means showing that interacting with the ocean is as much about what you don’t do—such as touching or disrupting—as what you actively practice.

Conclusion

Pointer sticks, when used appropriately, enhance the diving experience by drawing attention to hard-to-see marine life. However, their role has been misused over time, with some instructors using them as buoyancy aids or noise makers. At Oceans 5 Gili Air, the belief is strong: diving professionals should be the best examples of skill and stewardship. They should use their pointer sticks to point out wonders, not as a buoyancy prop or an alarm bell. Instructors and dive guides must remember their responsibility to the ocean, showcasing strong, confident, and respectful diving practices that future divers can aspire to replicate