One dive operator said he experienced some cancellations, which he believed were due in part to concerns about the oil spill. "I would absolutely expect that any visitors to the island will think twice about coming here if there's a giant oil spill coming this way," another dive operator said.
K. NANCOO-RUSSELL- Freeport News
FREEPORT, Bahamas — Local divers say although they have not seen any visible signs of oil in the water or changes in the behaviour of marine life, they are concerned about the potential threat the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico can present to The Bahamas.
An article in Wednesday's Nassau Guardian quoted Chief Climatological Officer Michael Stubbs as saying that the spill is likely to reach local coastlines by the weekend, as a result of a shift in wind patterns.
The Freeport News spoke with several divers yesterday, but none reported seeing any changes so far.
Fred Riger of Grand Baha-ma Scuba said he is monitoring the spill closely.
"If the wind is correct, it could impact The Bahamas. If the wind is the way it usually runs, it's going to impact Florida," he said.
The entire situation is a mess, he said, and should never have happened.
"The fact that they're not aggressively seeking a solution is a problem because it's just becoming a bigger and bigger issue."
The impact on The Bahamas will depend on how long the spill goes on for and which way the prevailing winds blow, Riger said, adding that it could be very bad for The Bahamas.
"But at the same time we've been dealing with everything that comes down the Missis-sippi river for decades now. Everything that South Florida dumps as well, so oil is just one more issue."
Nicholas Rolle of Sunn Odyssey Divers said it is a big concern for him. Just a week ago he experienced some cancellations by visitors, he noted, which he believed was due in part because of concerns they may have had about the oil spill.
"I don't think right now people are going to say that but I think those who were even thinking of travelling this far south now are reconsidering and I think the implication is that we are going to be affected in more ways than one, it's just not out in the public as yet," he said.
Tourists are concerned about it also, he continued.
While out on a dive about two days ago, he said, it was the topic of conversation among his customers.
"Eventually we're going to see some of it. From shallow which is about 10 feet down to about 100 feet I honestly haven't seen anything as yet, but we are concerned about this wind coming out of the northwest, which will push that stuff, whatever's left, further south and of course with the westerly flow of wind, I think we're going to get something. I don't know when but we are going to."
Stephanie Borszcz, operations manager at Viva Diving said from her observation, everything underwater has been the same, but even the few splotches of oil she has seen on the shore has her spooked.
"I don't know if it's from the spill or if it's from a boat but it doesn't make you feel happy. It gives you a little scare that it could be coming here," he said.
None of the guests have been heard saying anything about it, she said, but staff members are definitely concerned.
Dive master at the Under-water Explorers Society Eddie Raphael said while out on a boat yesterday he actually witnessed a group of four foot long barracudas swimming together, a rare sight, he said, and a sign that the marine life here has not yet been affected.
"I would say that we haven't seen the affects of it yet," he said, but customers are "definitely concerned."
"Everyone seems to be asking questions about what's going to happen and is there anything implemented or in place to combat it if it arrives," he said.
Raphael pointed out that over the last two or three years, there's been a slow return to larger numbers of fish in local waters and that thriving marine life has been a huge source of revenue for the island as far as tourism goes.
"I would absolutely expect that any visitors to the island will think twice about coming here if there's a giant oil spill coming this way," he said.
His co-worker, Cristina Zenato who is a diving supervisor, said that no matter the outcome of the oil spill, there should be a preparedness plan put in place.
"What if the oil gets into the loop current? Right now the loop hole current is really weak but what if it changes? At the moment we are very far away from any risk but that does not mean that what happens there will not affect us."
Yesterday United States president, Barack Obama, spoke on the matter, pointing out that the effort to clean up the spill is the largest of its kind in U.S. history. He said the federal government will suspend planned oil explorations near Alaska and off the coast of Virginia.
Obama noted that the spill is a reminder of the need to push for comprehensive energy reform legislation and the U.S. government has launch-ed a presidential commission's safety review of offshore drilling in response to the accident.
