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Puerto Rico

The current weather in Culebra

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Kayak Bullying | Culebra Island Adventures
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Tracy Eichelberger (107.77.75.---)
Date:   11-08-15 10:38

Not sure who to point to on this but we have several times kayaked or hiked from Tamarindo along the coast toward tamarindo grande. We have enjoyed the snorkeling there fir years however the past three years we have been periodically inundated with kayak tour operators who have, seemingly intentionally disrupted our visit with unsafe paddling practices in extreme proximity to us,despite our high visibility presence in the waters, and sometimes directed insults our way.

One paddler we spoke with later told us they were told it was a "private reef" and it was implied all non-tour visitors were trespassing and that group leaders talked about driving out others who are in the area. I only post this because this past year, it was so egregious i tried to complain but no channel seemingly exists. Their practices are not only unsafe and rude, and we have witnessed some guides and their guests also exhibiting lack of respect for the reef as well.

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Re: Kayak bullying
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Michael (---.netvisao.pt)
Date:   11-09-15 02:10

Tracy, thank you for bringing this to public attention! Do you, by any chance, remember the name of the tour operator?

Enjoy Culebra!

Michael

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Re: Kayak bullying
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Tracy Eichelberger (---.hrbgpa.fios.verizon.net)
Date:   11-09-15 07:41

We believe it to be. culebra island adventures. We spoke to the kayaking puerto rico people and they claim their tours were not in that area that day. They were very responsive to our concerns. They directed me to the person at the beach for Culebra island adventures, who basically gave us the brush off and told us "good luck" if we try to register any complaint. We have been visiting Culebra at least 1-2 x per year since 1993. These episodes, two major ones now, have left us wondering what is happeneing to this marvelous island.

We should be able to snorkel a public reef without being run over by kayakers, and i mean, the ones who know how to handle a kayak, not the beginners. They paddle entirely too close to the reef and allow snorkelers to bump into the reef and touch the reef. We saw one stand up on the reef and we believe it was the tour guide. We shouldnt have to tolerate people yelling at us to get out of the way and telling us it's not our reef. These people need training and just general courtesy. But is it really a surprise...

Take a look at CUlebra Island Adventures facebook page, it is filled with pics of people chasing turtles, groups mobbing turtles, grabbing at turtles who are trying to get away, manhandling marine life, touching and sitting on the reef, etc. these folks even post a picture of the sign from the tamarindo marine santuary with instructions to not do these things. Posting these pics not only demonstrates disregard, it sends a message to potential customers that these things are a-ok and perhaps even encouraged as "normal."

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Re: Kayak Bullying | Culebra Island Adventures
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Author: Michael (---.netvisao.pt)
Date:   11-11-15 02:33

Tracy, again, thank you! I have sent links to some people on the island who, I am sure, will look into this through appropriate channels. I hope they respond here as well, but may not, to avoid publicity.

Enjoy Culebra!

Michael

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