The Department of Land and Natural Resources’ enforcement officers are investigating an incident last week in which one diver apparently attacked another.
Maui resident Rene Umberger said she was diving at Keawaiki on Thursday, documenting the reef and two aquarium fish collectors at work, when one of the fish collecters noticed her and began swimming toward her.
Umberger, a former dive instructor and dive guide, said she was able to react quickly to prevent the situation from becoming worse. She was about 50 feet below the surface when the incident happened.
When she reached the surface, she called police to report the incident. The police forwarded the report to DOCARE, she said. DOCARE has jurisdiction over incidents that happen in the ocean.
Two videos have been provided of the attack to DOCARE.
According to the press release, the fish collector “claimed that Umberger had affected the behavior of yellow tangs and other exotic reef fishes he was scooping into his container.