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Passive interaction means that we do not interfere with, but only observe the underwater world. We move slowly and deliberately, while remaining neutrally buoyant all the time.
We do not feed animals, we do not touch anything, we do not 'ride' animals when we dive. We take nothing but pictures and leave nothing but bubbles. When we dive in this manner the chances of getting marine life injuries are very rare.
The problem with touching animals is that it never benefits the animal, and it causes some animals to become defensive. Moray eels are an example of fish who have a reputation for biting divers. But often this bite is provoked by divers, who tried to touch the eel, and got bitten as a result. Just like land-animals, fish defend themselves then they feel threatened.
Another problem with touching animals is that some of them are poisonous. For example, when we step on a "stone-fish," or pick up a "cone-shell," we can get injured because of the poisonous stings these animals use to protect themselves.
Untreated these injuries can even lead to the death of the diver involved. And these problems can easily be avoided, by never touching anything when we dive.
Feeding fish is another irresponsible way of interacting with the environment. When we feed fish regularly, we disrupt the whole ecosystem, we destroy the existing balance. And when we feed predators, these predators start to associate us with food, and the chance of an attack becomes bigger. Therefor, shark-feeding by divers is a very questionable practice.
All these active forms of interaction do not add anything to our diving experience. With passive interaction we can experience amazing things under water. Remaining calm and moving deliberately, we can move through a school of fish, without disturbing them. We then come so close that we feel we are part of the underwater world, and when we move very slowly the fish have this impression too.
When we take part in a land safari we would never think about touching an elephant, or riding on the back of a lion. We would not stick our arm into a hole in the ground just to see if there is an animal there, or pick up strange looking things from the floor. We would not pet a baboon as if it was a house-cat. All the same principles apply to "underwater safari's."
When we choose to have only passive interaction with the marine life we meet during our dives, we can enjoy the dives just as much as with active interaction.
The fish will be grateful, and the chances of getting hurt are much smaller.
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