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Every year, unfortunately, accidents happen while on charter. Make
no mistake: Some of those are fatal. More often than
not, there are due to lack of basic caution and common sense. We have
gathered
a
few simple rules to help keep your crew as safe as possible. And remember:
Always expect other boaters - especially in the
heavily
chartered areas - to do something not worthy of the best seamanship.
So it is a good idea to take extra precautions to insure
your
crew safety as much as you can. It is your duty as a skipper.
Snorkeling rules
Recreational snorkeling
- All your crew and guests should be given a detailed safety briefing
concerning snorkeling practice during your charter. It is important
to emphasize that giving that information in an earnest manner
is one of the skipper's primary responsibility.
- Guests should be advised to stay as a group when snorkeling, and should
be prohibited to snorkel alone at any time, and, even more prohibited,
to go snorkeling alone without advising other guests.
- One member of the group should attach to him/herself the diver down
fly and float safety gear that should be supplied onboard every charter
yacht. If the gear is not onboard, be sure to request it before
leaving the dock.
- Snorkelers should be shown the prevailing current in the area and
its direction. It is always a good idea to start a snorkeling trip against
the current. That way, snorkelers will be carried back by the
current toward the boat at the end of their swim, when they are the
most tired.
- Snorkelers must inform the skipper and/or a member of the crew if
and when they are going snorkeling and their intended location.
- Try to get a time frame on how long the snorkel trip is for.
- Guests should be advised to stay close to the shore or in designated
snorkeling areas and warned against snorkeling near or in designated
navigational channels used by any type of vessel.
- Advise guests to wear a bright colored t-shirt when snorkeling to
help protect them from sunburn and also to help them being spotted in
the water more easily.
- Stress the importance of being vigilant and aware of the surroundings
as well as other boat operators in the area where they are snorkeling.
For example, snorkelers should be attentive to the following:
- Any buzzing sound (probably a dinghy motoring in the area). If there
is a dinghy approaching, snorkelers should make sure they have been
seen.
- Their location relative to their boat. If a strong current has taken
the group too far, the group should swim back to a reasonable distance.
- If the snorkeling group includes children, especially if
they are young:
- The children should absolutely wear a bright colored t-shirt and a
life-jacket.
- An adult should hold each child by the hand at all time, especially
in strong currents.
Snorkeling to check the anchor is set
- Ensure the diver down flag is displayed on the yacht when a crewmember
is snorkeling to check the anchor. The crew checking the anchor should
have the diver down fly and float flag with them.
- In addition a lookout should be placed on the foredeck of the yacht.
- Ensure that the skipper and first mate understand that the diver
down flag should only be displayed from the yacht when someone is
in
the water and snorkeling to check the anchor or boat. The flag should
not be left displayed for the duration of the charter. Correct and
proper
flag etiquette should be observed.
Kayaking Rules
- All your crew and guests should be given a thorough safety briefing
concerning safe snorkeling practice during your charter.
- Before leaving the dock, try, if possible, to obtain from the charter
company a pole and flag to be placed on the kayak when in use to increase
visibility.
- Kayakers must inform someone of where they are
going if kayaking alone.
- Kayakers must let someone on board know
the planned exploration route and destination.
- Kayakers must give an approximate
amount of time they plan to be away from the boat.
- The strength and direction of the current should be checked. Kayak
trips should always start
going against the current,
and finish going with the current.
- Kayakers should preferably use paddles that are colored and
clearly visible.
- Kayakers should wear a bright colored t–shirt/hat that is
seen easily by other boat operators.
- Kayakers should wear a lifejacket / PFD.
- Kayakers take sunscreen
and enough water with them to avoid dehydration.
- Kayakers should be very vigilant and aware of
their surroundings as well as other boat operators in the area where
they are kayaking.
- Kayakers should not travel far away from the shoreline and definitely
avoid kayaking out into exposed open water. There, the danger increases
a lot in a swell where the kayaks are hidden in troughs.
- Kayakers should stay off designated navigational channels and/or
heavily trafficked zones (with ferries and such).
- No one should be kayaking at night.
Skippers, do not be complacent about this. Place the safety of your
party above any other consideration.
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