Page 9 - Snorkelling Preview
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Copyright Wet Paper Publications 2014
Figure 9.2 Make sure you know where all emergency points
are located. These are marked with an X.
Site risk assessment includes
• entry and exit
points
• currents
• weather
Figure 9.3 Establish communications and signals
Wet Paper
Figure 9.1 Six elements of risk assessment
Lady Elliott Island
Wet Paper
Equipment care and
maintenance
Critical equipment that needs to be checked daily for good
operation includes:
• The dive flag - make sure it can be seen. On a calm day,
attach a wire to the top of the flag so people can see it.
• Check batteries in communication equipment. Do a radio
check.
• First aid kit including access to hot water and vinegar.
• Rescue equipment - if a boat is used, the school will have
a safety management system. If you are studying boating,
theWet Paper powerboating workbook outlines a complete
set of procedures.
• Flotation devices and mermaid lines.
• Oxygen bottle and means of transport. Make sure serviced
according to manufacturers specification. Check this site
for the most up to date details on compliance.
Emergency planning
A snorkel emergency during a school snorkelling activity
could include:
• Rescues, eg group carried away by rip, your buddy does
not surface.
• Missing persons, eg, missing signature from snorkel roster.
• Marine stings, bites, cuts and envenomation
• Evacuation - presence of dangerous animal, eg, a shark.
Define the area and make a map
The area of the activity should be well defined.
• Identify tidal influences, currents, poor visibility, large
amounts of underwater vegetation, known dangerous
marine life.
• Mark the area out for the best possible entry! Avoid rocks
with sharp barnacles and areas where waves crash on rocks
or reefs.
Establish the roles of supervisors
• At school or on a organised snorkelling tour, you will be
under the control of a supervisor who uses a lookout over
the group.
• Check the following website for the roles and
responsibilities.
Establish communications
Some form of contact should be established between the
base and the snorkelling party in case an emergency plan
had to be put in place. Awhistle and a flag are two common
pieces of equipment used for this purpose.
Boats usually carry marine radios, but if snorkelling from
the shore, the nearest telephone or car should be well known.
Ahand held VHF marine radio like the one shown in Figure
9.3 , is a very good way to ensure communications.
• surface conditions
• visibility
• maximum depth
Observer
follows
snorkelling party
on rescue board
