SNORKEL / SKIN DIVING POLICY GUIDE1

8.10 INTRODUCTION

It is the intent of SPMC to maximize snorkel / skin diver safety. Therefore no person shall engage in scientific snorkeling / skin diving operations through SPMC unless they have been granted permission in accordance with this manual.

8.20 REQUIREMENTS FOR APPLICATION

1.  Applicants must undergo a SCUBA physical and complete all diving medical forms found in Appendices 9-12.

2.  Applicants must complete the Diving Registration and Acknowledgement of Risk Form and a Dive Study Plan (Appendices 2 & 3).

3.  Applicants must provide Current First Aid and CPR certifications.

8.30 REQUIRED EQUIPMENT FOR SNORKEL / SKIN DIVING

1.  Personal equipment must be supplied by each individual snorkel / skin diver.

2.  Exposure suit and fins must be used.

3.  The snorkel / skin diver must be able to maintain buoyancy at the surface with minimal effort. If weights are used then the weighting system must be capable of quick release and the snorkel / skin diver must be positively buoyant when at the surface. Flotation jackets are recommended.

4.  SPMC will provide a dive flag to be displayed at all times snorkeling is going on, including when snorkel/ skin diving takes place from shore.

5.  SPMC will provide a safety kit (including a first aid kit) to be taken along on all dives.

8.40 SNORKEL / SKIN DIVING PROTOCOL

1.  Must have a surface safety attendant on the boat (boat tender), or shore (shore watch).

2.  Minimum team size of three people: two snorkel/ skin divers and a surface safety attendant.

3.  Snorkel/ skin divers must stay within 50 feet of dive flag and surface safety attendant.

4.  Snorkel/ skin divers must adhere to the buddy system. On the surface divers should remain within 15 feet of their buddy. When making surface dives and swimming underwater divers should adopt “one-up”, “one down” (buddies alternate).

5.  Applicants requiring training in snorkel/ skin diving techniques and/ or applicants with weak swimming abilities should make this known to the Diving Safety Officer.

6.  Hyperventilations prior to breathe hold diving is a dangerous practice and is not permitted.

7.  Snorkel/ skin divers should complete a dive log following each dive (Appendix 6).

8.50 ACTIVITES REQUIRING SPECIAL APPROVAL

The following activities require the expressed prior approval of the Diving Safety Officer (this list is not designed to be exhaustive and it is the diver’s responsibility to consult the Diving Safety Officer should it be unclear as to whether an activity is cause for concern):

1.  Snorkel/ skin dives that do not adhere to this policy guide.

2.  After hours dives.

3.  Snorkel/ skin diving between sunset and sunrise.

4.  Hazardous conditions.

5.  Exposed areas.

6.  Currents and waves.

7.  Confined areas and inside caverns.

8.  Risk of entanglement.

9.  Increased boat traffic.

10.  Adverse weather conditions.

11.  Snorkel/ skin diving following dives breathing compressed gas (SCUBA) dives.

12.  Breath hold dives deeper than 15 feet.

1 These snorkel and skin diving standards have been modified from the Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre’s Snorkel/ Skin Diving Policy Guide. http://www.bms.bc.ca/pdfs/BMSCSnorkelPolicy.pdf