Water Sports Operations Guidelines
Cayman Islands Tourism Association (CITA), Updated August 2003
The Watersports operator’s first duty is to the safety of all divers, snorkelers, riders, participants and other individuals effected by the Watersports operation.
The Watersports operator shall abide by the following:
- Assure the safety of all participants.
- Individually follow all safe diving, snorkeling, training and boating principles, recognizing that influence by example is the cornerstone to the development and promotion of safe practices.
- Maintain a level of professional competence equal to standards established by the Association.
- All vessels operated by a member of the CITA must comply with the Marine Conservations Laws of the Cayman Islands See Appendix ‘F’.
- All vessels operated by a member of the CITA must adhere to the following CITA guidelines:
- Any vessel taking customers out for scuba diving or snorkeling must be equipped with:
- Safety Equipment on vessels over 20f/6m up to 40f/12m shall carry not less than:
- One Life preserver or buoyant vest for each person on board
- One life Buoy and float line
- Oxygen Kit, First Aid Kit and Backboard
- VHF 2-way radio
- One bailer or Manual bilge pump
- One anchor with not less than seventy-five feet of rope attached
- One sound-signaling apparatus
- Three hand-held red flares, one pocket mirror, and either one waterproof flashlight or one hand-held flare and two parachute flares - all in a watertight container.
- One fire extinguisher of not less than 10 pounds content in effective working condition
- Safety Equipment on vessels over 40f/12m shall not carry less than:
- All equipment required for vessels 20-40f/6-12m in length and in addition;
- One anchor with not less than one hundred feet of rope or cable attached
- Three hand-held red flares, three parachute flares and one orange smoke signal - all in a watertight container.
- The Red/White or the international ‘A’ Dive flag(s) must be flown when in-water activities from boat or shore are in progress and the all white flag when fishing activities are in progress. At all other times the flag must be rolled or taken down.
- Special rigid compliance is required in the operation of a boat within 200yards/182meters of the shoreline and within 200yards/182meters of an anchored or moored vessel or in other areas so marked.
- Vessels anchored, moored or maneuvering in the territorial water-ways of the Islands must at all times exhibit the lights required for their class by the International Collision at Sea regulations.
- A vessel approaching within 200yards/182meters of a diver’s down flag or diver’s down light shall not exceed a speed of 3 knots and shall have a look out on the bow for divers and swimmers and shall either make radio or visual contact with the person acting as look out on the vessel displaying such flag or light.
- All CITA members must monitor a VHF radio frequency for communications between vessels and from vessels to shore. All members operating channels are listed in Appendix ‘A’.
- Hang tanks (hookahs) must be in the water at 15 to 20 feet/4.5 to 6 meters during all scuba dives below 60feet/18meters. Hookah lines are recommended instead of hanging tanks.
- Divers must present a valid certification card or positive proof of such certification (a current log book etc). Divers with Certification cards without photographs on them should also show a photo ID. See Appendix ‘B’
- All Divers must have a buoyancy compensator; an underwater timing device, a depth gauge and each diver must also have an octopus regulator or another form of alternate air source.
- The recommended maximum depth limit with recreational scuba customers is 100feet/30meters, if within certification (See Appendix ‘B’). The required maximum depth with recreational scuba customers is 130feet/39meters and 100feet/39 meters for repetitive dives the same day.
- All shore divers must have one dive float/flag in the water per buddy team. This flag may be their personal flag, loaned or given, sold or rented. No flag is required if diving in a marked dive area. All shore divers must be informed of the Cayman Islands laws and regulations requiring a float/flag for all shore diving activities and Marine Conservation Laws.
- It is recommended that when renting scuba cylinders to open water divers that only one tank per certification card be given. It is recommended that when renting scuba cylinders to a certified and insured scuba instructor that only one cylinder per student is given and proof of teaching status & liability insurance of the instructor be shown.
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