Safety
The field and workshop seminar has been attended by over 400 scientists since 1980. Silver in associated with Olympic Exploration, maintains a policy of safety above all else. When in the water, participants are expected to wear life vests at all times unless they have buoyant wet suits and use the "buddy" system. A certified dive instructor is also with each group to discuss reef and fauna and provide any help needed on transects of cayes. Dr. Silver also monitors swimmers from the boat as they snorkel.. Olympic is proud of the sterling record it has acquired and feels this is due to stringent practice of safety precautions. Other precautions are discussed below:
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Equipment: We use a 38 foot, twin engine boat the first four days of the course. Although this adds to the cost of the trip, it significantly increases the safety of each participant during debarking and boarding the boat during the frequent snorkels. It has a GPS, cell phone and two-way radio and it adds both comfort and safety to our trip to Glovers Atoll.
- Each participant will be issued a snorkel vest and we strongly encourage each to use while in the water and on the boat.
- We use the buddy system, consequently no participant should be alone in the water. One of the seminar associates is always at the end of the snorkel group to further insure the safety of each person in the water. We also have a certified lifesaving swimmer with the group at all times.
- Typically, an instructor remains on the boat to guarantee the safety of each participant. In case of an emergency or a participant desires to board the boat prior to completion of each snorkel help is always available.
The Island Princess
is the boat that is used in the northern segment of the trip. It is a 27
foot, twin engine speed boat. The boat is well
suited for very shallow water (less than a meter) as well as the one time we are outside but near the barrier reef.
This boat also contains a GPS and two-way radio system.
