Snorkelling - Environment

Water environments

Snorkelling activities are undertaken in unique and diverse marine and coastal environments.  These natural venues require sensitive use and management.  These environments offer opportunities for personal challenge and reflection as well as for studying unique flora and fauna, however they are very susceptible to long-lasting damage from human activity.

A wide range of environmental factors need to be considered when planning snorkelling activities.  These include the location, size, depth and turbidity of the body of water; the strength of tides and currents; the presence and power of waves; and the temperature of the water.

When preparing for snorkelling, staff should consider ways to minimise the environmental impact of the activity.  Further information is available at Environment.

Location

The choice of location should be based on the recent and first-hand knowledge of at least one member of the planning and supervising staff.  Where this is impractical, planning and supervising staff should be thoroughly familiar with the general characteristics and conditions found in similar locations, and should have consulted with people who can supply recent and first-hand knowledge of the locations being considered.

When assessing the suitability of a location, consider:

• the potential to support the educational objectives
• the level of access to the resources, services and facilities that may be needed, such as campsites, water, walking trails, toilets, shelter from extreme weather, or interpretive information
• the level of access to communications and external assistance, in the event of an emergency, or extreme weather conditions — the more remote the location is, the more self-contained and self-reliant the group must be and this must be taken into account in the planning of the activity
• the potential exposure to environmental hazards and difficulties
• the ability and fitness levels of students.

Contact with relevant authorities should be made in order to access current information and to determine any access and permit requirements.

These authorities may include:

• Emergency Services
• Parks Victoria or other land managers
• Department of Sustainability and Environment
• Marine Safety Victoria
• Lifesaving Victoria

Snorkelling activities can be conducted in type 1 and type 2 venues.  Please refer to the definitions section of these guidelines for a description of type 1, 2 and 3 venues.

At least one staff member must have thorough recent knowledge and experience of the venue, including tides, currents and the range of possible conditions

On the day of the activity, the conditions must be assessed by the staff as being suitable for the participating students.

Staff need to be aware that severe weather conditions may develop before or during the proposed activity and should be prepared to cancel, modify or relocate the activity at any time.

Communication

• Choose communication equipment based on current communication technology.

• Develop a communication strategy for the group during the activity and to enable communication with outside parties, including the school and emergency services.

• Be aware of the limitations of the communication strategy.

Weather

Weather forecasts should be obtained from the Bureau of Meteorology.

Weather conditions can change rapidly.  Monitor and assess the weather throughout the activity and be prepared to cancel, modify or relocate at any time.

Weather warning telephone services

• Coastal, Land Weather and Flood Warnings on 1300 659 217
• Full State Telephone Weather Service on 1900 955 363 (call charge applies)
• Coastal Waters Telephone Service on 1900 969 930 (call charge applies)
• Victorian Bushfire Information Line on 1800 240 667.

The above telephone numbers may be useful to have available during the excursion.

Web links

 

The following guidelines for water and weather conditions are recommended:

• in general, underwater visibility should be at least 3 metres and the bottom visible from the surface
• the water surface should be calm with minimal or no ‘sea’ (the ‘chop’ of the water)
• swell (unbroken waves) should be less than 0.5 metres
• stable weather conditions must prevail, with no obvious threat of a sudden change in weather that could significantly affect the safety of the activity.

 

Transportation