Diving:
In the event of any incident, please alert a member of staff immediately. A hand bell can be found on the middle entry platform and the side of the changing rooms.
What to do if your dive buddy gets into difficulty?
Underwater
Wherever possible, help them to the surface by removing their weight belt.
On the Surface
The alarm can be raised by using the bell situated on the middle entry platform, verbally or by blowing on a whistle or continuous sounding of a cars horn. Spare whistles can be found on the yellow swim buoys.
At the waters edge
- If you see someone in trouble make a staff member aware immediately by shouting or
using the hand bell. - Keep sight of the person in trouble until help arrives.
South West Maritime Academy Rescue Plan
- During open dive and swim sessions a rescue boat will always be stationed on the water. Ready for immediate use it will be based at the pontoon next to the lake reception. The boat will be launched to assist any person in distress. The boat carries a throw line and spare tow float to assist both divers and swimmers.
- Oxygen and an AED along with a first aid kit is based at the lake reception at the north end. This can be transferred into the rescue boat or a support vehicle if appropriate.
- Staff members are ready to call the emergency services whenever necessary.
- If a diver is ill, staff will administer first aid until the emergency services arrive.
- Any diver with decompression sickness will be transferred to the nearest available recompression chamber, usually by air ambulance.
- All accidents or near misses at South West Maritime Academy are recorded and full reports given to the appropriate associations and authorities.
Dive Schools and Clubs
This emergency action plan cannot be used as part of the emergency assistance plan for any dive schools, this includes access to oxygen and AED. All dive schools must
provide adequate safety both below and above surface. Schools must also conform to the Diving at Work Regulations 1997 and all other relevant standards and procedures laid down by the UK Health & Safety Executive (HSE) and the agencies they operate under.
