Skip to main content
All CollectionsBoats & Safety
Safety & Emergency Procedures
Safety & Emergency Procedures

Info on our cew training, gear care, tank air quality, boat maintenance, briefs, and emergency action plans.

Karina Weisman avatar
Written by Karina Weisman
Updated over a week ago

Crew Training

Certifications

At Waterhorse Charters, we pride ourselves on the professionalism and expertise of our crew. Every skipper holds a United States Coast Guard license, and our dive crew is comprised of certified divemasters or instructors.

Crew Meetings

To maintain our exceptional level of service, we host four extensive 6-hour crew meetings annually. These quarterly gatherings focus on reviewing the previous quarter, discussing safety procedures, identifying improvement areas, updating policies, practicing safety briefs, and fostering innovation and camaraderie through team-building exercises.

Safety Drills

In addition to these meetings, we hold monthly drills, practicing real-life safety scenarios to keep our crew sharp and prepared. Each crew member is required to participate in at least four drills annually and attend every crew meeting.

Performance Reviews

At year’s end, we conduct thorough one-on-one performance evaluations, celebrating individual strengths, pinpointing growth opportunities, and setting career objectives for the upcoming year.

Drug Testing

Alongside their certifications and ongoing training, all crew members are enrolled in a stringent random drug testing program, which typically tests two individuals each month.

Company App

Our company stays connected and informed through a dedicated app, featuring chatrooms for various internal discussions, lesson sharing, and comprehensive checklists for every company procedure, from guest check-in to post-trip operations.

Crew Forms

Following each trip, our crew members complete a post-trip report, ensuring every detail is digitally logged for reference. In the event of an incident, no matter how minor, it is mandatory for the crew to fill out an incident report and gather two additional accounts: one from the individual involved and another from a witness.


Gear Care

At Waterhorse Charters, we ensure our rental gear is always in top condition. Each piece is rigorously inspected for any issues and replaced immediately if it doesn't meet our high standards. For unexpected situations, we have spare gear bins on board for quick swaps.

Post-rental, we meticulously clean our equipment with specialized gear shampoo, then allow it to air-dry thoroughly over two days to prevent any mold growth. Our tanks undergo regular VIP and hydrostatic testing, and our regulators receive annual servicing and pressure testing from reputable local dive shops such as Ocean Enterprises or House of Scuba, guaranteeing your safety and comfort on every dive.


Tank Air Quality

In addition to routinely maintaining our air filters, Waterhorse Charters partners with Analytical Chemists, Inc. to ensure the highest air quality aboard our vessels. Our yearly comprehensive air tests, covering elements like oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and hydrocarbons, consistently certify that we meet CGA Grade E requirements.


Boat Maintenance

We dedicate the winter months to extensive scheduled maintenance for each of our boats, ensuring they're in pristine condition for your adventures. This annual care includes a thorough check and servicing of engines, generators, compressors, air banks, electronics, and cosmetic updates.

We have a part-time mechanic on staff to uphold smooth operations all year round. Monthly, our hulls are professionally cleaned, and zincs replaced to prevent corrosion. Every two years, we take things a step further by hauling out each vessel for a complete bottom inspection and fresh bottom paint, affirming our commitment to safety and performance at sea.


Emergency Action Plan

We have a copy of this company-wide Emergency Action Plan on each boat and our company app:

Emergency Contacts

  • Emergency Services: VHF Channel 16 or 911

  • Divers Alert Network (DAN): (919) 684-9111

  • Nearest Hospital and Hyperbaric Chamber:

UC San Diego Hillcrest Emergency Department

200 W Arbor Dr, San Diego, CA 92103

(619) 543-6400

Emergency Call-In Script

Speak clearly, calmly, and slowly. DO NOT end the call until the receiving unit does so.

"I am calling to report a (diving-related) emergency requiring immediate medical assistance. The victim is a (age) year old (gender) who is (conscious/unconscious), with the following

symptoms…..(describe signs/symptoms). We are at the following location….(address,

landmarks, etc.) We have initiated care (first aid/CPR/O2), and the last vital signs were as

follows.....(pulse, respirations, B/P). We are requesting immediate transport to.....(receiving

facility of choice), via (air/ground) transport.

Man Overboard Protocol

  • Yell “Man overboard!” to alert the crew to the emergency

  • Assign someone to establish an unceasing visual on the victim, pointing at all times

    • If you’re unsure of where the victim is or if there is a chance the props could endanger the victim, stop the boat (until you are sure of where the victim is)

  • Throw MOB gear, life jackets, flotation cushions, and anything that will help the victim float and help you keep track of the victim

  • Return to and attempt to retrieve the victim carefully approaching the victim from the leeward side

  • If the situation is life-threatening, call Emergency Services on channel 16 or 911

    • Say, “Man overboard,” and give your location, boat description, and the description of the victim. Do this three times in succession.

  • Fill out an INCIDENT REPORT within 24 hours of the incident

Fire Protocol

  • Find the fire and determine its size

  • Inform all passengers, move them away from the fire and get them into their life jackets, prepared to abandon ship

  • Make a distress call to Emergency Services and nearby vessels on channel 16 or 911

  • Restrict the fire:

    • Close hatches, ports, etc. to reduce the air supply to the fire

    • Shut off the power to electrical systems in the affected space

    • Close off fuel/gas lines and ventilation

  • Maneuver vessel to put the fire downwind and minimize the wind’s effect in spreading the fire. If fire occurs at the dock, move passengers and any portable fuel tanks ashore

  • Determine if anchoring the boat is necessary to prevent further damage

  • Extinguish the fire:

    • Quickly determine the class of fire, appropriate equipment, extinguishing agent and method of attack

    • Activate any built-in fire suppression systems, first ensuring that all passengers have been evacuated from the fire area

    • Try to put the fire out with whatever you determine is appropriate – extinguisher, fire blanket, water buckets, etc...

    • Throw burning items over the side

    • Once the fire is out, assign someone to watch for re-ignition (consider using water to cool the fire site once the flames are extinguished)

  • Cancel May Day if assistance is no longer needed

  • Fill out an INCIDENT REPORT within 24 hours of the incident

Missing Diver Protocol

  • Mark starting point of dive OR last known location - use GPS or anchored buoy (weight belt, line & life jacket)

  • Note:

    • current direction/speed when diver last seen (use floating object to help in determination)

    • sea and weather conditions

    • time when dive began, current time, and depth of dive to determine when air supply should be depleted

    • time diver was last seen

    • visual reference points above and below the water of last known location

  • Look down-current and towards shore for diver

  • Question dive buddy: anything unusual about dive?

  • Call Emergency Services on channel 16 or 911

  • Fill out an INCIDENT REPORT within 24 hours of the incident

Scuba Diving Injury Protocol

  • Protect yourself and the victim from further injury

  • Assess victim, follow EMERGENCY FLOWCHART

  • Contact Emergency Services on channel 16 or 911

  • Administer CPR/First Aid and Oxygen as needed, begin transport unless Emergency Services recommends otherwise

    • If the victim is unstable, check and record vital signs every 5 min during transport/while awaiting care. Check: pulse/min, blood pressure, respirations/min

    • If stable, check and record every 15 minutes

    • If conscious, perform FIELD NEUROLOGICAL EXAMINATION, record results

  • Check and monitor the victim's dive buddy for any signs or symptoms of DCI, administer CPR/First Aid, Oxygen, and treat for shock as needed

  • Collect the victim’s belongings and retain victim's diving equipment:

    • Leave gear assembled, turn off air (count number of turns it takes to close valve), and rinse with fresh water (do not exhaust air from reg)

  • Gather dive history and other important information:

    • Take note of any dive data from a computer, depth gauge, timing device, SPG

    • Get the names, phone numbers and addresses of any witnesses

    • Note time and list first aid procedures initiated

  • Arrange for return transportation or any necessary phone calls for victim if needed

  • Fill out an INCIDENT REPORT within 24 hours of the incident

⚠️ Dive computer must accompany the diver to the Emergency Department ⚠️

Emergency Flowchart

Field Neurological Examination

Orientation

  • Person: Diver can tell you their own name and DOB.

  • Place: Diver is aware of where they are.

  • Time: Time to nearest hour.

Eyes

  • Does the diver have any visual disturbances?

*Repeat every 5-10 minutes, take note of any changes.

DCS Assessment

  • Throbbing Pain in elbows, knees, shoulder

  • Abnormal rash or skin deformities along the chest or torso

  • Numbness or tingling in arms or legs

  • Pounding headache and or dizziness/disorientation

  • Difficulty breathing or a sensation of choking

  • Difficulty urinating

Did this answer your question?