SNORKELING GUIDE SOP

Staff: 1 position
Report to work – 8.30 am

 When report to work in the morning at 8.30 am, the guide need to do as follows:
 Check for snorkeling booking on that day
 Check for the snack is ready (kitchen) + mineral water (recreation counter)
 Persuade other guest to go for snorkeling for those who are do not make the booking yet
 Check and arrange snorkeling gears & life jacket (check for any damage)
 Assist the admin crew to prepare the recreation counter
 Prepare sanitizer solution
 Put water in the water container to wash the life jacket later
Gather the guest at Mahi Mahi – 9.30 am

 Get the guest to fill in activity / consent form

 Hand over snorkeling gears (mask & snorkel) and life jacket (make sure the guest get a
right size) + mineral water
 Demonstrate how to wear life jacket and snorkeling gears properly
 Conduct a safety briefing (please refer to snorkeling guide briefing SOP’ below)
 Do a head count before walk to the boat
 Check the boat is ready by 9.45 am and lead the guest to jetty or beach to get onto the
boat (make sure the snack is ready)
 Do another head count when get onto the boat (another short safety briefing before
leaving the jetty – keep tight the hat, towel & spectacle so, it will not fly away)
Back from the trip

 Ask the check to check their belongings, do not leave anything on the boat
 Get onto the jetty or on the beach safely
 Lead the guest back to the Resort/Villa
 Show them the place to put the snorkeling gears and life jacket
Post – trip

 Ask the guest how is the trip & what do they see, do they take any videos and photos?
 Disseminate feedback / evaluation form for the trip
 Check the snorkeling equipment quantity and any damages (repair if required)
Other task (if no other trip)

 Check for any other booking in the afternoon or next day

 Communicate with guest if he /she want to go for any recreational activities (snorkeling,
hiking, taxi service, kampung visit, etc)
 Help the crew to handle on recreational operation
 give and collect towels, maintain the sun bed, wash snorkeling gears, life jacket
 check with the admin crew if there is any Sun Set Cruise booking
End of the day 5.30 pm

 Collect & count the towels, arrange the sun bed, keep snorkeling gears & life jacket, tidy
up recreation counter & close the counter (however guest still can use the beach towel,
sun bed, snorkeling gear & life jacket until sunset).
 Write a daily report for any incident, weather, inquiries, booking, issues, feedback, etc

Equipment
Every time a piece of gear or equipment is used, it is inspected. Repair occurs either
immediately on site or through a suitable repair facility. Faults and repairs are documented in
the equipment register. If any piece of gear or equipment is no longer able to be used, it is
disposed of. Any hire equipment is also checked that it is fit for purpose. Staff may only use
clothing and equipment that are fit for purpose. Whenever possible programme t-shirts are worn
and snorkeling guide and crew are responsible for having all the equipment they need to
perform the operations of their mask, snorkel, fins and life jackets.
Participants
Participants are aware of the clothing and equipment required and are suitably clothed and/or
equipped for the activity. See example below:
Your child will need the following items:

 A big packed lunch

 Plenty to drink
 Sun hat & Sunscreen
 Swim Suits and towel (snorkelling gear are supplied, but need to wear their own
wetsuits/swimsuits)
 Aqua boots (optional)
 A good pair of shoes for walking
Snorkeling guide check for appropriate equipment before programme commencement
Programme equipment list is as follows:

 Wetsuits, Masks, snorkels and fins

 Spare mask and snorkel
 Watch
 Whistles
 Dive flag (if necessary)
 De-fog
 Buoyancy aids (life jacket)
 Personal floatation devices
 First aid kit
 Emergency Procedure
 On site cell phone (fully charged)
 Rash shirts
  Throw line
 Flares
 Load hailer
 Binoculars
 Floats and marker buoys
Note: in some cases, the above equipment may be considered essential, depending on the
participants, the environmental conditions and availability of local emergency services.
 Instructions for care of equipment and what to do with the snorkel equipment after use will
be given verbally to the participants by the snorkeling guide, including the use of de-fog or
equivalent product (no spitting in masks). This instruction will also include information on
where to put used mask, snorkels and life jacket when finished (please prepare sanitise
solution in a snorkeling gear storage box), so that used mask and snorkels do not get mixed
up with sanitised ones.
 During a COVID alert 2 - assign a sanitisation monitor and brief this person on their role to
ensure adequate sanitization of equipment
 No sharing of equipment during COVID alert
Carry first aid kits for each field activity as a standard requirement.

 Panadol
 Tampons/pads
 Antihistamine
 Eye wash
 Inhaler (if applicable)
Snorkelling SOP - Briefing
Full Briefing Checklist – all participants
Previous day

 Look at weather/beach conditions and/or appropriate forecasts

 Ratio check – ensure you will have enough adult supervisors on the day for a 1:2 ratio
(depending on age, experience etc. refer to SOP’s) Differentiate between adult
participants and supervisors
 Advise school/group if conditions are unsuitable for snorkelling
 Check that equipment is fit for purpose
Morning of Snorkel

 Check beach conditions again, complete pre-site snorkel assessment form including
weather assessment and look at best entry and exit points
 Check medical conditions of individual or group participants; seek completion of adult
participants or parents’ consent & medical forms. Get signature of the participant for
medical declaration, initiate any precautions required (medical conditions such as
epilepsy, diabetes and asthma should be buddied up accordingly and may require
additional precaution such as extra supervision, limiting location and additional buoyancy
aids such as personal floatation devices)
Remember your authority to halt activity if a hazard threatens the safety of any person
associated with the activity.

Welcome and Introduction (bold type relates to essential safety information)

Welcome group to area – Greeting the guest

 Introduce yourself, boatman and others as well as about the trip

 Ascertain adults’ and childrens’ experience in snorkelling. Explain your role as a
snorkeling guide and the boatman
 Marine Reserves (the rules: strictly no take, all marine life completely protected)
 No fish feeding (reason why)
 Use ID charts to explain what they will see
 What the area used to look like (for example at Teluk keke, Fish Point, Shark Point or
Group of Rawa Island)
 Marine life: sergeant fish, parrot fish, grouper, clown fish, giant clams, soft corals & hard
corals. Special species: blue spotted sting ray, hump head parrot fish, bat fish, angel
fish, moray eel, black spotted shark, green sea turtle. Focus on a few key species for the
site. (Show hand signal for some of the marine species)
 Safety is our priority
  Do not stand, touch or snorkel across / near to the coral on shallow tide, you might get
injured. Sharp rocks, corals, stung by rock fish and sea urchin, fiery session when touch
fire coral please avoid these danger marine life to human being. Alert with present of
jelly fish (show the sign of jelly fish)
 Underwater Hand signal – Ok, not ok (point the area that not ok), ascend, descend, end
of snorkeling, finning and on the water surface: one hand waiving (I need assistant), two
hand waiving (I need emergency/immediate assistant
 Check that medical conditions have been disclosed, check participants for any
history of reactions to seawater
 COVID 19 Safety Plan – good hygiene, sanitisation, sanitisation monitor and
contact tracing (relevant to current alert level and most recent COVID 19 Safety
Plan)
 Check with the guest for their life jacket and snorkeling gear are in excellent
condition
 Demonstrate to them how to wear the life jacket and snorkeling gear proper way
 Those who is not familiar with snorkeling technique and how to use the gears, the
guide will demonstrate at the first point
 Please alert with the signal (hand/whistle/honk) by snorkeling guide/boatman
when the time is up
 Get back to the shore with your buddy
 Do not snorkeling alone!
 Bring back all rubbish and waste to the boat
Equipment Fitting

 Advise the group to clean their masks (clean off de-fog) before putting them on. How to
clear snorkel (apply some de-fog solution). Fins, when to put on and remove, how to put
on (wear on beach / wear on boat if in the middle of the sea) (no walking on land).
 Life jacket compulsory to wear on the boat and advisable to wear while snorkeling (if the
guest do not want to wear life jacket while snorkeling, please inform him/her it is their
own risk)
 Wetsuit - flotation, warmth, protection from sun, stings etc. Care not to get zipper caught
in skin
o If participants have their own gear – check it is fit for purpose.

Explain procedure for cleaning gear and care to be taken if applicable.

Safety Aspects notes for snorkeling guide.

 Entry and exit points.

 Use of dive flag/marker –control of the group in water
 Use of whistle –control of the group in water
 Snorkel route
 Advise on safety issues (hazards):
o Currents
o Waves
o Sharp rocks
 o Marine life – oysters, jellyfish, kina, eagle rays, stingrays, tubeworms etc.
o Temperature
o Tide
o Visibility
o Boat traffic and other users
 Stay away from rocks and sharp shells, urchins etc. Do not touch and stand on
rocks might injured the participant and bleeding non stop
 If whistle blows, check the snorkeling guide for further instructions and make sure
you are within the guide vision and within 50 metres. One whistle blast for
attention, three blasts for emergency
 Buddy system – one arm’s length. One up, one down duck diving
 Flotation devices (life jacket) – each participant
 No guest to be in the water alone or be using our equipment without our
supervision.
 Must not return to beach alone but advise snorkeling guide / buddy and be
escorted back to shore.
 Use of hand signals:
o Ok, ok on surface, up, down, non-urgent, urgent attention (emergency)

Emergency procedure:
o First aid kit
o On site cell phone – 999 for emergency, ask for first response
o Closest location for ambulance
o Activate emergency procedure in water (3 whistle blasts)
o Location of emergency assembly area

 Role of the day is to be focused on supporting the snorkelers; you will be

responsible for the supervision of your buddy
 Listen and comply to snorkeling guide instructions, including identify any
dynamic hazards (fishing line, glass, wind increase, tide change causing change in sea
conditions)
 Fins must be worn (no bare feet due to possible current or emergency) (subject to
availability)
 Masks (no swim googles) to see where you going and identify any dynamic hazards
(fishing line or glass).
 Main things to check with you group:
o Names
o Experience
o Hand signals
o Buddy distance rule
o That they not getting injured or exhausted or cramp (please notify snorkeling guide /
buddy if you are facing any issues)

 Common issues: Mask strap to low on neck making snorkel floppy (allowing water in) or
hood or hair under mask making it leak. Remind participants to keep head in the water
and wrap lips around snorkel to keep water out
  Rapid clenching of the fist is the hand signal for cramp. The affected muscle can be
stretched and massaged to relieve the pain; your buddy may be able to help with this
You may require assistance getting back to shore (notify your snorkel guide/boatman)
 Do a head count all the time before leaving the snorkeling spot and ask them to check
their belonging/gears/life jacket is with them
Process Explanation

 Participants must be buddied up with appropriate person before entering water.

 Use toothpaste or other de-fog
 Check in with observing shore safety and make sure names on the Check In and Out
form.
 Once in water test equipment in shallow, make sure they comfortable breathing through
snorkel, leaning over the front of the water equipped with life jacket is recommended for
those with little experience
 Make sure you remind your group to kick when required
 Always keep close to your buddy
 During the snorkel the guide/buddy may continually identify and manage hazards, be
alert for 1 blast of whistle for your attention.
Snorkel Guide to Ask these Questions?

 Are you comfortable to be in the water?

 Do you have any medical conditions or anything else that may limit your ability as a
buddy?
 Are you comfortable in buddy position and accept the role?
 The guest/Parent (children) disclosure form complete
 Have you check you snorkeling gear conditions?
Once at your entry point

 Check skill levels of adult participants

 Check number of your group entering water and recheck on their return to the beach and
boat (please do a head count all the time before leaving the snorkeling point and when
the guests are on the boat. Please ask the guest to check the snorkeling equipment as
well)
Debrief Example Topics

 What they saw, conservation values of the area

 Water safety aspects e.g. congratulations for staying so close to your buddy, listening to
instructions and adhere to snorkeling best practices
 Any feedback on safety or feedback, please go to our website/ Tripadvisor
 Promoting upcoming events and ways people could support