solo diving ordinance and local regulations attachment
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OCdiving Deb
Contributor
Word on the street is that it is working fine.duckbill:
One diver has been cited but he and his buddy disregarded the "beach is closed to diving due to high surf" order from the lifeguard and entered the water anyway.
No solo cert is required.
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The city manager, marine safety chief, police chief or their authorized designees, or any officer or employee designated by the city manager to enforce surfing regulations and control skin diving and scuba diving activities, may prohibit skin diving and scuba diving at any time diving conditions become hazardous as a result of storm, congestion of persons, lack of proper equipment (such equipment to include mask, fins, snorkel, buoyancy compensator and diving partner) or other conditions which cause a present danger to the persons skin diving or scuba diving or to others. No person shall fail, refuse or neglect to stop skin diving or scuba diving activities or to leave the water when ordered to do so by any such employee of the city. (Ord. 1369 § 7, 2000; Ord. 1157 § 1, 1988: Ord. 506 (part), 1962).
OCdiving Deb
Contributor
Yep, that is technically the Laguna Beach city ordinance Thalassamania, but somehow a string of posts got deleted that explained a NEW policy within the ranks of Laguna Beach's Marine Safety Office aka the Lifeguards. While the ordinance will stay on the books, the Laguna Beach MSOs will NOT be enforcing the requirement of a buddy or snorkel. The MSOs still reserve the right to close the beaches to diving if conditions warrant in order to protect the diver AND the lifeguard who might have to rescue the yahoo who dived in unsafe conditions and got into trouble.
Diverbizz alluded to it in his post in July 2007 that is still here.
I will dig up the original letter from the city and post here soon.
Diverbizz alluded to it in his post in July 2007 that is still here.
I will dig up the original letter from the city and post here soon.
OCdiving Deb
Contributor
I had posted this back on 6/28/07 or so but it must have gotten deleted.
FROM THE LAGUNA BEACH MARINE SAFETY OFFICE:
As with all things related to time - change will happen. In this instance, change is related to the Diving Ordinance of the City of Laguna Beach. Created many years ago with the guidance, input and consensus of many professional members of the diving community, it has stood unchanged. However, at the same time, the dive industry has continued to grow not only in technology and techniques but in the quality and abilities of its participants as well.
In the last year, discussions between the local dive communities and the Marine Safety section of Laguna Beach has resulted in a very positive review of the efficacy of the ordinance and the role of the Laguna Beach lifeguards. You should note that there has been a change to the existing city ordinance. Although it has not been removed, and is still very enforceable, you can now expect that the on-duty lifeguard interaction with divers will only be to ensure the overall safety of the beach.
Expect that the lifeguards will now only take the time to determine where you are going (i.e. in at Shaws and out at Crescent) and how long you may be. This process still continues to make sense because there is often times when we may enter in one cove and come out in another. As well, there are some divers who can extend a dive off our local beaches beyond what might be considered normal bottom times. The guards are there to assist you if/when you have a problem of any kind. Interacting with them about where you are going and how long you may be is extremely beneficial to your overall safety consider it as filing a dive plan.
This change in the official lifeguard application of the Diving Ordinance was made based on input from the local dive community, which offered up a high level of expectation about how divers will conduct themselves. Divers conduct was the primary catalyst in making the change in the ordinance.
EXPECTATION OF DIVERS:
You are ultimately responsible for your diving safety.
FROM THE LAGUNA BEACH MARINE SAFETY OFFICE:
As with all things related to time - change will happen. In this instance, change is related to the Diving Ordinance of the City of Laguna Beach. Created many years ago with the guidance, input and consensus of many professional members of the diving community, it has stood unchanged. However, at the same time, the dive industry has continued to grow not only in technology and techniques but in the quality and abilities of its participants as well.
In the last year, discussions between the local dive communities and the Marine Safety section of Laguna Beach has resulted in a very positive review of the efficacy of the ordinance and the role of the Laguna Beach lifeguards. You should note that there has been a change to the existing city ordinance. Although it has not been removed, and is still very enforceable, you can now expect that the on-duty lifeguard interaction with divers will only be to ensure the overall safety of the beach.
Expect that the lifeguards will now only take the time to determine where you are going (i.e. in at Shaws and out at Crescent) and how long you may be. This process still continues to make sense because there is often times when we may enter in one cove and come out in another. As well, there are some divers who can extend a dive off our local beaches beyond what might be considered normal bottom times. The guards are there to assist you if/when you have a problem of any kind. Interacting with them about where you are going and how long you may be is extremely beneficial to your overall safety consider it as filing a dive plan.
This change in the official lifeguard application of the Diving Ordinance was made based on input from the local dive community, which offered up a high level of expectation about how divers will conduct themselves. Divers conduct was the primary catalyst in making the change in the ordinance.
EXPECTATION OF DIVERS:
- All divers will use safe diving practices that are currently accepted by the dive community.
- All divers are expected to dive within the standards and conditions in which they were trained and certified.
- All divers are expected to use dive equipment appropriate for the conditions presented and as accepted by the dive community.
- All divers are expected to conduct themselves prudently for the conditions presented.
- All divers are expected to take full responsibility for their actions.
You are ultimately responsible for your diving safety.
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I think the important phrase is, "... may prohibit skin diving and scuba diving at any time diving conditions become hazardous ..."
Wookie
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Dry Tortugas National Park prohibits solo diving, and in fact dissallows three buddy teams except for one per vessel in the case of an odd number of divers on the vessel.
Capt. Frank, what are the reasons for those set limitations within this particular national park?
SteveTW
Contributor
Does anyone know what the regs are in Massachusetts fresh water lakes? Or leads on how to find out what they are?
Thanks, Steve
Thanks, Steve
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