Safety in Recreational Water Activities Regulation 2024

2. Counting People on Boats

• When a boat takes people to a dive site, crew must count everyone before leaving, when extra people board, when people leave, and again before departing the dive site.
• If two or more crew members are doing counts, they must do so independently and then compare results.
• If the numbers don't match, they must recount — and if they still don't match, the operator must activate their emergency plan.
• All counts must be written down and signed.

3. Lookouts Must Be on Duty

• While people are diving or snorkelling, at least one person must act as a dedicated lookout — positioned out of the water with a full view of everyone, doing nothing else but watching.
• For snorkelling, a guide in the water can substitute for a lookout, but can supervise no more than 10 snorkellers at a time.
• Lookouts and guides must be capable of recognising hazards, spotting someone in trouble, and performing or directing a rescue, including CPR and oxygen therapy.

4. Supervision for Beginner Divers

• If you're not yet certified doing a 'try dive' or intro experience, you must be supervised by a qualified dive instructor.
• One instructor can supervise up to 4 beginners — or up to 6 if a certified assistant is also helping.

5. Dive Safety Logs

• For every scuba or technical dive, the operator must keep a written log recording each diver's name, dive times, depth, any problems or injuries, and additional technical data for advanced dives.
• Divers must sign the log when they return. An authorised person must also verify the entries.
• Logs must be kept for at least 1 year.

Penalties

Breaking these rules can result in fines ranging from 12.5 to 60 penalty units (a penalty unit in Queensland is currently $143.75, so up to roughly $8,600 for the most serious breach — failing to implement an emergency plan when head counts don't reconcile).

Why does this matter? This regulation exists because diving and snorkelling carry real risks — people can drown, suffer decompression illness (a condition caused by ascending too quickly from depth), or be left behind at sea. These rules create a safety framework to prevent those outcomes.