Snorkelling
Find information about the required procedures (including snorkel plans) and the qualifications you'll need for UQ snorkelling activities.
UQ snorkelling procedures
All snorkelling activities must have an appointed Snorkel Supervisor and a Snorkel Lookout.
The Snorkel Supervisor is responsible for all aspects of snorkelling safety and must:
- have appropriate experience for the overall supervision of the planned activities
- ensure a Snorkel Plan, including details of risk management and emergency procedures, is submitted
- ensure the competency of all snorkelling personnel has been assessed in accordance with the ‘Competency’ provisions of the relevant UQ Snorkelling Procedure.
It is the responsibility of the Snorkel Supervisor to be familiar with the contents of the Snorkelling Procedure relevant to their proposed activities.
Required qualifications
All snorkellers
All snorkellers must be competent in all the following:
- swim 50 metres non-stop, without swimming aids and using any stroke or combination of strokes
- swim 200 metres effectively using a mask, snorkel and fins
- with no fins, the ability to stay on one location (tread water) for at least 2 minutes
- removal of a cramp
- any snorkeller planning to undertake duck-diving* snorkelling activities must also be competent in the following:
- clearing a snorkel while or after surfacing from a breath-hold dive
- equalising the middle ear and sinus gas spaces.
*Duck-diving is defined as breath-hold snorkel diving to a depth <3m and for a period of no longer than 30 seconds.
Where a snorkeller is working with a small UQ-based snorkel team (<10 snorkellers), such as a research group, the snorkeller must submit a completed Snorkel Registration form – Workers to boating.diving@uq.edu.au.
Where a snorkeller is part of a large snorkelling Group (>10 snorkellers), such as an undergraduate class, or high school group, the snorkeller must submit a completed Pre-snorkel Questionnaire to their Group’s Snorkel Supervisor.
Snorkel Supervisor
The Snorkel Supervisor must hold a qualification that incorporates training in the recognition of snorkelling hazards and relevant emergency response techniques.
Examples include:
- Snorkel Instructor
- Surf LifeSaver Bronze medallion
- Rescue SCUBA Diver
- Dive Instructor
- Dive Master.
The Snorkel Supervisors must also maintain currency in the following certifications:
- Provide First Aid
- CPR
- a qualification in the delivery of oxygen for first aid treatment.
Snorkel Lookout
Where a snorkel lookout is required, the Snorkel Lookout must be able to:
- recognise a snorkeller in difficulty
- rescue a snorkeller and provide first aid
- have a level of fitness so their own health and safety are not compromised if required to carry out or assist in a rescue.
The Snorkel Lookout must maintain currency in the following certifications:
- Provide First Aid
- CPR
- a qualification in the delivery of oxygen for first aid treatment.
Where a Large Group Snorkelling activity is undertaken, the Snorkel Supervisor must be assisted by Snorkel Guides and must refer to the requirements of the Group Snorkelling Procedure to determine how many Guides will be required.
Snorkel Guide
Snorkel Guides must hold a qualification that incorporates training in the recognition of snorkelling hazards and relevant emergency response techniques.
Examples include:
- Snorkel Instructor
- Surf LifeSaver Bronze medallion
- Rescue SCUBA Diver
- Dive Instructor
- Dive Master.
Snorkel Guides must also maintain currency in the following certifications:
- Provide First Aid
- CPR.
Contact us
Contact us for more information.
Email: boating.diving@uq.edu.au
Phone: 07 3443 8289
Mobile: 0459 549 186