A new course certifying dive masters and instructors to safely crew and captain dive boats could go some way toward addressing marine safety issues in the Cayman Islands.
Wally Schredl of International Yacht Training Worldwide, a former Cayman Islands resident and PADI Course Director, is currently visiting the islands to discuss offering internationally recognised boat handling qualifications for dive staff.
Certificates
The Dive boat Mate and Dive boat Master certificates of competency are the result of a collaboration between the Professional Association of Dive Instructors (PADI) and International Yacht Training Worldwide (IYT). The aim of this collaboration is to develop a course that would be internationally recognised and specific to dive boat operators.
“The mission is to show self-regulation in the dive industry via a standardised, globally recognised level of competency for operating dive boats,” explained Mr. Schredl.
At present Cayman Islands law does not require individuals driving boats to show any form of training or qualifications.
The PADI approved IYT courses are being put forward as a proactive measure to hopefully avoid any kind of incident, by providing dive staff with formal training that will include boat handling, VHF radio operation, engineering and safety components.
Safety
“Every other country in the world has some kind of training requirement for boat handling,” said Ken Thompson, Sunset House manager. “Anything we can do to bring improved boat safety to the islands deserves our support.”
Red Sail Sports, one of the largest water sports operators in the Cayman Islands, developed their own comprehensive course which all employees interested in driving their boats are required to complete at present. They must also take a practical test and a written exam, said Rod McDowall, operations manager.
“I am aware of the IYT program and if anyone came to me looking for work that had these qualifications it would be an advantage in the interviewing process over someone who did not,” Mr. McDowall said, adding that they would still need to complete a local orientation.
Training
International Yacht Training Worldwide is a maritime training and certification organisation with over 130 schools in 36 countries and is recognised by the Cayman Islands Shipping Registry. IYT qualifications are internationally recognised, so dive staff taking the course here would benefit even if they were to move on to other countries.
“Years ago, Cayman was the first to set the environmental standard for permanent dive moorings. Now, it’s time for Cayman to pioneer a new standard for competent dive and water sports boat captains,” Mr. Schredl said.
International Yacht Training offers many globally recognised maritime courses and qualifications, and Mr. Schredl hopes that further down the line maritime training opportunities across different sectors could be offered. Bearing in mind the islands’ rich maritime heritage, he suggested that in time the Cayman Islands might become a major marine training centre.
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Anything like this is obviously good for the dive industry but all this is not exactly new.
More than 15 years ago PADI in the UK cooperated with BSAC and the RYA to approve a Small Boat Handler Specialty Certification, which I completed in 1995.
The two-day course covers driving both a large RIB and a Zodiac, and included dropping and recovering divers from the former.
Amongst the fun (!) exercises included in the training, which was conducted off the South Coast of the UK in conditions that reached Force 4 on the first day, were beaching and recovering the RIB on a sloping shingle beach.
Good dive boat training has been around for a long while. It’s just that, with a few notable exceptions, no one seems to want to do it unless they are forced to so this has to be a welcome development but only if people can be persuaded to take advantage of it.