[ Scubadiving with Empire ] RE: [ Scubadiving with Empire ] Diving rules relaxed in Laguna

Thu, 5 Jul 2007 14:34:04 -0700

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That OC Register article is a really good summary of the new policy put in
place last week. Below is the full text from the Marine Safety Officer of
Laguna Beach.

~Debbie Karimoto

www.OCdiving.com

A message from the Laguna Beach Marine Safety Department, Life Guards

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 Shaw's 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.

The guards will still establish levels of safety related to surf conditions.

Yellow flag conditions are considered hazardous and the diver is expected to
measure that fact against their skill level.  Red flag conditions are just
plain dangerous and the beaches will be closed. Entering the water during
Red flag conditions only puts that diver, and the lifeguard who will end up
in the water on a rescue, at risk. That being said, you will no longer be
expected to have a buddy or snorkel when diving. 

YOU ARE ULTIMATELY RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR DIVING SAFETY.

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<div class=3DSection1>

That OC Register article is a really good summary of the =
new
policy put in place last week. Below is the full text from the Marine =
Safety
Officer of Laguna Beach.<o:p></o:p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><span =
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p>

<div>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><i><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:navy'>~Debbie Karimoto<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><i><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:navy'><a =
href=3D"http://www.OCdiving.com">www.OCdiving.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></=
i></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><i><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:navy'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></i></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText>A message from the Laguna Beach Marine Safety =
Department,
Life Guards<o:p></o:p></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></p>

As with all things related to time - change will =
happen.
In this instance, change is related to the &quot;Diving Ordinance&quot; =
of the
City of Laguna Beach.<o:p></o:p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText>Created many years ago with the guidance, input =
and
consensus of many professional members of the diving community, it has =
stood
unchanged.<o:p></o:p></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText>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.<o:p></o:p></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></p>

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. =
<o:p></o:p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></p>

Expect that the lifeguards will now only take =
the time to
determine where you are going (i.e. in at Shaw's 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.&nbsp; =
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<o:p></o:p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText>- consider it as filing a dive plan.&nbsp; =
<o:p></o:p></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></p>

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. <o:p></o:p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText>EXPECTATION OF DIVERS: <o:p></o:p></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText>All divers will use safe diving practices that =
are currently
accepted by the dive community.<o:p></o:p></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText>All divers are expected to dive within the =
standards and
conditions in which they were trained and certified.&nbsp; =
<o:p></o:p></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText>All divers are expected to use dive equipment =
appropriate
for the conditions presented and as accepted by the dive =
community.<o:p></o:p></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText>All divers are expected to conduct themselves =
prudently
for the conditions presented.<o:p></o:p></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText>All divers are expected to take full =
responsibility for
their actions.<o:p></o:p></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText>The guards will still establish levels of safety =
related
to surf conditions.<o:p></o:p></p>

Yellow flag conditions are considered hazardous =
and the
diver is expected to measure that fact against their skill level.&nbsp; =
Red flag
conditions are just plain dangerous and the beaches will be closed. =
Entering
the water during Red flag conditions only puts that diver, and the =
lifeguard
who will end up in the water on a rescue, at risk. That being said, you =
will no
longer be expected to have a buddy or snorkel when diving. =
<o:p></o:p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></p>

<p class=3DMsoPlainText>YOU ARE ULTIMATELY RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR DIVING =
SAFETY.<o:p></o:p></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><i><span =
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></i></p>

</div>

<div>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>&nbsp;</span>=
<o:p></o:p></p>

</div>

</div>

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