Diver Code of Conduct

Diver Code of Conduct

Hoofer SCUBA club - Divers Code of Conduct

More and more people are taking to the water, some for recreation, and others to earn their living. This code is designed to ensure that divers do not come into conflict with other water users and sets out some guidelines that should be observed alongside the regulations relating to Marine Nature Reserves. The following rules should observed when diving during Hoofer SCUBA club sponsored outings.

The Hoofer SCUBA club conduct rules are considered supplementary to the University of Wisconsin�s Code of Conduct polices. Conduct rules are found in three chapters of the University of Wisconsin System Administrative Code, which apply statewide to all UW campuses and students. These are commonly referred to as UWS 14 (academic conduct), UWS 17 (non-academic conduct), and UWS 18 (conduct on University lands). Each UW campus implements these rules through its own procedures, and on UW-Madison's campus, the Assistant Deans in Student Advocacy & Judicial Affairs (SAJA) are charged with this responsibility.

Accidents and Incidents

Any member involved in a diving accident or incident should notify the Hoofer Office. An incident report form will then be sent, which should be completed and returned as soon as possible. Reports are treated as strictly confidential and are used to prepare an analysis of safety performance each year. If there is any possibility of a third party insurance claim arising out of the circumstances it is particularly important that a form is completed without delay.

The Accident/Incident Report Form should be completed after any accidents, incidents, near misses (close calls) or property/equipment damage that occurred during a Hoofer activity. If you are not sure if the incident warrants the completion of a form, go ahead and complete it. Turn all completed forms into the Outdoor Program Office.

Alcohol Policy

Federal law prohibits people under the legal drinking age from consuming alcoholic beverages. It is also forbidden for anyone to provide for or assist an underage person in obtaining alcoholic beverages. It is for this reason that Hoofer SCUBA have established an Alcohol Policy which clearly stipulates:

If a problem with alcohol use develops, Hoofer leaders/agents have the right and responsibility to confiscate any and all alcohol. Being a Registered Student Organization, Hoofers holds the right and responsibility to report any student who causes problems of any nature to the Dean of Students. Hoofers has the right and responsibility to actively control any situation including those involving alcohol.

The University of Wisconsin, The Wisconsin Union, and Hoofer Council is concerned with the alcohol use and possible abuse. We must remind you that Hoofers is a departmentally sponsored activity of The Wisconsin Union, and as such, is a part of the University of Wisconsin, and thereby falls under any and all legal policies of the University of Wisconsin. We expect you to act as responsible adults and remind you that each state you will be traveling through has a 21 year old drinking age.

REMEMBER: STATE AND FEDERAL RULES AND LAWS PERTAINING TO ALCOHOL AND DRUG USE DO NOT CHANGE WHEN YOU PARTICIPATE IN A HOOFER ACTIVITY. There are also well known dangers associated with the consumption of alcohol prior to SCUBA diving. Therefore Hoofer SCUBA has a strict policy: IF YOU DRINK BEFORE A SCHEDULED DIVE, YOU WILL NOT DIVE THE DIVE. IF YOU DRINK AFTER ANY DIVE, YOU ARE DONE DIVING FOR THAT DAY.

Authorized Club Dives

An authorized club dive is one carried out with the prior knowledge and approval of the club�s executives. The minimum number of divers required for such an activity is three club members.

Drive Trip Leaders shall be in charge of all diving activities for the duration of the dive/expedition. Qualifications for Dive Trip Leaders are outlined in the Hoofer SCUBA Trip Leader Protocols document. All club dives should be carried out in accordance with current Hoofer SCUBA rules and recommendations for safe diving. Trip Leaders must check with the Club Executives prior to announcing the trip to ensure equipment is available for the trip. They must also file a trip form with the hoofer office.

When planning an outing, contact one of the Hoofer SCUBA club members to see if they have ever been to the site. If you cannot find a member, contact the nearest dive operator local to the dive site for their advice. Seek advice from them about the local conditions and regulations. Consult local weather forecasts, and if appropriate, have the correct chart and tide tables for the area to be dived.

Beaches, River Banks and Lakeside

1. Obtain permission before diving in a harbor or estuary or in private water. Thank those responsible before you leave. Pay harbor dues if necessary.

2. Try to avoid overcrowding one site, be considerate of other people on the beach.

3. Park sensibly. Avoid obstructing narrow approach roads. Keep off verges. Pay parking fees and use proper car parking lots.

4. Don't spread yourselves and your equipment since you may upset other people. Keep launching ramps and slips clear.

5. Keep the peace. Don't operate a compressor within earshot of other people or late at night. At remote locations, try not to shout or cause too much commotion.

6. Pick up litter. Close gates. Be careful about fires. Avoid any damage to land or crops.

7. Obey special instructions such as national, state, county and city park rules as well as local bylaws and regulations about camping and caravaning.

8. Remember divers in wet or drysuits are conspicuous and bad behavior could ban us from beaches.

Conservation

1. Observe local laws and restrictions on the collection of animal and plant specimens as well as state and local fishing and spearing regulations.

2. Protect waters from invasive species such as Zebra mussels and Eurasian watermilfoil by rinsing equipment after every dive outing.

3. Ascertain and comply with seasonal access restrictions established to protect waterfowl and seabirds from disturbance. During the breeding season reduce noise near such breeding sites.

4. Avoid diving from beaches that are protected due to conservation projects that protect plant and animal species.

5. Take photographs and notes - not specimens.

Finding Things of Obvious Value

If a diver comes across something of obvious value, for example a car, boat or snowmobile, what should they do? First, do not touch anything. The property may be stolen or used in a crime. Try to locate a hull number, license number, anything that can be used to track down the rightful owner. Mark the location and obtain GPS, Loran or compass bearings. Then contact the Dane County Sheriff's Department. If the property was lost it belongs to the last legal owner, either an individual or an insurance company. This owner is now responsible for the removal of that property from the lake.

When property is lost in a lake, the owner has 30 days to remove the property from the lake. After 30 days the State of Wisconsin can begin charging the owner fines (which can run over $100 per day). If the owner cannot locate the property, and can convince the appropriate law enforcement agency that a reasonable effort was made to locate it, then the property is considered as lost. If the property is later found the owner once again becomes responsible for removal. If the lost property was insured, ownership would have transferred to the insurance company when the claim was paid.

A diver who finds property has very few legal rights in these cases. The coordinates must be given to the legal owner. If the property is of enough value there may be a finder's fee. However, there are no guarantees that the diver will get anything other than "bragging rights" and personal satisfaction. If the property cannot be traced back to the legal owner the diver still cannot legally remove that property. In this case the abandoned property belongs to the State of Wisconsin.

As an example, assume a diver comes across an old car or boat (newer than 50 years), which is of little value. There are no plates or registration numbers, making it difficult to locate the legal owner. The diver decides to move the property from its original location to a more convenient location, to use it as a novelty item for him and his friends to dive on, or even as structure for marine life. Can the diver legally do this? After all, it is of no real value, so what's the harm in moving it to a better location? The answer is, in spite of the diver's logic that it shouldn't hurt anything, it is illegal to move this property from its present location without authorization and the proper permits from the appropriate law enforcement agency.

In and On the Water

1. Mark your dive equipment so that your club can be identified easily. Unmarked equipment has the possibility of being claimed by someone else.

2. Stay away from fishing buoys, pot markers and fishermen. Line entanglement is best avoided by staying clear of areas under active fishing.

3. Remember ships do not have brakes, so avoid diving in fairways or areas of heavy surface traffic.

4. Always fly the diving flag when diving, but not when on the way to, or from, the dive site. Never leave a boat unattended.

5. Whenever possible, divers should use a surface marker buoy.

Using the Hoofer SCUBA Boat

Hoofer SCUBA has a dedicated boat captain that operates and maintains the boat. No other individual may operate the club boat without approval of the club captain. If you have approval to operate the boat, be certain to become familiar with state and federal boating regulations that may be applicable to the area.

When operating the boat, ensure it operates at slow speed in any area where divers are below. Be certain any boat maintains a minimum distance of 100 feet from any SCUBA dive flag. Those in the boat should keep close watch for divers surfacing unexpectedly. When dropping divers into the water, or retrieving them, ensure the engine is in neutral and turned off. All boats should be marked for easy identification and should be properly equipped before taking them out on the water, in accordance with Hoofer SCUBA guidelines.

1. Obey the Boathouse lights and flags. Call 608-262-7445 for the Lake Mendota weather conditions (including current flag or light in effect).

GREEN:: No special restrictions, winds less than 18 mph.
YELLOW: Possibility of storm or water less than 55 degrees F. Boating allowed only within an imaginary line from the tip of Picnic Point to the Tenney Park Locks. The yellow flag may be flown in conjunction with the blue or green flags.
BLUE: Indicates heavy wind (18 to 25 mph) conditions. Lake Mendota is usually quite rough in this condition. It is recommended that inexperienced boaters do not go out.
RED AND BLUE: Decked boating is allowed in mooring area. No open boating is allowed.
RED: No boating. If you are on the lake, return to the Boathouse.
BLINKING RED: Imminent storm. Put on life jacket and go to the NEAREST shore.

2. State Law requires that each boat carry one Personal Floatation Device (PFD) per person. There is a $30-plus fine if caught without them. A Buoyancy Compensating Device (BCD) does not qualify as a PFD. Life jackets must be worn if you are a non-swimmer, if the water temperature is less than 55 degrees F., or if the blue or blinking red lights or flags are on. When worn, the life jacket must be SECURELY fastened.

3. Ensure that someone always remains on board while divers are in the water.

Wrecks

1. Do not lift anything that may be of archaeological importance. Any wreck that is 50 or more years in age is considered one of archaeological interest. These are considered protected wrecks.

2. Military wrecks should not be disturbed or items removed from them. This includes the debris field. The debris field is the trail of wreckage that comes away from the main body of the wreck during the sinking process. This trail can consist of parts of the ship, the cargo and the personal possessions of the crew.

3. Underwater sites and objects other than shipwrecks are also protected under state law. These could include historic dock remains; inundated structures or sites that were formerly on land; fur trade canoes and artifacts; logging, quarrying, or mill sites; historic dumps; lost artifacts from ice-cutting, and a host of other materials.

4. If you do discover what might be an historic wreck do not talk about it, but contact the Wisconsin State Historical Society (608-264-6500), who will advise you about your next steps. If your find is important you may apply for it to be designated a protected wreck site. You can then build up a well-qualified team to investigate your site with the assistance of a qualified archaeologist.

5. If you do find any material of obvious value from the lake-bed, it is a legal requirement to report it to the state authorities or local DNR office as soon as possible, even if you own the wreck that the material has come from.

6. Avoid the temptation to take souvenirs. Go wreck diving to enjoy the scenery and life, or get involved in projects. If you must take something, try photographs or measurements, and records of marine life.

7. Know and understand local wreck laws. A sound knowledge of wreck law will prevent you breaking the law, perhaps even ending up with a criminal record where no crime was intended. Members are reminded that in the light of this policy following any conviction of any Hoofer SCUBA club member for an offense in relation to wreck the member will be liable to have his or her membership withdrawn for bringing the Hoofer SCUBA club into disrepute.

Don't Let Divers Down - Keep to the Diver's Code

The Divers Code of Conduct that is set out immediately above was developed by the Hoofer SCUBA club and is should apply to all divers, regardless of club affiliation. However environmental issues are of greater concern to all water users today than ever before, particularly when this Code was developed, and so the Hoofer SCUBA club will be actively developing its environmental presence by the development of the following policies:

To provide education in environmental awareness, understanding and enjoyment.

To promote participation in environmental schemes and events.

Highlight current environmental issues, and work with other environmentalists in order to provide a united approach to deal with these issues.

To further develop and update the Divers Code of Conduct.

Copies of all of these policies are available from Hoofer Outdoor Program Office. For further details and information please contact the Hoofer SCUBA club via:

Hoofers SCUBA Club
800 Langdon Street
Madison, WI 53706
Ph: (608) 262-1630
Fax: (608) 262-5467
www.hooferscubaclub.org