Has it ever been considered to have a beach flag warning system? Resorts and dive operations can run up flags on their docks to warm of hazardous conditions. This way it could be viewed by everyone so they would know. This is done in many beach areas to warm visitors who are unfamiliar with local waters and over estimate their abilities. This could prevent arguments with visitors wanting to go out in unsafe conditions.
I've not heard of a party of visitors arguing with an operator that they be taken out but given human nature it wouldn't surprise me if it's happened. I doubt that its a common occurrence. That aspect aside, suggestions of flags and warnings at Hol Chan have been raised and discussed before (myself included) but no official position/action has been taken or planned as far as I know. Elbert?
The fall back position on site safety is, and has been, to leave the evaluation up to the individual licensed tour operators on arrival. I'm not familiar enough to know if there is a more or less formalized radio grapevine that would keep an operator from wasting fuel and more importantly put his charters in jeopardy. Other than overall sea and weather conditions which inherently prevent departures, tour times at Hol Chan occur at any time of day and certainly don't seem to be based upon onsite conditions. This puts the responsibility (and pressure) for a go/nogo decision on the operator who, on arrival, has already has a boat load of eager visitors. Such evaluation by operators are obviously subjective and in the past some operators have been accused of not making the hard decision to return and refund. I cant comment on the appropriateness of such criticism. What I can say is that this is a great safety reminder as the season approaches and thanks to Elbert for the timely post.