AmbergrisCaye.com Home Forums The Cayes Ambergris Caye Kayak in a norther

I often venture out on the kayak without a life jacket or any other safety equipment and in general I do this early in the morning when there is not much boat traffic. You know it has never crossed my mind. I have also rescued folks out at sea and they just don't realize how quickly you can get yourself into trouble.

TravelinMan1, you may not know that your wife keeps an eye on you and if you're gone longer than normal she is on the roof with the binoculars looking out for you.

TravelinMan1 - okay, how about this, why don't you strap a lifejacket to your kayak, along with a bottle of water and a light weight shirt - if you do every blow away you will increase your chances of survival with just these few simple items.

Boy are you lucky JZB is keeping an eye on you!

It's Common sense.

When kayaking wear a flotation device, make sure someone knows where you are going & when you expect to return.

You never know what could happen, A Boat could hit you , a shark tips you over, you could have a medical situation or you could get pushed through a cut in the reef and not be able to paddle back.

what would happen if you lose your paddle?

Guys I have a very different attitude about this and wish you would please entertain it for a moment.
No one should be allowed to visit the reef with out a guide.

Its not likely to ever happen that we stop people from going to the reef unescorted but its the way it should be .
They damage the reef and are in personal danger.

I agree with Elbert. We have watched from the beach as visitors in tour boats try to snorkel through a cut in the reef to get to the other side. When they get stranded they stand on the reef. So far no one has been injured, but I know the reef has. And this is occurring within the Bacalar Chico Marine Reserve.

We need to educate our guests as to protocol around corals. In 1993 when we became certified divers in San Pedro, our instructor told us he would throw us out of the water is we dared touch anything. I haven't heard this said since.

I tell all my guests to paddle out into the wind so they will blow back on return and that they can not cross the reef. Getting lost on the other side of the reef is much more serious than some may think. It has been years but folks have run out of gas, have no anchor, high tide, north wind wash over the reef and they get found 3 days later on Turneffe burnt like bacon. Or not.

Locals too?

Whats a local Phil...
Yes If they are not a guide or escorted by one they should not be on the reef.
Locals is a broad term, the community has a population of people now that aren't sons, of sons of fisherman, not like it used to be. We've locals nowadays that are equally as ignorant of the waters as Tourist.
No one should be visiting the reef that isn't with a guide.

I would imagine that all locals have a friend or family member that is a tour guide.