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#515299 06/19/16 06:10 AM
Joined: Oct 2001
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When weather is not so good ...... squalls, tropical waves etc....... please don't hop in a kayak and head out to (or beyond) the reef?
Sounds sensible, but just now I watched people launch a kayak into a whiteout and begin to paddle towards the reef.
Before you argue that you have every right to risk your own neck, ask yourself honestly if you expect somebody else to rescue you? Probably you do .... and that means by putting yourself at risk you put others at risk. Just sayin'.

Joined: Dec 2006
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Darwin Award Winners list is getting longer.
Diane, I feel the responsibility is with the people who give the tourist the kayak.
Visitors are uninformed of the dangers and make an erroneous assumption that it's OK to kayak out to the reef when Kayaks are made available to them by resorts, hotels and condos.
For sure the litigation will be aimed at the kayak owners.
Most business that send people out on the waters are required to have a Tour Operators Licence that represents a level of standards for safety in the tour. The BTB needs to broaden it's scope. The regulations are vague and poorly written.
http://www.sanpedrosun.com/old/99-182.html http://www.sanpedrosun.com/old/99-182.html


White Sands Dive Shop
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Elbert is this true that a permanent resident can be a tour operator? I have been told for years it could only be a Citizen.

It states "tour operator" as meaning: "a Belizean citizen, or permanent resident with the business of tour operator defined as his occupation on his permanent residency permit, who falls into one of the various categories"

Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 6,267
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Originally Posted by elbert
Darwin Award Winners list is getting longer.
Diane, I feel the responsibility is with the people who give the tourist the kayak.
Visitors are uninformed of the dangers and make an erroneous assumption that it's OK to kayak out to the reef when Kayaks are made available to them by resorts, hotels and condos.
For sure the litigation will be aimed at the kayak owners.
Most business that send people out on the waters are required to have a Tour Operators Licence that represents a level of standards for safety in the tour. The BTB needs to broaden it's scope. The regulations are vague and poorly written.
http://www.sanpedrosun.com/old/99-182.html http://www.sanpedrosun.com/old/99-182.html



Understood. There are quite a few private homes that are overseen by onsite caretaker couples. Unfortunately the tourists tend to look down on them when they give advice ........ it is super hard for a caretaker wanting to please people to say no when faced with a bored/insistent tourist. I think the kayak I saw this morning was from one such location.
I'd suggest that owners of such properties insist on guests signing a waiver before taking out water toys? Most of these places don't have anybody on hand to do a rescue.

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Inpulb, You might be confusing a Tour Guide and Tour Operator. If you send out tours from your business your a Tour Operator if you conduct the tour your the Tour Guide but still I think the regulations are obscure. It could very well be the Operator needs to be a citizen. The BTB needs to work on the language of its regulations.


White Sands Dive Shop
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Our guests are required to sign a waiver and read our rules for bikes and kayaks- the toys we provide. Our Belizean caretaker lives on site and has the smarts and authority to say no when it is not safe. Been operating that way since 2003. No problems and happy guests.

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Originally Posted by lovetotravel
Our guests are required to sign a waiver and read our rules for bikes and kayaks- the toys we provide. Our Belizean caretaker lives on site and has the smarts and authority to say no when it is not safe. Been operating that way since 2003. No problems and happy guests.


Good planing. More folks should do the same.

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If your a Tour Operator your required to use only persons trained and licensed to do the activity/tour and on boat/vehicle that has strict and extensive safety regulations imposed on it.
The BTB will mature and develop some enforceable, succinct regulation in the future but meanwhile a lot of tourist will be killed or injured like last weeks incident. http://www.sanpedrosun.com/accident...in-stable-condition-after-boat-accident/


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A good rule of thumb that I know a few private residences up this way practice:

Do not give your guests a mask/snorkel/fins when they go out in a kayak. If you want to take a kayak out, awesome. Take a pfd with you, some water, sunscreen get some exercise and take a quick swim if you want. If you want to snorkel, go on a tour with a licensed tour guide. Seems that 90% of the time, folks get in trouble in a kayak either when they get too close to/on top of/across the reef or when they are in the water snorkeling in the vicinity of their kayak and boats do not see them.



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