How to avoid being run-over?

[Echidna]

-This question applies to swimming, snorkelling, or tail-swimming likewise.

The greatest danger when doing any of the above (apart from currents & jellyfish and the like)
is being rammed or run-over by a boat, surfer, sailor, or jet-ski.

All lakes and ocean beaches I've been to in my life were the same:
for "swimmers", there was a paper-sheet-sized portion of water fenced off (usually not deeper than 5-6ft),
and the rest outside belonged to the boats and motorcraft.
Usually, to reach that zone, the boaters would plow through the swimming zone as well without paying much attention to swimmers.

So. How do you solve that problem?
Especially when tailswimming, I spend long periods underwater.
I'm really afraid to be run over by something when I surface, and run-ins with a ship propeller aren't the greatest way to die either.

I'd love to be able to swim through a small lake for once to an island in the middle, but it's simply impossible, because even on the smallest pond where I live, there always is an armada of surfers and stuff.
And they sure as crab don't stop or veer aside for a lonely swimmer.

The only solution I see is having a friend row beside you in a boat and giving you cover once the wannabe-formula one pilots come near.
I've even searched high and low for lakes and beaches where boats and stuff are not permitted, but there don't seem to be any in my country :eek:

How do you handle it?

[AniaR]

huh. We honestly don't have that problem in my area!

[Echidna]

huh. We honestly don't have that problem in my area!
really?:eek:

now that I think about it, the ONLY place not totally rife with boats I've ever seen were the rocky shores of Canary Islands.
And you couldn't swim there either unless you fancied to be washed away by the current :p

It might be worse in this country here than in others, though.
For swimmers who intend to set foot in a lake or ocean, it's officially recommended to "wear a white swimming cap for visibility" and draw along a big balloon.
Perfect for underwater dolphinkick, I imagine :rolleyes:

[spottedcatfish]

It may be helpful, even if you are swimming to have a diving flag up. There's a law here in California, where if a boater sees a diving flag on a buoy, they are supposed to stay away, at a 100 feet radius. You can read more about it here:
http://www.boatingbasicsonline.com/content/general/9_1_c.php?new_state=CA
I'm sure you can find more on Google. You may need a boat to attach the flag to... but that should warn people that you are swimming in the water, and yes even diving, though it's not scuba. Even if you are submerged, and are swimming underwater, people should be aware, and stay away.

[Mermaid Allie]

Yeah get one of those little buoy things (diving flag) and maybe swim down further around the buoy and around it, but make sure to surface near the buoy. Maybe set up 2 and swim back and forth? Its tricky, and I completely understand because I live near a river HIGHLY populated with boats. However, there is one good place to swim, and boats aren't allowed in it. Its also a pretty deep place, which is nice. But seriously if i ever tried to swim anywhere else.... lets just say I most likely wouldn't come back.

[AniaR]

keep in mind, there are more people in California, than there are in all of Canada.... lol we have a lot of... space! :)

[MerMarla]

keep in mind,.... lol we have a lot of... space! :)

I know! I used to swim at Canaterra (sp) park on the Canadian side of Lake Huron, water was pristine, and cold as ... you know what! LOL! We would go there because the park was so lovely, mostly empty (no people, dogs, trash....) and clean crisp water! Miss those days! :::: sigh::::

[Echidna]

water was pristine, and cold as ... you know what!
I was going to say that :p
Canada is lovely for sure, and empty. ...Can you swim there without icediver suits :confused: ?
If I were more cold resistant, I'd love to live either around the Great Lakes, or somewhere in Minnesota.

Anyway, thanks for the suggestions.
Seems like a guardian boat and/or buoy with flag are the only options in those regions where the boats outnumber the fish.
Although I'm not sure whether the average dude sporting a surfboard knows he should circle the buoy :p

[MermaidBrittany]

I live in Washington, so most of my swimming is done in lakes (since the ocean is rather chilly) But usually, since you can hear them I just swim away as far away as possible, usually surfacing within a swimming area. The flags sound like the best idea for high traffic areas. :)

[Mizuko]

Thats a tough one.
When I was young and I stayed at my friends house at the marina, we would swim/dive in the fishing boat cannals. We had to swim to the rocks every now and then as boats moved through, but we never had any close calls. I think it was because the marina has a speed limit of like 4knots. But also, underwater you can hear them coming- their low drone is super loud under the surface before you can hear them with your head out. I guess it would be frustrating though without a speed limit, as boats just fly around willy-nilly. :P
I think a dive bouy might be the safest route! And maybe even having a watcher on-shore who can keep an eye out for you, incase you do get into trouble.

[Capt Nemo]

In Sturgeon Bay, WI, the Coast Guard saw my flag up while snorkeling a couple of wrecks. They took up position nearby and nailed a few marauding jetskis for getting too close and also operating too fast near the shoreline. Thanks CG!!!


Best is to get a small flag/float combo and about 50 feet of line. I cut mine for WI law, as I need to remain within 50 feet of the flag. So I cut my line to 45 feet. Yeah, towing a flag is a pain, but getting hit is a bigger pain!

Also, with any towed float, carry a knife to prevent entanglement!

[Echidna]

On the DeeperBlue-Forums, there have been videos to showcase a buoy can sometimes be a veritable sight-seeing attraction for the average sailmoron.
Many boats come close to the buoy just to have something to look at, obviously oblivious of the regulations
(they tend to hoot and wave when they spot the diver), so...guess I'll only swim out with a (rubber)boat & buddy at my side :/

[Echidna]

Helpful information, but I have not faced this type of problem.

well good for you, but it's very much an issue here.
The state I live in seems to be horribly overpopulated :p
There is wake-boarding and jet-skiing on every lake larger than a puddle.

So, come summer, I'll probably need a friend to row a boat at my side.
Or I manage to move into a secluded corner.
Whatever comes first ;)

[Thalassa]

This is a problem for me, too. I live in a desert. Every natural body of water fit to swim in (and many that aren't) is filled with motorized watercraft.

I've found one swimming hole to try where only kayaks are allowed, but other than that I guess I'm pool-bound. No one I know is willing to go out in a boat! ;-) Silly land-people.

[Seatan]

I deal with this by sticking to SCUBA parks. Mermaiding can count as free diving, so you can do it at SCUBA parks and there are no boats to run you over. Here in Texas they are mostly man made lakes with rock bottoms since the natural lakes are "black" water, aka too murky to see in. Because of that I rarely swim in lakes that allow boats, though I do boat and jetski and wakeskate myself. I dunno if there are scuba parks on your side of the pond, but you might check. Until I started diving, I didn't know these small lakes existed, and there are TONS in my area. Plus the people there are awesome. Just a suggestion, though if there aren't any around you then I guess it's not a very helpful one!

[Thalassa]

Thanks for the tip, Seavana! I'd never heard of scuba parks! *goes to look it up*

[Echidna]

I've thought about scuba parks too, and if they let you in, they're perfect!
Cool stuff to see, and no boats to worry about.

However, unless you can show them some certificate, i'm 100% sure they won't let you in.
And even if you do have a freedive certificate, they'll probably moan about the tail bit. :p

At least, that's how it works in this country of awesome i'm stuck in.
It would be so cool to freedive those man-made underwater wrecks and temples :/