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Halloween inspired students pictured at MAC yesterday are (back) Oban Hansen, Hannah McNabb, Alyssa Horning, Ngaio MacLoud, Leo Munro-Heward, Laura Erichsen, Max Hall, (front) Nic Sinnott, Kimmi McArthur and Jiwoo Jun.
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An incident earlier this winter, involving a commercial jetboat on the Clutha River unexpectedly encountering a dozen SCUBA divers from a Christchurch dive school, could easily have ended in tragedy, the boat driver said. Matt Dyer was driving a Lakeland Adventures jetboat heading up the river from the Albert Town bridge in August when he spotted a diver in the water. “I thought, where’s his mate? And then saw another diver on shore with a dive flag.” Matt assumed there were only two divers as he saw no other flags but then saw a fin break the water
further up the river. “They started popping up along the river for an estimated 300m. One almost passed right under the boat.” He saw no more flags until what he presumed was the “tail end Charlie” of an estimated dozen divers who had an inflated visibility “sausage.” The incident highlights the need for visibility and safe water practices as summer approaches, QLDC harbourmaster Marty Black said. “Coming into swimming season swimmers must use common sense, i.e. wear bright caps, swim in a group with a kayak escort or in the safe swim zone.” Swimmers doing the popular snorkelling trip from the Outlet
to the Albert Town bridge on the Clutha River are also required by law to use a dive flag, with an inflatable visibility sausage strongly recommended he said. Not using a flag or an approved visibility device while snorkelling on the river incurs an instant fine of $500. Following the incident Marty contacted the Christchurch company who has assured him they have added to their existing safety plan by committing to contacting commercial operators and the harbourmaster prior to any more Clutha River trips. A report on the incident was also passed onto Maritime New Zealand Marty said. “It’s just by sheer luck no
one was injured.” None of the commercial jetboat companies who operated on the river had been contacted by the dive trip organisers prior to the August trip. “Wasn’t good enough really,” Matt said. After dropping off his clients Matt went back to speak to the group and received an apology from a woman leading the party. She told him the company had done several trips down the river in the past but had never seen any boats before. “The river is fine if people are visible. Even if it’s just snorkelling. I’ve done hundreds of trips down the river and never seen anything like it before.”
Summer water safety reminder from Harbourmaster Marty Black: Life jackets On boats 6m and under lifejackets must be worn at all times and because of the design of other boats like bow riders that are just over 6m, life jackets should be worn. Children ten years and under must wear a life jacket at all times. Paddle boarders on the Clutha River must wear life jackets. On the lake within 200m of the shore a lanyard from the board must be attached to the ankle; life jackets to be worn more than 200m from shore. There is an instant fine for non compliance of $300.
Swimmers and snorkelling Coming into swimming season swimmers must use common sense i.e. wear bright caps, swim in a group with a kayak escort or in the safe swim zone. If snorkelling on the Clutha River you must use a dive flag plus a bright vertical sausage. There is an instant fine of $500 for non compliance.
Matukituki and Wilkin rivers Prior to boating advise the commercial operators.