Health Information > Healthy Tourism Resorts and Facilities

Boating Safety

Picture of man and woman on a boat deck

The waters of Tropical North Queensland provide an array of recreational opportunities including boating.

Boating activity is busy throughout the Whitsundays and includes organised sailing adventures, charter yachts, dinghy hire, sailboards, jetskis and regular ferry services. Skippers of these water transport vessels range from highly experienced to novice, making conditions unpredictable at times.

See below for some guidelines and useful hints for improving boating safety.

Boating Safety

Know, Know, Know Your Boat
The skipper of the boat is responsible for the safety of everyone on board. This website outlines the responsibilities of skippers.

Maritime Safety Queensland
A number of things must be done before heading out on the water, particularly in reef areas. This website contains a number of boat safety tips.

Legislation

Maritime Safety Queensland, Queensland Transport
Maritime Safety Queensland lists legislation regarding recreational boating (including para-sailing).

Useful Links

Weather
One of the greatest dangers on the water is taking conditions for granted, as they often change rapidly. Checking the weather conditions for your journey is an essential preventive safety procedure. The Bureau of Meteorology has the latest information.

Protected Reefs
See the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority for tourism and recreational use of protected reef areas.

Australia and New Zealand Safe Boating Education Group (ANZSBEG)
This website is managed by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority on behalf of ANZSBEG. The site has information on safety communications, children in boats and the Know, Know, Know Your Boat advice and hints for skippers.

Further Information

For further information see Services Directory:

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Last Updated: 28 February 2006
Last Reviewed: 28 February 2006