Infinity Safaris

Operational Protocol

Infinity Safaris has written this Operational Policy document as a means of outlining to Tour Operators, Clients and Customers alike the rules and regulations it has in place to ensure that all who partake in the services offered by Infinity Safaris can do so in a safe and responsible manner.

The statements listed below have been developed and issued by a number of key organisations actively involved in the scuba diving and water sports industry, and in consultation with many leading operators in this field.

Paperwork, Administration and Boat Safety

Each and every guest (divers and non-divers) on an Infinity Safaris Liveaboard vessel will complete an Infinity Safaris Liability Release form including their signature and the date of completion. Forms completed by guests under the age of 16 will also need to have the form countersigned by a parent or legal guardian.
Each and every guest (diver or non-diver) on an Infinity Safaris Liveaboard vessel will complete an Infinity Safaris Medical Statement form including their signature and the date of completion. Any points highlighted with a ‘YES’ will be discussed with the guide on board. Forms completed by guests under the age of 16 will also need to have the form countersigned by a parent or legal guardian.
All diving guests will provide proof of Diving Agency Certification and should expect to be asked for proof of experience and recent diving history through a logbook or dive computer.
Any guests requesting to dive on Nitrox will provide suitable proof of certification before they are allowed to use the gas.
All guests using Nitrox will analyse their scuba cylinder contents before a dive and enter the gas mix, the Maximum Operating Depth at 1.4 ATA and at 1.6 ATA and their signature on to the Nitrox Dive Log.
At the end of each dive, all guests will supply the dive guide with information for the maximum depth they attained, their complete dive time, their starting air pressure and their closing air pressure. This will be recorded on the Ships Diving Manifest by the guide.
Smoking is only permitted on the upper sundeck areas of the boat and in the side walkways at dive deck level. Smoking is strictly prohibited in any internal areas of the boat and on the dive deck where the emergency oxygen is stored and to avoid damage to personal diving equipment.
Jumping from the boat while the engines are operating is strictly prohibited. The only exception to this is where a drift entry is underway, and while the engines are running, the propellers are stationary and the entry is being closely monitored by a guide.
Zodiac boats will only be operated by appropriately trained and authorised members of the crew.
Fishing from the boat is not permitted under any circumstances.
The feeding of fish from the boat is illegal under Egyptian Law and will be strictly enforced.

Diving Equipment

Any rental equipment supplied by Infinity Safaris or one of its 3^rd Party suppliers will be returned at the end of the safari washed and fully operational.
Any faults or breakdowns on rental equipment will be immediately reported to the guides on board for repair or equipment replacement as soon as the problem is identified.
If damage to rental equipment is found to be through neglect or improper use by the guest, the cost to repair or replace will be added to the guest bill.
No rental equipment supplied by Infinity Safaris or one of its 3^rd Party suppliers will be modified from its supplied state under any circumstances. Exceptions to this are the general maintenance activities including regulator mouth piece changes, ‘O’ ring changes, replacement mask or fin straps, etc.
It is the responsibility of the guest to ensure that all equipment, personally owned or rental, is suitably secured in an appropriate place between dives to avoid damage to the equipment or possible injury to others on board.
All guests will carry a Delayed Surface Marker Buoy (DSMB), lamp and an audible surface signalling device on each dive. If they do not own these items, they can be rented from Infinity Safaris for the duration of the tour.

Scuba Diving Activities

All diving will be conducted as a minimum team of two divers, more if desired. Solo diving is not permitted.
All diving will be completed within the maximum depth limits stated below. Blatant breaches of these depths may well lead to the diver being asked to miss the next dive for their own safety.

Maximum depth for compressed air is 40m (assuming training qualifications and experience allow for this)
Maximum depth for Enriched Air is the depth where the Partial Pressure of Oxygen (ppo₂) reaches 1.4 ATA to a maximum depth of 40m (assuming training qualifications and experience allow for this)
Maximum depth for Decompression Procedures dives is 45m (with suitable technical diving equipment and an independent source and adequate quantity of decompression gas being available)
Maximum depth for Extended Range dives is 55m (with suitable technical diving equipment and an independent source and adequate quantity of decompression gas being available)
Maximum depth for Normoxic (entry level) Trimix dives is 60m (with suitable technical diving equipment and an independent source and adequate quantity of decompression gas being available)
Maximum depth for Hypoxic (advanced) Trimix dives is 100m (with suitable technical diving equipment and an independent source and adequate quantity of decompression gas being available)

For all technical diving activities, the maximum ppo₂ for the bottom mix will not exceed 1.4 ATA and the maximum ppo₂ for any decompression gas mix will not exceed 1.6 ATA.

For all technical diving activities undertaken, the following will be prepared, reviewed and approved before a dive is undertaken.

Proof of appropriate training qualifications
Proof of appropriate diving experience
A full dive plan with associated gas mix calculations for mixture and quantities of back gas and decompression mixes and run times
The proposed location for the dive
A list of the underwater emergency procedures the divers will employ should a situation arise
Proof of appropriate insurance cover for all participating divers
Emergency contact information for all participating divers

Gloves may be worn as a form of thermal protection only and the touching of corals and fish life remains strictly prohibited. Guests breaking these rules will be asked not to wear gloves for the remainder of the safari.
A small diving knife may be carried for use as an emergency tool only. It is strictly prohibited to use it as a weapon to cut, kill, damage, touch or harass any form of marine life. Guests breaking these rules will be asked not to carry the knife for the remainder of the safari.
Any diver thought to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs will be asked to miss dives until the guides are happy that there is no longer a risk to the diver.
Divers will return to the boat with no less that 30 Bar tank pressure at the end of any dive. The only exception to this is where an emergency situation has been encountered.
All dives made will be no-stop non decompression dives unless a formal decompression dive is planned with the appropriate information, equipment and proof of training as stated above.

Snorkelling Activities

Non diving snorkellers and swimmers are required to wear a life jacket / snorkelling vest if snorkelling or swimming in an open water environment.
Snorkelling and swimming are not permitted if surface cover from the boat is unavailable, or the boat is drifting without moorings.
By order of the South Sinai Association for Diving and Marine Activities (SSDM), snorkelling and swimming are not permitted in the following Sharm el Sheikh, Tiran or Ras Mohamed Marine Park sites
Dunraven, Shark & Yolande, Anemone City, Jackfish Alley, Ras Ghazlani, Ras Ghamilla, Ras Za’atar, Jackson Reef, Woodhouse Reef or Thomas Reef

This rule has been put in place to protect the guests from the surface conditions and potentially strong currents that frequent the areas named, but also to protect the fragile marine systems that also exist here.

Email us on

info@infinitysafaris.com

Please find enclosed the Operational Protocols that we ask all of our guests to follow.

If you have any questions or require any further information, please contact us on the email address below.