Safety is crucial for a marine science organization that’s working regularly on the dynamic waters of the Salish Sea. Whether it’s a simple boat ride or a full day of SCUBA dives amid changing tides and currents, it’s important to be prepared.

That’s why Team SeaDoc annually schedules a week of training to refresh not only our core safety skills, but to build and develop new ones as well.

Early this summer we hosted the UC Davis Boat & Dive Safety Program’s Boating Safety Officer James Fitzgerald, who led us in a full week of boat maneuvering, docking, trailering, marlinspike knot tying, mapping, navigation, and emergency response.

Above all else, though, the training drives home the power of clear and direct communication, not only between teammates but also externally with collaborators and responders. We always come out of the week with a renewed sense of confidence in our skills and a closer connection with the team. This year was no exception!

Here are some photos from Boat Safety Week. While this year’s training was specifically dedicated to boating and emergency preparedness, we also regularly conduct a full slate of dive operations as well with the Dive Safety Team, led by Jason Herum and his excellent great team.

Thanks for keeping Team SeaDoc sharp and alert on the water!