Seguridad y conservación

Zeeland combines cold water, limited visibility, slippery shore access, navigation law, recreational traffic, and serious tidal current. Safe planning starts with the right site for the team's actual experience, then verifies weather, access, tide, current, gas, thermal protection, emergency communications, and an alternate site. Conservation is equally operational: avoid all collecting and disturbance, use established entries, and keep fins and equipment off shellfish, soft growth, eggs, and breeding structures.

Core Procedures

Never scuba dive alone. Freedivers use trained direct safety, one-up one-down observation, and a marked line or float system.

For exposed Oosterschelde sites, follow the NOB three-step process: long-range tide plan, current check within 24 hours, and final waterside verification.

Abort when current, wind, visibility, access, fishing activity, boat traffic, team readiness, or equipment differs materially from the plan.

Read every site board and current BPR rule. Keep out of prohibited areas near locks, bridges, harbors, marked channels, working shellfish plots, and navigation routes.

Display the international Alpha flag where required for vessel operations and use clear surface marking for shore activities according to current rules and local guidance.

Carry a compass, primary and backup light, DSMB and spool, audible signal, cutting tool, and an accessible surface phone.

Core Procedures

Never scuba dive alone. Freedivers use trained direct safety, one-up one-down observation, and a marked line or float system.
For exposed Oosterschelde sites, follow the NOB three-step process: long-range tide plan, current check within 24 hours, and final waterside verification.
Abort when current, wind, visibility, access, fishing activity, boat traffic, team readiness, or equipment differs materially from the plan.
Read every site board and current BPR rule. Keep out of prohibited areas near locks, bridges, harbors, marked channels, working shellfish plots, and navigation routes.
Display the international Alpha flag where required for vessel operations and use clear surface marking for shore activities according to current rules and local guidance.
Carry a compass, primary and backup light, DSMB and spool, audible signal, cutting tool, and an accessible surface phone.

Low-impact Conduct

Oosterschelde is a protected national park and both waters support sensitive hard-bottom communities, shellfish, birds, seals, and other wildlife.

Do not catch, collect, handle, feed, chase, or reposition animals. Lobster harvesting by recreational divers is off limits.
Never touch cuttlefish, seahorses, egg clusters, or breeding frames.
Use designated entries and avoid trampling intertidal growth, mussel beds, oysters, and salt-marsh edges.
Maintain neutral buoyancy and secure gauges, lights, cameras, and alternate regulators.
Do not anchor on known dive structure or living habitat.
Give resting seals, birds, and porpoises distance from shore or boat.
Clean and dry equipment between water bodies to reduce transfer of organisms.
Remove litter when safe, but leave historic and archaeological material in place and report finds through the proper channel.

Contacto	Rol	Teléfono	Disponibilidad
European Emergency Number	Police, fire, and ambulance for urgent or life-threatening emergencies	112	24/7, toll-free
Netherlands Coastguard	Maritime danger and search-and-rescue coordination	+31 88 958 4040; VHF channel 16; DSC VHF channel 70	24/7
DAN Europe Emergency Hotline	Diving-emergency medical advice and coordination after emergency services are activated	+39 0642115685	24/7; first response in English
ADRZ Goes Emergency Department	Regional hospital emergency care	+31 88 125 00 00	24/7 at 's-Gravenpolderseweg 114, Goes

Zeeland (Oosterschelde and Grevelingenmeer)

Seguridad y conservación

Riesgos principales

Seguridad de buceo

Core Procedures

Seguridad y conservación

Riesgos principales

Seguridad de buceo

Core Procedures

Seguridad en snorkel y apnea

Vida marina y áreas protegidas

Low-impact Conduct

Contactos de emergencia