Code of Conduct
The SRPA’s Code of Conduct ensures all members conduct legal, ethical and socially responsible Sardine Run expeditionsThe SRPA’s Code of Conduct ensures all members conduct legal, ethical and socially responsible Sardine Run expeditions
GENERAL
All operators and skippers have signed the Code of Conduct (COC)
GENERAL
All vessels / operators are to have the required minimum 10 million public liability cover in place
BOATS
All vessels are to have in-date SAMSA seaworthy / safety certificates.
BOATS
All boats are to have an adequate and comprehensive first aid box
BOATS
Skippers must be correctly and adequately certified to surf launch and have sufficient surf launch experience to have SCUBA divers on board.
BOATS
All skippers are to have suitable experience in animal behavior and functions of how the sardine run works
BOATS
Each boat must have a full and in-date Medical Oxygen cylinder on board.
GUIDES & SKIPPERS
All operators are to have valid Scuba Diving Business operator permit from the correct Governmnt authority, as well as, individual SCUBA diving permits for all divers on board.
GUIDES & SKIPPERS
All dive guides / in-water guides are to have a minimum of Dive Master level qualification, whether guiding qualified scuba divers or snorkelers
GUIDES & SKIPPERS
Dive Guides or Skippers must have in-date basic first aid training.
GUIDES & SKIPPERS
Dive Guide/s must be in the water with clients at all times.
GUIDES & SKIPPERS
Dive guides are to have adequate ocean guide experience with sharks specifically, as well as, have a level of familiarity with animal behavior.
BAITBALL PROTOCOL
One Sardine Run operator boat per bait ball. If the bait-ball is suitable (determined by size of number of divers in the water) the first arriving operator may invite other operators to deploy divers.
BAITBALL PROTOCOL
Anyone in the water with a Bait-Ball must be wearing black gloves and booties.
BAITBALL PROTOCOL
It is suggested that wetsuit and fin colour be dark in colour and that divers avoid shiny / bright / luminous items of dive gear.
BAITBALL PROTOCOL
All clients must be suitably qualified as a SCUBA diver to SCUBA dive on the sardine run
BAITBALL PROTOCOL
If the bait ball moves away and requires the divers to be collected, another operator may deploy divers if the bait ball becomes static.
BAITBALL PROTOCOL
Should a mobile bait ball take place, boats will take precautions when moving and will be aware of others that may be in the water
BAITBALL PROTOCOL
Divers will be dropped in a specific place and the skipper and dive guide will be vigilant in keeping groups together and boats outside of the immediate area
BAITBALL PROTOCOL
Boats dropping divers should approach from the sides and not down the main stream of movement where other in-water users may be
PROFESSIONAL FILMING
Should a professional film group be in the water, a filming permit would be in effect
BAITBALL PROTOCOL
The dive group should stay together and stay off the bait ball with the aim of purely observing and not interfering.
SNORKELER PROTOCOL
All in-water snorkelers must have sufficient experience for the activity
SNORKELER PROTOCOL
Snorkelers must, at all times, attempt to keep off the bait ball even though this may move in constantly
SNORKELER PROTOCOL
All snorkelers must remain to one side to allow for natural wildlife behavior to occur.
SCUBA DIVER PROTOCOL
All scuba divers must stay together on one side of the bait-ball. No circling of the bait-ball.
SCUBA DIVER PROTOCOL
If the bait-ball seeks shelter amongst the divers, divers must move a safe distance away.
SCUBA DIVER PROTOCOL
All scuba dives will be led by a dive master and the dive master will carry a sbuoy line / surface marker buoy (SMB) at all times
SCUBA DIVER PROTOCOL
All scuba divers are to carry a SMB in their BCD’s
SCUBA DIVER PROTOCOL
All scuba divers are to practice correct buoyancy control and stay at the same depth as the Dive Master
SCUBA DIVER PROTOCOL
When scuba diving in the deep open ocean on a “big blue dive”, no dive should be deeper than 15m for safety reasons.
SCUBA DIVER PROTOCOL
It is highly recommended that a check-out dive to a depth no deeper than 15m is done on the first day prior to any further in-water activities
SCUBA DIVER PROTOCOL
Divers must be notified about the correct usage of an SMB and how to deploy same
SCUBA DIVER PROTOCOL
Mixed snorkel and SCUBA groups. There must be a guide with SCUBA divers and a seperate guide for snorkelers. Clients canot be left alone in the water unguided.
DOLPHIN PROTOCOL
No invasive driving through pods of dolphins.
DOLPHIN PROTOCOL
No sharp turns or circling to attract dolphins is allowed.
WHALE PROTOCOL
Boats may not approach closer than 300m from a whale
WHALE PROTOCOL
No mother/calf pairs will be disturbed or approached in any way.
WEATHER/HOURS PROTOCOL
The sardine run activities take place during daylight hours only
WEATHER/HOURS PROTOCOL
The Sardine Run activities take place in suitable weather conditions and boats return to shore when the weatehr turns and conditions become unsafe
SOCAL RESPONSIBILITY
Adhere to and commit to social upliftment responsibility
SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
Upload socal upliftment projects onto their respective websites
SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
Provide an annual review of the association members efforts in the respective areas
SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
Be open to providing information to assess the impact of each years Sardine Run on the local community and tourism in general
Contact us
To learn more about South Africa’s Sardine Run Professional Assciation, please feel free to contact us via the below form