Section 6: Boating Procedures

6.1. The Organizing Committee must contact the Coast Guard or pertinent authorities to have the site chosen for the attempt declared off-limits to regular marine traffic.

6.2. The Organizing Committee must appoint a vessel as the Support Ship, which will transport the following to and from the site of the attempt: a) the Freediver, b) the Support Divers, and c) the F.R.E.E. Judges. All required procedures to be followed by these three (3) parties prior to and after the attempt must exclusively take place onboard the Support Ship. No other personnel are allowed on the Support Ship, except those authorized by the Organizing Committee. This vessel must display a clearly legible sign with the inscription “Support Ship” on it.

6.3. Any vessel not directly involved in the attempt must remain outside a minimum radius of 150 meters/ 492 feet from the site where the Guide-Line is laid.

6.4. All vessels directly involved in the attempt, including the Support Ship, must be at anchor and remain outside a minimum radius of 15 meters/ 49 feet from the site where the Guide-Line is laid. Anchorage and positioning must be attained from at least one (1) hour before the attempt and throughout its duration.

Variable Ballast attempts

The Support Ship can be allowed inside the 15 meters/ 49 feet radius if the Guide-Line is directly attached to it. No other vessel can be exempted from this requirement.

6.5. All vessels within the 150 meters/ 492 feet radius must turn off their internal combustion engines from at least one (1) hour before the attempt and throughout its duration. Electrical motors may remain in use, as long as their operation does not become an obstacle to the Freediver and/or the Support Divers.

6.6. An Emergency Boat must remain available throughout the duration of the attempt and ready for transportation to the dock of origin. This boat must be secured to the Support Ship and not at anchor. If the dock of origin is more than 1.6 kilometers/ 1 mile away from the site of the attempt, then the Emergency Boat must be equipped with a mobile ICU (Intensive Care Unit). A properly trained Medical Technician or technicians and a pilot must remain on the Emergency Boat throughout the duration of the attempt. This boat must display a clearly legible sign with the inscription “Emergency Boat” on it. This boat must have high-speed capabilities and a flat bottom configuration to allow for better and more efficient treatment of an accident victim.

6.7. If conditions at the chosen site become unsuitable for the attempt to be carried out, then the Organizing Committee and the F.R.E.E. Judges may agree on an alternate site. Boating Procedures may not be changed or modified at the alternate site.

6.8. If strong currents are present at the site of the attempt, the Organizing Committee and the F.R.E.E Judges may consider the option of a free-drifting setup so that the effects of the current are nullified. The authorization for this option is at the Judges’ discretion and is based on their perception of this option not compromising the safety and integrity of the attempt.

Fresh Water Attempts

6.9. When the inherent characteristics and conditions of a Fresh Water site do not allow for certain Boating Procedures to be followed, or the site does not lend itself for any boating operations at all, the Organizing Committee and the F.R.E.E. Judges may consider changes or modifications to these Procedures. The authorization for these changes or modifications is at the Judges’ discretion and is based on their perception of these changes or modifications not compromising the safety and integrity of the attempt.