A boat nearly hits a diver exploring the Bahamas, and the incident was caught on camera.
Instagram user Hailey Boyer (@hboyer2) posted the clip on her account. In the video, you can see her snorkeling underwater with some fish and a stingray. A moment later, a small catamaran sailboat passes overhead, nearly hitting her. The video ends with Boyer surfacing to see who just passed overhead.
On her account, Boyer commented, “off with my head.” She also used the current “Jet2 Holiday” social media trend that highlights unfortunate events happening to people on vacation. The video uses the theme song that was popular in commercials from the Jet2 company, which focuses on vacation packages. It’s an ironic choice as the boat passes inches from hitting the diver.
Despite her tongue-in-cheek response, Boyer also commented that she did everything right. She said she did have a marker nearby to let people know they were diving in the area. Her boat was also within reach, making this close encounter the boater’s fault.
Usually, a scary diving video includes a group of sharks or other marine animals; sometimes, divers need to be more concerned about boaters.
According to the Divers Alert Network (DAN), which promotes diver safety worldwide, divers should always use a diving flag while underwater. Boaters should recognize the red flag with a white diagonal line as a sign to stay away. They also recommend a surface marker buoy. Boaters should stay at least 300 feet away from any buoy to avoid incidents like this.
However, in some circumstances, like the shared video, divers may have no other choice but to stay extra vigilant. It’s recommended that anyone diving constantly check their surroundings. DAN recommends that divers stop before surfacing to double-check any incoming boat traffic that may be heading in their direction.