How to stay safe and get the most out of your time on the water
Whether it is in your leisure time or on holiday, water is a real magnet for all those who are looking for an active lifestyle, relaxation or recreation. Coastal areas and inland waterways offer a wide range of watersports activities from diving, fishing, canoeing and various board sports to boating under sail or motor.
What all these activities have in common is the fascination of water. To feel and experience the basic elements water and wind and to get up close to a the fascinating flora and fauna of lakes, rivers and the sea offer unique, immediate and basic experiences that are difficult to find on land. In addition, wind and water challenge us physically, intelectually and mentally. Watersports are always a holistic experience.
Always respect the power of nature Fun and recreation almost seem to be intrinsici values of the element water, but dealing with this element always involves respect for the power that lies dormant in it. Compared to other leisure and holiday activities, all water sports perform very well in terms of safety, and real problems or even accidents are very rare. Nevertheless, attention for one's own safety on the water must always be kept high. In the end, man is not a marine creature after all, and even the smallest body of water is not a natural human habitat.
Staying safe is the rule For real watersports enthusiasts, therefore, fun on the water always involves the idea of safety, no matter what kind of watersport we are talking about. Not as a tiresome, compulsory exercise, but because it is part of this special experience. Being able to ensure safety on the water correctly and competently for yourself, for the crew and for guests on board or for your dive buddy, is part of the special experience of watersports.
Training & equipment
Confirmation & self-confidence It all begins with good, basic training, without which no boater, surfer, diver or anglor should expose him- or herself to the elements water and wind. Mastering wind and waves with your own knowledge and skills is confirmation and gives self-confidence. The assessment of one's own limits is an inseparable part of this and a skill you will take back into everyday life.
Check & keep things in good shape Then there is the equipment, often featuring highly modern, complex technology, which of course can only fulfil its tasks reliably if always kept in good condition. As an active boater, diver or surfer you know how to use your equipment and technology to enhance your time and experience on the water. And as your equipment is also your most important ally on the water, you appreciate it and take good care for it.
Teamwork & communication Any activities that are fun on the water always involve teamwork. Cohesion, coordination and communication within the crew also contribute to safety on the water - and at the same time are part of what makes watersports such a rich and rewarding experience.
It is only at the end of this chain of safety aspects that safety equipment in the true sense of the word comes into play, such as life jackets, emergency transmitters or equipment for recovering a person overboard. Safety on the water is a mental task and that is the main reason why it contributes to your experience on the water.
