Community safety hub

Plan together. Dive together. Come home together.

A practical starting point for Victorian spearos. Conditions, training and local risks vary, so make conservative decisions and stay within every diver's capability.

Start pre-dive check Emergency actions

Victorian spearfishing community members preparing together

Never dive aloneUse a capable, attentive buddy.

One up, one downDirectly supervise every ascent.

Conditions decideCall the dive when anything feels wrong.

Before entering the water

Pre-dive team check

Complete this together. A tick is a conversation, not a guarantee of safety.

0 of 8 checked

Buddy and roles confirmedOne-up/one-down order, direct supervision and rescue capability discussed. Plan shared ashoreLocation, buddy names, return time and plan B given to a reliable contact. Weather and water checkedWind, swell, tides, visibility, entry and exit assessed using current information. Legal area confirmedOutside marine national parks, sanctuaries and other restricted waters. Equipment checkedWeight release, float line, knife, mask, fins, exposure protection and first-aid kit ready. Speargun safeUnloaded on land, muzzle controlled and target/background rules agreed. Personal readiness honestRested, hydrated, well and staying within training and capability. Emergency plan understoodExit, call-for-help method, exact location and responder roles agreed.

Buddy protocol

One up, one down

Brief each dive. Agree intended direction, depth and expected duration.
Watch continuously. The surface buddy does not breathe up, hunt or become distracted.
Meet the ascent. Stay close enough to protect the diver's airway and respond.
Confirm recovery. Maintain contact and observation after surfacing before roles change.

Formal freediving and rescue training is strongly encouraged. A buddy who cannot recognise and manage a blackout is not an adequate safety system.

Speargun discipline

Control it from entry to exit

Load only in the water and unload before leaving it.
Never point a loaded speargun at another person.
Identify the target and what is behind it before firing.
Keep your finger away from the trigger until ready to shoot.
Keep the float line clear and never tether fish to your body.
Carry a suitable dive knife where it can be reached.

Life-threatening emergency

Call Triple Zero 000

Give the exact location, number of people involved and what happened. Follow the operator's instructions.

If something goes wrong

Make the scene safe and recover the person without creating another casualty.
Call 000 immediately for a life-threatening emergency.
Begin first aid or CPR within your training and follow the call-taker's directions.
Send someone to guide responders and provide the dive plan, timing and relevant medical information.

Official resources

Check before every dive

VFA fishing safetyVictorian diving and speargun guidance Where spearfishing is permittedCurrent equipment and restricted-water rules Marine protected areasVictoria's no-take parks and sanctuaries Bureau of MeteorologyOfficial marine forecasts and warnings First-aid basicsDRSABCD and Australian emergency guidance Freediving safetyBuddy supervision, weighting and training

This page is general community guidance, not medical advice, formal training or a complete statement of Victorian law. Always use current official information and qualified instruction.