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pine tree john... the '' hubbub''. is that someone reported these coming very close to swimmers , weaving in and out, and almost got hit, trying to swim to the barge on Alfred's dock.
I'm pretty sure it's not all single file , and far out. like this pic. I'm sure folks asked what all the '' hubbub '' was about the jet skis, until an American tourist got his head smashed in, in front of his wife, while swimming, and died.
to be devil's advocate, there are roped off swimming areas for a reason. if you leave that area, it is at your own "risk", right?
not saying I want the noise or the foolishness of it all while I'm swimming or enjoying the beach, but there is a certain level or self-responsibility- on both sides, the swimmer and the boater.
Attachment 50956
Here is an up close pic from a guest at Couples Negril
Barb,
Google the pic... That is a photographer's pic from Cuba... A Sunwing property. That is not a picture taken here in Negril...
This is why we are taking this seriously and not as something to be ignored.
I apologize for muddying the waters. I went back and checked the post. The Poster was using the pic to describe what kind of boat it was. Not an actual pic. He did say he saw them in Bloody Bay and another poster said they are definitely from Royalton for guest use.
I'm with pine tree John. The boats look like a lot of fun and we would love to rent something like that on our next trip. I don't see what the big deal is. Enjoy!
Ya sorry Rob, the pic I posted was from Cuba, I just wanted to post a pic of what the boat looked like.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rob
I would never make light of this tragedy , but really come on .... they were smiling .Quote:
Originally Posted by jojo p
Livin, the ropes I would think warn of a depth difference more than anything....there is no reason someone should have to look over their shoulder while floating, swimming ,snorkeling outside the ropes.....Alfreds dock is in place for folks to swim out to, it should be able to be done without worry of getting run over. ( Isn't there enough things we can't do, like do not walk the beach or roadside after dark....blah blah ..
Jaherring......I knew you would pop up , with your love of the speedboats....maybe Royalton would be good place for you..:)
well, unlike the tragedy the family had to face, by not only loosing their loved one, but spending thousands of dollars getting the body of their loved one home, unlike being able to go after an uninsured jet ski, Royalton indeed has deep pockets ! That's a positive...
JoJo,
All properties on the beach are required by the JTB to have marked swimming areas. It is required so that all swimmers and boaters know exactly where the lines are drawn. Since the sea bottom is sand, and sand shifts naturally all the time, the markers have nothing to do with the depth of the water.
When you swim outside of the designated swimming area, you do so at your own risk.
Regulations on jetskis were being formulated before the incident that happened in Negril. The tragedy that happened in Ochi where a tourist lost control of a jetski and killed a 6 year old Jamaican girl and injured her two sisters playing on the beach sparked demands that something be done. From the Gleaner story about a year ago when the tourist was released from jail:
"Little Tanoya Hyman of Christiana, Manchester, died shortly after she was hit by an out-of-control jet ski being driven by Mandyal, an Indian man vacationing in Jamaica.
The incident happened at a beach in Ocho Rios, St Ann.
Hyman's two smaller sisters who were among members of her family on the beach were injured in the crash."
http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/n...-jet-ski-crash
Yes, they were smiling. And not watching where they're driving the thing. Along with several reports of them nearly hitting folks.Quote:
Originally Posted by pine tree john
Rob, while you are "at your own risk" when outside the ropes, that doesn't mean that it's a good thing to allow the type of people that are being discussed, to rent the things. Just a matter of time until someone else gets killed, all so Royalton (or Island Lux) can make maximum profit. Earlier in the thread you implied that the police would be interested to deal with this, but here you seem to be defending what they're doing? Guess I don't follow.
Rob, I understand that, but the American tourist that was struck, by what I heard, from a boardie who was there , and actually helping, was that this gentleman was literally right next to the rope. There is no way any motorized boats should be allowed anywhere close to the swimming area. What fun is it to have to look over your shoulder in front of your own resort, swimming not far from shore. Seems nothing is done, until something happens. A tourist got severly injured falling off one of the horses, yet the horses remain, I guess a death has to occur , before action will finally taken with them.
That picture you took of them riding way out yesterday, if they stay out that far, then it's great for everyone, but according to some, they are not. Time will tell I guess.
Tah,
Say what? Defending what? I have already posted "But they were traveling between the Island Lux moored boats and the bouy lines. Way too close unless you are observing a "no wake" speed."
How is that defending the practice? There is a big difference in defending something I don't agree with and correcting wrong information. The marked swimming areas are there for a reason and it has nothing to do with depth.
Jojo,
The incident that happened in Negril did happen inside the marked swimming area. The tragic part of the Ochi incident was the fact that the little girl was not in the water at all, but playing on the beach. I am not sure what point you are trying to make. Both incidents should never have happened.
The picture I took yesterday show them travelling between the moored boats and the bouy markers. Personally I feel that is too close.
Rob, what I am saying is I heard the man was just a couple feet from the ropes, not way out. While floating, I have had many of them , rush up right to the ropes, trying to get folks to rent, that was going on for a long time..... Well, this debate can go on and on, I guess I will see for myself soon enough. I just wanted to give folks a heads up of what has been reported, and ''do your thing at your own risk '' I guess applies everywhere.
Jojo,
The jetskis were out of control, which is why they are no longer on the Negril beach. That is a fact, nothing to debate.
The picture I took yesterday pretty much backs up the description of the sightings at Alfred's, GP, etc. You saw the picture and said that the boats were "way out" and not a problem. The same may be said by the Alfred's description of traveling between the platform and the bouy swimming markers. I felt that they were too close and you see the same thing and call it fine. We both are looking at the same thing and have two different opinions.
Seeing it in person for yourself is really the only way to make an informed decision.
And a quick FYI, there were water skiing boats and the "couch" pulling boats operating in the same area, same distance from the beach.
See you soon!
This is the bit I was referring to. If I misconstrued, then okay.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rob
We saw these last month from the main beach and then saw them tied up outside of the Royalton on Bloody Bay later on in the week.
Is this the boat all the talk is about? I pulled this from the post SLP put up on 04-02-18?Attachment 51060
Definitely looks like it..... close to the ropes. inside the Alfred's dock's is exactly where the girl from TA reported almost getting hit.
( That would be me in the floatie, giving it '' the look ''.. :) )
Something doesn't make sense here.
The last picture looks lake (+-) 24' fishing boat and could never be confused with a one or two seat runabout.
Cap
Cap, maybe so, maybe that's a fishing boat, I haven't yet seen a close up pic of the boats in question, either way, motorized boats in that close make me uneasy !
Yep Cap, that is a fishing boat. Lol. Some folks seem to be all upset over nothing. Time for a chill pill.
''some folks get upset over nothing ''.....really, I want to be able to swim in Negril without the threat of getting my head whacked off..... you take a chill pill , someone asked if these were the boats, but I wasn't sure , as no one has posted a close up pic yet......I'll see for myself very soon.
Jojo,
The single fishing boat, in the picture you are referring to, is not the boats in question.
First of all, it is a single boat, not multiple boats. Secondly, it is not being "steered" by anyone, the picture clearly shows that the captain has steered the boat out to sea while he is searching for something on board.
I have already posted a clear picture showing the boats in question. I am not sure what more you want.
There is a picture of an unmanned boat cruising the exact same area described which is raising no issues at all, what is the point of using that photo that absolutely no one at all has complained about.
We posted a picture of exactly what was happening, between the moored boats and the marked swimming line. Personally I think it is too close, but it is outside the swimming areas and many other boats, such as the picture of the fishing boat that were going too fast.
Alfred's platform is farther out than the moored boats. I fail to understand your opposition against something that you have not seen. I have already suggested that you see it for yourself, I am clueless as what else to suggest.
Again, look forward to seeing you soon!
Rob, are you referring to the boats that are way out ?yes, I just do not know what they look like close up. I thought it was determined that Irenes picture wasn't the actual boat in question,
but a advertisement. I just wanted Mr. Jetski to know that I have already mentioned I will see for myself the boat situation when I come. Thanks .
that is not the boats that have been going by everyday since we arrived.
they are small 14-15 ft speed type boats, also they are always in single file
and are not a bother @ all from what we have seen. Since this seeing prior to leaving,
every time I see them I have purposely been watching them and they have not bothered
anyone, in fact I have seen them move further out when there was a swimmer-paddle
boarder etc. up ahead. I will try to get a pic if they go by today.
Yamon...that's exactly how I've seen the boats also!! Which explains why I never noticed them when this topic was first posted.
Rob shared a pic a few posts back in this thread of the exact boats...maybe you can get a close up shot.
If you want to be safe swimming outside the buoys then you would have to ban the glass bottom boats &
the catamaran's including the red stripe as they are all driving in the same areas beyond the swimming buoys
as these speed boats are. my personal opinion being a boater back home is it is easier for these drivers to see what's ahead
versus a catamaran with 25 drunk people aboard blocking the drivers vision.
When people get here they will see it is no big deal based on being ALL OVER THE BEACH the last 7 days including Alfred's multiple times.
By the way it still is PARADISE here.
I have seen these speed boats several times while on the beach back in February and March. When ever I've seen them, they have been far out to sea and not a bother to anyone. They do come from Royalton as we live right next door at The Point Village and have seen them parked there overnight.
There has been a lot of talk about the swim line and if you swim outside of the line then you are taking your own risk. But remember, the Negril Marine Park Zoning Plan specifically says where motorized water craft can be and where they can't be. Here is an exert from the plan itself regarding the swim zone;
Approved and Prohibited Activities for the Swimming Sub-Zone
Swimming and snorkeling will be permitted between the line of buoys and the beach. No motorized craft, other mechanized craft or fishing activity will be permitted within the swimming sub-zone except for the purpose of ingress and egress in a manner generally perpendicular to the shoreline and outside of the smaller swim areas demarcated by each property. Inbound and outbound vessel speeds should not exceed 3 knots.
Now the swim zone extends from the shoreline out to 300' and also from that point, another 300' from shore which is designated the "non motorized craft zone. Here is what it reads;
Approved and Prohibited Activities for the Motorized Craft Sub-Zone
No anchoring or non-motorized activity or crafts (with the exception of vessels larger than 12 feet) will be permitted in this zone. Due to safety concerns to the fisher, no spear fishing will be permitted in this zone. Jet skis are only permitted to enter this zone for the purpose of exiting the Jet ski Special Purpose Zone to go ashore, and this must be done in a manner perpendicular to the shoreline and at a speed not exceeding 3 knots upon entering the Non-Motorized Craft Sub-Zone.
What this is basically saying, there should be no small motorized water craft within 600' on the shore and if so, must be either travelling to shore or out to sea and must be travelling perpendicular to the shore line and no faster than 3 knots. 600' is a long ways out. So the picture Rob has of the fishing boat by Alfred's is in breach of the Negril Marine Park zoning plan as are these little two seat run about boats. They should be reported to the marine police if they are seen within 600' of the shore.
Thanks Brownsd54! Excellent research!
Brownsd54 has info from the Interim Negril Marine Park Zoning Plan. The time period for the plan was a five-year period (2013-2018), which would have the plan expired as of 2018. According to their guidelines, acknowledgement of the source must be made. Here is the link:
https://www.google.com.jm/url?sa=t&s...9NULdEcDbwrTZE
Along with the above, there are a few clarifications to the posted info. Brownsd54 posted "Now the swim zone extends from the shoreline out to 300' and also from that point, another 300' from shore which is designated the "non motorized craft zone.".
To be clear, there is no extra 300ft extension for swimming. The actual wording is that the non motorized zone is a buffer zone in which swimming is not allowed. Here is the wording:
Approved and Prohibited Activities for the Non-Motorized Craft Sub-Zone
In this area no motorized vessel (including every description of a watercraft inclusive of jet skis) will
be permitted to use this zone for general operation. Permission for entry into this zone by motorized craft will be allowed solely for the purpose of ingress and egress in a manner generally perpendicular to the shoreline. Inbound and outbound vessel speeds should not exceed 3 knots.
No fishing or swimming will be permitted within this zone (i.e. between the swim zone buoys and
the line of non-motorized float balls.)
I have never seen a line of non-motorized float balls, so I am not sure that this plan was fully adopted. And the new jetski laws are much more strict than what is in the plan and supercedes the measures mentioned in the plan.
And I did not post the picture of the fishing boat, SLP did originally and it was copied here by another poster.
hope they don't pick mi off when mi snorkeling...sometimes mi out der 2 hours
mi have a hard enuff time with the glass bottom boats and the fishing boats every morning....
too many close calls to mention over the years......dem worse than the barracudas.....lol.....true........
thankfully tourist are driving these likkle speed boats and dem not normally out since mi an early morning swimmer.....
Cool Runnings, Marko
Marko,
Where do you snorkel off the beach? I thought you snorkel off the cliffs. The guided speed boats we are discussing seem to only traverse the main Seven Mile Beach area.
the big take away for me is to swim within the designated, roped-off area... is that right?
Livin, the tourist that was killed in front of Travelers was inside the designated roped off area.
Jojo,
That event, along with the Jamaican child that was killed by a tourist while playing with her sisters on the beach in Ochi led to the jetski ban. The child was not in the water, not even in the swimming zone but on the sand playing. So with the jetskis, you were not even safe NOT being in the water. Both were tragic accidents.
Absolutely no one anywhere is claiming that they saw any motorized craft inside the designated swimming zones since jetski ban.
So the take away would be to swim inside the designated swimming areas which are clearly marked and have nothing to do with the depth of the water, but the distance from the shore.
Yes, that is the big take away. If you are swimming near the shore, stay inside the swimming zone.Quote:
Originally Posted by LivinInThe603
If you are snorkeling by the reef, be sure to do so with a snorkel operator who can keep watch over all the snorkelers. Same goes for scuba diving.
This is just my humble oppinion but I pray that no one who is suspected to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol is allowed to power one of those speedboats.
In Jamaica? Can't see that ever happening. smhQuote:
Originally Posted by halfwaytree
Or in Ohio for that matter... Put-n-bay anyone?Quote:
Originally Posted by gregandkelly63
or Braun Bay, Lake Winnipesaukee!