Safety guidelines for water sport enthusiasts

Many enjoy the water and especially in Qatar, with the soaring temperatures, water sports and activities are one of the popular ways to cool down.

Now that the winter chills have begun to diminish slightly and heat has started to settle in, this would be the ideal time for all the water sport enthusiasts to hone their skills once more.

However, while water sports and riding water scooters can be fun, there are some safety precautions that one should follow.

The Ministry of Interior (MoI), in one of its recent posts on social media, warns citizens and residents on following appropriate safety measures when involving in water activities.

Here are some safety tips-

#- Make sure your water craft is registered and the number plate is displayed in front and back of the craft. 

#- Always wear a life jacket while driving water scooters.

#- The MoI stresses that young or inexperienced persons are not allowed to drive water scooters.

#- Approved navigation lights (Green on right, red on left and white on the rear) should be fixed on the watercraft.

#- Driving water scooters is not allowed after sunset or when strong wind is blowing. It's not allowed to enter swimming or diving areas, shipping lanes, fishing boats or restricted areas.

#- Also, the ministry says to avoid acrobatic or show off practices for your and others' safety.

#- In case of any emergency don't hesitate to call 2354666 (Coasts and Border Security) or 999 (Central Operations Room)

Do you love water sports? What are your favourite ones?

(Cover image courtesy: Mohammad Habib Photography)