Safety is the primary consideration in all of our activities. We carefully plan and monitor each activity to ensure the successful accomplishment of our goals. Activities are designed not as high-risk adventures, but rather for the positive growth of our participants, we never sacrifice quality for convenience nor safety for risk. Throughout the year we evaluate how we do our activities and include outside risk-assessment advice to refine our methods. Participants are fully instructed in personal and group safety skills and the use of program and safety equipment. Only high-quality equipment is used for program activities. We maintain a staff to participant ratio of 1 to 4, staff are trained as first aid providers and each program has EMT or WFR trained emergency medical responders. All staff know how to access and activate our emergency support system. We rigorously follow and uphold all PADI SCUBA training standards and fully enforce our zero-use alcohol and drug policy.
We have never had an accident requiring extended hospitalization nor have we had a participant become seriously injured, and this is no accident! We work very diligently to keep our programs safe and to monitor carefully all activities. Our programs are lead by professionals who are commited to keeping what could be potentially a chaotic and hostile adventure as a smooth running and safe voyage. We do this through education, training, and a lot of hard work.
We do not take unnecessary risks, but outdoor expeditions do have some inherent risks. The forces of nature and the scope of our activities do yield the possibility of an accident even in the best-managed of adventures and no ultimate safety guarantee is possible from any program. While it is not possible to eliminate all potential dangers from our outdoor activities, as SCUBA diving, sailing, hiking, swimming, climbing and watersports have inherent risks and dangers that can lead to injury, property damage or even loss of life, we do take our safety commitment very seriously and are fully dedicated to the well being of all participants. Our excellent safety record speaks for our active and solid commitment to your incident free adventure. With Odyssey, you will learn to respect and evaluate risks as you learn new skills, allowing you to minimize the risks and make intelligent decisions while functioning as a team member sharing the responsibility for the safety of yourself and others.
For the properly trained, SCUBA diving has been evaluated by insurers to be safer than bowling. We insure that all of our divers are properly trained so that nobody throws a gutter ball.
Our vessels are fully equipped for diving emergencies with multiple jumbo D oxygen cylinders, and demand valve oxygen delivery systems.
All staff are trained in first aid and many have advanced wilderness medicine or emergency medical technician training. Emergency medical equipment is carried aboard our vessels as well as advanced communications equipment if contacting a physician or arranging for helicopter evacuation should become necessary.
- Odyssey Expeditions is a PADI International Resort.
- Odyssey Expeditions Skippers are United States Coast Guard licensed.
- Odyssey Expeditions Staff are trained in First Aid by Emergency First Response
- Lead staff are trained by Wilderness Medical Associates.
- Odyssey Expeditions is a member of the Divers Alert Network and carries DAN Oxygen units aboard all vessels.
- We do not travel in large flotillas, nor are our vessels by themselves. Our programs run with 2-3 vessels together to provide logistical support for each other,allow the students to get to know other students not on their own vessel and to allow friendly sailing challenges between the vessels. We not travel or anchor together in large flotillas, which helps to keep your program personal and minimizes distractions.