Snorkeling operations in Australia and Hawaii have recently come under scrutiny due to their business practices.
Queensland, Australia snorkeling operator Bullet Whitsundays recently pleaded guilty at Mackay Magistrates Court.
The company pled guilty to breaching health and safety obligations by failing to provide sufficient information about the risks of entering the water to passengers in a language they understand.
The specific case is thought to involve a group of Chinese speakers on a day trip to Saba Bay on Hook Island in the Whitsundays chain. The only information given was in English, which at least six of the group were unable to understand. The company described its shortcomings as an “obvious failure.”
While fortunately no injuries resulted from the failure, the guilty plea can see the company facing hefty fines of up to Au$35,000/~£18,000/~US$24,685/~€20,939.
Trouble in Hawaii
Across the Pacific, Hawaiian snorkel-boat captain Jeffrey Worthen is now facing the music after being found to be operating with fraudulent qualifications.
The discovery came after disaster struck one of these trips, when the vessel he was commanding struck a rock, injuring several people and throwing five people in the water.
The investigation found that Worthen had falsely claimed to hold a valid Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC). Appearing in federal court, Worthen admitted to one count of making a false statement to the Coast Guard and to another count of wire fraud.
The wire fraud charge carries a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. Worthen will be sentenced on June 15, 2026.
