Lagoon Snorkelling Safety Assessment
Mapped lagoon currents and developed visitor safety guidance for a boutique resort in Upolu, Samoa, helping reduce staff interventions, improve guest awareness, and enhance the snorkelling experience.
Location: Upolu, Samoa
Client/Sector: Boutique tourism resort
Challenge:
A secluded resort in Upolu experienced ongoing safety concerns with guests snorkelling inside a coral lagoon where currents varied with tide and wave conditions. Many international visitors had limited water skills and were frequently caught in moving water, requiring staff to conduct rescues. The issue created operational stress for resort staff and negatively affected visitor experience and online reviews.
Aquatic Assessments Role:
Aquatic Assessments analysed local oceanographic conditions using available tidal, wave, and current data to understand circulation patterns within the lagoon. Based on this analysis, we developed a clear current map showing areas of higher flow and identifying safe exit points where guests could easily return to shore if caught in a current. Simple safety guidance was also produced for visitors, including instructions on how to respond to currents, where shallow standing areas were located, and how to signal for assistance if required.
Outcome:
The resort gained a practical safety tool that improved guest awareness of lagoon conditions, reduced staff intervention requirements, and helped enhance the overall snorkelling experience while improving risk management for the property.