Skipper system
The boat always has a (legal) master. Only local skippers and actual skippers can act as the master of the boat in Kupla. Others can act as boat drivers & navigators under the supervision and responsibility of the (local) skipper. During the diving activity, there must always be a local skipper/skipper or someone who knows how to drive a boat inside the boat.
In Kupla’s skipper system, there are no long lists of requirements that automatically make something happen by fulfilling them, or whose fulfillment would be mandatory for progress. However, there are plenty of things related to diving that the average boater does not come across. On the page about learning to be a skipper, there is a table listing various skills closely related to diving and boat driving.
Competence and boating performance are important, but attitude, pressure/stress tolerance and understanding and following your own limits are just as important. Performances form wholes – in addition to individual parts, competence must be demonstrated in complete diving trips and in exceptional situations. Technical boating skills are important, but the boat captain’s job is also to manage all boating activities.
Kupla’s skipper system has two “levels”: local skipper and skipper. Before the start of a diving trip with Kuplas boat, a master is agreed on the boat. Regardless of the captain’s skipper system status or seniority, all other people on the boat work under the boat’s master.
Local skipper
The local skipper knows his limits and chooses destinations within his competence: the minimum level is the ability to safely handle boating from beginning to end to familiar buoyed destinations in good conditions. The local skipper’s skills – boat handling skills, situational awareness and leadership – are enough even if no one else in the boat knows how to handle the boat. Local skipper is a license for independent learning within the limits of one’s own competence. The local skipper safely leads all activities during boating and together with the dive master during diving activities.
The local skipper knows how to work under pressure and in exceptional situations. For example when everyone in the boat, the boat next to you, and even on the pier stare, shout different instructions.
The local skipper does not need to know everything, as long as the know-how is sufficient for safe operations in suitable destinations, and the attitude towards one’s own limits is right. The local skipper can train others within his competence, but the local skipper does not have to train.
A local skipper can, for example, sail in the dark, to a new destination or to an unbuoyed destination within the scope of his skills – the activities of a competent local skipper are not limited to the minimum level of the definition of a local skipper. In unclear situations, you should ask the skippers or responsible skippers for advice.
Skipper
The skipper is neither perfect nor a super boater, but boating is routine and generally “easy”. The skipper knows how to handle boating in longer diving trip situations and organizes long transfers with larger loads. The skipper knows how to organize boating to a destination that no one involved has been to before, even if destination does not have fixed buoy or anchor. Similarly, skipper does anchoring to the destination safely and without damaging e.g. wrecks. If necessary, the skipper can navigate boat in the dark and in poor visibility.
A skipper is usually good at training others, but a skipper does not have to be a trainer. There is no obligation to train others, although training new skippers is highly desirable.
The skipper is not a mechanic, but somekind of understanding, interest and even a little experience in maintaining boats is almost essential. You can always ask for help, but the wrench and common sense should stay in hand.
Responsible skippers
The task of responsible skippers is to develop the boating culture of the Kupla in the long term. The board annually selects three skippers for the positions of responsible skippers. Administrative positions are open every year, but the goal is long-term operation.
Responsible skippers should be active skippers who participat a lot in Kupla diving trips that are done with our boats, and see a lot of action first hand (instead of rumors and chatter). This helps to understand the skills, knowledge level, etc. of those who want to become a skipper, as well as the functionality of the training.
In boating, responsible skippers work under the captain of the boat (if they are not the captain of the boat themselves).
Skippers can propose local skipper and skipper appointments to responsible skippers, who decide on the appointments. The responsible skippers strive for consensus, and ultimately three can vote. If the proposal is not accepted at the same time, the applicant and recommenders will be told what experience, knowledge or skills are lacking. In addition to or instead of technical competence (boat driving skills), the emphasis is on the right attitude and managing the whole in practical situations in normal Kupla operations.
In case of damage to equipment and other damage and danger situations related to boating, the responsible skippers help together with the master of the ship to find out how the damage could have been avoided, and whether good seamanship was followed.