A West End resident is urging boaters to slow down as they pass over the reef south of Daniel’s Head.

According to Mark Roberts, snorkellers and wildlife are being put in danger by boats and jet skis zooming close to shore at high speeds. Mr Roberts, who lives on West Side Road, also called on the Bermuda Government to post clearer markers on the reef cuts, prompting a reminder from the Ministry of Tourism, Transport and Municipalities that it is an offence to operate any vessel within 100m of shore at speeds of more than 5 knots and in a manner that creates a wake.

“It’s really disheartening to see them just zooming through,” Mr Roberts told The Royal Gazette. “It’s not fair for the turtles and those people who just want to snorkel.

“People run right on top of the reef. I remember when I was a kid, this reef was super alive. Now it’s not. It’s something that needs to be cracked down on.”

Mr Roberts said there were lots of turtles in the shallow area and snorkellers come to swim on the reef.

But boats and jet skis frequently pass over the reefs at high speeds and at times well within 100m of the shoreline, he added.

He recalled one accident where a jet ski hit a channel marker and added: “Just like our roads, it’s the same problem, people go way too fast and that’s where we have a lot of deaths and accidents that could totally be prevented.”

Mr Roberts explained that there were two cuts in the reef for bigger boats to pass through, one closer to Ely’s Harbour, the other nearer Nine Beaches.

“But, unfortunately, they’re not marked,” he said. “If they were to put a marker on each side of the cuts, with a marker and a turtle sign and a five-knot sign, I’m sure that would stop jet skis and rental boats from coming in and just doing numbers. If it’s marked, there’s no way to be ignorant about it.

“It would help this area a lot and hopefully the turtles would be safer. If people are going five knots, these turtles have no problem getting down. But if they’re doing 50 miles an hour on jet skis, they don’t have a chance.”

However, a Ministry of Tourism, Transport and Municipalities spokesman responded that “the placement of additional red and green channel markers will only mark the deepest part of the channel and will by no means direct those with shallow draft vessels, such as jet skis, to pass between the buoys as opposed to passing over the reefs”.

And he added that any additional buoy markers will be dependent upon factors that include costs.

Reiterating that “it is an offence to operate any vessel including jet skis within 100 metres of the shoreline at speeds in excess of 5 knots or in a manner that is creating a wake, particularly around beaches, docks, moorings, other boats and swimmers”, he said any infractions should be reported to marine police. Meanwhile, Ralph Richardson, chairman of the Bermuda Water Safety Council, urged both boaters and snorkellers to exercise caution.

“One cannot assume that everyone knows the rules and new jet skiers and boaters may be breaking the law without knowing it,” he said.

Mr Richardson stressed that speed is key, adding: “Five knots is not just about the wake, it’s also about the speed in an area where people could be swimming and boating.”

And he said snorkellers were recommended to have a buoy with the international flag for diving so that other people were aware that there are divers in the area.

“But if a single person decides to go out to the reefs with nothing more than a small black snorkel showing and it’s more than 100m offshore, then the snorkeller puts himself at risk because a jet ski or any other boat is not required to stay within that 5-knot, no-wake zone if it is not anticipated that one would expect a snorkeller or swimmer.”