Snorkeller safety first

TOURISTS will be forced to disclose health issues and “atrisk’’ snorkellers made to wear colour-coded equipment in reforms designed to cut deaths on the Great Barrier Reef.

The Queensland Government has launched a stronger recreational snorkelling code of practice and will soon announce new dive safety guidelines. It follows a horror run of 10 tourist deaths at the natural wonder in six months.

The improvements are based on advice from tourism industry operators and work safety experts.

Industrial Relations Minister Grace said the revised code of practice would make the reef safer for snorkellers.

“Given the events of last years, which saw 10 fatalities ... we clearly needed an even stronger code of practice.”