What should you do if a passenger falls overboard?

If a passenger falls overboard, the correct action is to keep the person in sight and maneuver the boat back to them. This ensures that you can maintain awareness of their position in the water, which is crucial for their safety. The first priority should always be the recovery of the person, and maneuvering the boat back allows for a quicker and safer retrieval.

Throwing a life buoy is a good safety measure, but it should be paired with actively steering the vessel back toward the person. Simply throwing a life buoy and waiting for them to swim back can be dangerous, especially if the passenger is in distress or unable to swim effectively. Speeding away, on the other hand, is extremely hazardous and would likely worsen the situation, putting the passenger at greater risk of injury or drowning. Calling for help immediately might be necessary in critical situations, but it does not replace the immediate need to recover the person overboard. Taking decisive action by maneuvering the boat towards them is the best course of action for a quick and safe recovery.