During a guided voyage, which action best reflects the standard of care for a guide?

• A. Advise participants to ignore hazards
• B. Operate in the most conservative manner possible at all times
• C. What a reasonably competent guide would do
• D. Leave safety decisions to the rescue team

Answer: (C)

The standard of care for a guide is what a reasonably competent guide would do in similar circumstances. This means using professional judgment to assess risks, make safety-minded decisions, and communicate clearly with the group based on training and experience.

In practice, that looks like evaluating conditions (weather, water, tides), considering the abilities of participants, briefing about hazards, choosing a route and pace that fit the group, and having contingency plans. It’s about balancing safety with the trip goals and adjusting as conditions change.

Choosing the action that aligns with this standard avoids telling participants to ignore hazards, which would be unsafe. It isn’t about always taking the most conservative approach, since that can be impractical or unnecessary in some situations. And safety isn’t something to hand off to a rescue team; the guide has ongoing responsibility to manage risk and make prudent decisions throughout the voyage.