Carter Viss Foundation

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Carter Viss Foundation

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Our mission is to support individuals with limb trauma resulting from boating incidents and promote safe boating and diving practices.

10/01/2026

The water doesn’t have lanes, and boating safety requires 360° awareness.
When you’re operating a boat, what’s directly in front of you is only part of what deserves your attention. Divers, swimmers, paddleboarders, kayakers, personal watercraft and other vessels can approach from multiple directions.

That’s why situational awareness on the water matters.
Before changing direction, accelerating or entering a busy area:
☑️Look ahead for changing conditions and traffic.
☑️Check both sides for approaching vessels and people in the water.
☑️Look behind you and stay aware of what’s happening around your boat.
☑️Watch for divers and diver-down flags.

At the Carter Viss Foundation, our message is simple: share the water and share the responsibility.
A few extra seconds of awareness could prevent an accident and protect someone’s life.
Save this boating safety reminder and share it with someone who spends time on Florida’s waterways.

09/30/2026

Florida lost 628 manatees in 2025. The highest death toll since 2022. Nearly 100 of those were killed by boats.
Through June 2026: 330 manatee deaths statewide. Lee County alone -85. A manatee died from a suspected boat strike near Marathon in the Florida Keys last month. Manatees are slow. They surface quietly. They blend into murky water. They cannot get out of the way of a fast moving boat. You have to be the one who slows down. Manatees are protected under federal law, the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Endangered Species Act. Harassing, injuring, or killing one carries federal penalties. Know your slow-speed zones. Slow down in them. Every time.
Follow the Carter Viss Foundation. Support our mission: https://vist.ly/5kfcn

09/29/2026

This wasn’t just another meeting. It was the beginning of something bigger for boating and diving safety in Florida.
On August 26, leaders from state and federal agencies, law enforcement, marine organizations, researchers, safety advocates and members of the community came together at the Marine Environmental Education Center in Hollywood Beach for the Safe Waters for All roundtable discussion, led by Carter Viss.

The conversation focused on some of the biggest challenges facing Florida’s waterways today, from boating education and enforcement to technology, diver safety and ways to prevent future vessel strikes. Participants identified education and enforcement as key areas where more work is needed.

For Carter and the Carter Viss Foundation, bringing so many voices into the same room was an important step toward turning years of advocacy into action, and now, we can finally say this:
Something BIG is coming as a result of this meeting.

We’re not ready to share the details just yet, but we will be very soon.
This conversation didn’t end when everyone left the room. It was only the beginning.
Follow the Carter Viss Foundation and stay tuned for a major announcement about what comes next.
Photo credit: Tina Perrucci

09/28/2026

The Blue Heron Bridge in Riviera Beach is one of the most biodiverse shore dive sites in the world. People
have been diving it for nearly 60 years.

A proposed development would place commercial boat docks directly in the dive corridor, creating safety hazards, increasing boat traffic, and potentially destroying a marine ecosystem that cannot be replaced. Sea turtles. Manatees. Sharks. Rare species. All of it accessible from shore in one of Florida's most beloved public spaces. Over 28,000 people have signed the petition asking the Riviera Beach City Council, Palm Beach County Commission, and FDEP to reject any plan that obstructs the dive site. The Petition takes 30 seconds to sign.
https://vist.ly/5k5un
Share this with every diver, snorkeler, and marine advocate you know. 👇🏼

09/24/2026

The Person Driving the Boat Sets the Tone
Operating a boat isn't just about knowing how to drive it. It's about accepting responsibility for everyone around you.

The person behind the wheel sets the tone for the entire trip.
Stay alert. Stay sober. Watch your speed. Look twice for divers, swimmers, paddlers, smaller vessels and anything else sharing the water with you.

A few seconds of distraction or one careless decision on the water can have consequences that last far longer than the day itself.

Carter's story is a powerful reminder of why responsible boating matters. The Carter Viss Foundation will continue advocating for greater awareness, education and safer behavior on our waterways. Someone else's life may depend on the decisions you make behind the wheel.

Share this with a boater who believes safety should always come first.

09/23/2026

Florida is having one of its most remarkable sea turtle nesting seasons on record. Volusia County: 695 nests by mid-June, a local record. Boca Raton: 42 leatherback nests, more than double the average. Statewide: 94,667+ loggerhead nests, the highest June count in 5 years, and Florida's first ever confirmed olive ridley nest was documented this season. More turtles means more in the water, closer to shore than most boaters realize.

Unintended boat strikes have tripled since 1980. The voluntary Sea Turtle Protection Zone along the Palm Beach shore requires minimum speed within 1 mile of shore from March 1 – October 31. We are still in that window. Slow down. Wear polarized lenses. Protect what's thriving.

Support our mission & follow us: https://vist.ly/5jihc

09/22/2026

Before You Leave the Dock
Your boating safety routine should start before the boat ever leaves the dock.
Before heading onto the water, take a few minutes to check the essentials: properly fitted life jackets, your engine cut-off switch, weather and water conditions, fuel levels, communication equipment, and necessary safety gear.

It can be tempting to skip the checklist when you've made the same trip dozens of times. But familiarity doesn't eliminate risk.

The best boating safety habits are the ones you practice every single time.
At the Carter Viss Foundation, we want preparation to become as routine as turning the key.

Check it. Clip in. Look around. Then head out.
Save this pre-departure boating checklist for your next day on the water.

Support our mission: https://vist.ly/5jdhh

09/21/2026

Hollywood's city commission voted in April 2026 to allow boats within 218 yards of the beach. But the permits aren't approved yet, and nothing is in the water.

The natural reef where snorkelers and divers swim sits at approximately 218 yards from shore. That means the proposed boundary doesn't protect the people in the water. It puts boat traffic on top of them. Kellie Williams was killed near that same shoreline. Divers are calling for a 400 yard minimum and mandatory boater education laws along the Broward coast. FDEP, FWC, and the USCG still need to approve the plan. The window to push back is now, before it becomes permanent. I side with the divers.

Follow the Carter Viss Foundation for updates.

09/17/2026

Someone Fell Overboard. What Do You Do?
If someone suddenly falls overboard, would you know what to do?
A person-overboard emergency can happen quickly, and knowing how to respond before you're faced with one matters.

Keep the person in sight, get flotation to them, safely slow or stop the vessel, and call for emergency assistance when needed. Most importantly, don't wait until an emergency happens to figure out your plan.

Before every boating trip, make sure everyone onboard knows where life jackets and throwable flotation devices are located and understands what to do if someone enters the water unexpectedly.

Preparation can save critical seconds when every second matters.
Save this post before your next boating trip and share it with your crew.
Support our mission: https://vist.ly/5it3g

09/16/2026

May 9, 2026. A charter boat exploded near the Haulover Sandbar, before it even left the dock area. 11 people were hospitalized. Several with severe burns. Declared a Level 2 Mass Casualty Incident.

Suspected cause: a fuel v***r ignition at engine startup. Gasoline v***rs are heavier than air. They collect in the bilge. When you turn the key, you introduce a spark.
Here's what every boater should do before every single trip:

✅ Open the engine compartment. Smell the bilge. If you detect fuel odor, do not start the engine.

✅ Run your bilge blower for at least 4 minutes before startup.

✅ Ventilate first. Always.240 seconds. That is all it takes.

Share this with every boater in your life & support our mission.

Address

Jupiter, FL
33458

Website

http://Www.Cartervissfoundation.org/

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