The Seahorse Dive Club - Expedition Place Booking System and Rules 2018/19

Our Mission Statement

The club exists to encourage SCUBA Diving in the UK and abroad, and to give newly qualified divers the opportunity to gain experience with the support of more experienced divers. Our mission is to assist newly trained divers to gain experience in a wide range of diving scenarios, and to encourage their training and skill level achievements. We seek to bring UK Diving to divers of all levels of training who have been trained abroad. The Club is open to all without discrimination, other than the requirement to be a certified SCUBA Diver.

Our Club Year

The club is managed by a committee, elected at the Annual General Meeting each year. The club year runs from 1st April to 31st March, with a committee meeting every month. The committee meetings are open to all members.

The Club runs dive trips at various times throughout the year. We dive all year round in the UK and abroad.

This document describes the system in use regarding the reservation, by Club Members and others, of places on an expedition arranged by the Club. It does not apply to ‘private diving’ arranged between Club Members.

Required Sequence of Events

Following suitable research, by the committee (or by a club member submitting the information to the committee), into a dive site (or dive location with many sites), a Club Expedition may be advertised by e-mail, indicating, as far as possible:

  • The details of the Location
  • The type of diving & minimum qualification required
  • The number of dives and cost of diving
  • The number of divers that may be catered for
/
  • The method of travel to the location
  • The costs/times of travel to and from the location
  • The type of accommodation offered
  • The cost of the offered accommodation

Some expeditions require the reservation of boats many months ahead of the planned date, possibly up to two years ahead. Others may only require a few weeks advance notice. The club will, in all probability be required to place a booking deposit on the location, boat, hotel and so on. It is imperative that club funds are not put at risk in such matters, and therefore a deposit will be required from each diver as soon as the list of divers is assembled.

In the event of a personal cancellation, this initial deposit will be non-refundable unless the ‘place’ is sold on to another diver.

The initial deposit will be as low as possible. Further stage payments may be required in the preceding months.

We will use ATOL and/or ABTA registered/certified tour companies for overseas trips.

Timetable(s)From the date of the first advertising of the proposed expedition

Long-term bookings (over 10 months ahead):- reservations must be made within 4 weeks and deposits paid on demand.

Shorter-term bookings (under 10 months ahead):- reservations must be made within 2 weeks and deposits paid on demand.

The Club reserves the right to offer any remaining places to non-club members (at a different price) should numbers forthcoming be insufficient. (Where an expedition is marked for subsidy, non-members do not receive such a payment)

NOTE: Divers wishing to join an expedition must be paid-up Members at the time of the booking and at the time of the expedition. Non-members joining any expedition may be charged a higher price, and will not receive any subsidy payment.

Divers must ensure they are fit to dive at the time of the expedition. Divers must be currently certified to an appropriate level.

NOTE: H&S and Conduct

  • All divers are to abide by the PADI Standards for Safe Diving Practices or Codes of Practice and Safe Diving Standards promulgated by a properly constituted and formally recognised diving organisation. (E.g. BSAC, NAUI, SSI etc.).
  • The responsibility for ensuring adequate personal preparation for a dive rests with the individual diver and NOT the boat skipper/dive leader.
  • The dive leader or boat skipper reserves the right to cancel/refuse participation in a dive if he/she has any doubts about a diver’s health, training level, ability, or fitness to dive on the day.
  • Divers shall be individually responsible for the safe storage and handling of their equipment.
  • Divers are required to assist in the transportation, launching, retrieval, and running of the any boat being used by the club, at the discretion of the skipper.
  • Dive plans, including entry and exit procedures, are to be established and agreed with the skipper/dive leader, and are to be followed unless conditions become unsafe to do so.
  • Divers are to familiarise themselves with the location and operation of safety equipment, including oxygen and radio/emergency systems, whether on shore, or on a vessel.
  • Divers who are not in the water are to be prepared to assist other divers with entry and exit procedures.
  • All Club members are advised to wear a buoyancy aid at all times whilst travelling to and from a dive site via a Rigid Hulled Inflatable Boat.

Booking Rules: Issue 1: March 2018 Issued by: Mike H Scott