Northern Atlantic Dive Expeditions - Policies and Procedures

Recreational and Technical Wreck Diving:

Northern Atlantic Dive Expeditions specializes in wreck diving. Here you can find a general listing of policies and procedures for the services we provide.

For additional details on the following sections, please also see "Frequently Asked Questions"

Making a Reservation:

You must be certified by a recognized and accredited training agency in order to participate in dives requiring use of specialized gasses, equipment or techniques (i.e. trimix, rebreathers, decompression diving, etc). Certification does not guarantee a spot on a charter. As we are safety conscious and wish to promote high standards, we may require individuals to dive with us on a shallow site prior to joining a deep dive.

You must hold your spot with a credit card, although you may pay however you wish on the day of the charter. Contact Capt. Heather at 617-480-5261 for questions or to make a reservation. We accept MasterCard, Visa or American Express. Returned checks are subject to a $20 fee per check.

GAUNTLET Charter Fees:

Charter prices will depend on the location of the wreck and the nature of the dive. Local diving prices will vary depending on whether it is a half or full day charter, the distance to the site and the type of dive.

For detailed information on charters, pricing and availability see the Gauntlet Information sheet. This document forms the basis of how the boat runs, but service can be tailored to suit your needs. For additional information, contact info@northernatlanticdive.com

For Expeditions and Special Trips full payment is due at the time of booking unless otherwise stated per the trip specific details. All cancellations and refunds are subject to the Policies outlined in this page and/or those specific to a given trip. Balances must be paid in full or a reservation is not confirmed. If the partial refund policy is invoked, all divers will be issued a refund check at that time for the said portion of the balance.

For non-sport diving services, rates and policies for commercial diving and vessel operations, contact us.

Cancellation and Refund Policy:

Cancellations are made the day of the dive at the dock, unless weather forecasts indicate undivable conditions at an earlier time point. In such a case, a weather determination will generally be made by 5:30 pm EST the night prior. Notification will be made by phone, e-mail or may be posted online; all divers will be notified of the cancellation.

If the conditions are poor but do not warrant a cancellation, wreck destination may change. Be prepared to dive alternative locations, we will try to give as much notice as possible about a changed destination.

Policies for cancellations and payment, updated October, 2006:

Once you sign up for a spot, you are responsible for FULL payment. If you must cancel, you must pay for the spot. We will only permit replacements to fill your spot in the event the boat is already full.

If you do not show up or arrive late and the boat leaves without you, you are still responsible for your reservation.

If a local dive is cancelled because of weather or mechanical problems with the boat prior to departure, no charges apply and if already paid, the full charter fare will be refunded. Partial refunds may be issued depending on how the trip was affected if the problem arose at sea and was related to mechanical problems.

If you cancel your reservation on an expedition or special trip no refund will be issued unless an appropriate replacement can be found after the trip reaches "full status." If the trip is cancelled because of weather, a partial refund would be issued. A 10% flat fee based on the total cost of the trip, or a predetermined amount that is specific to that particular trip for administrative costs and expedition supplies such as food, etc. will be deducted from any refund. This does not include separate boat fees specific to the operator if other than NADE, if applicable. If the trip is altered due to weather (i.e. destination change), a price adjustment will be made, which shall be determined at that time.

All decisions regarding cancellations, changes or diving operations made by Captains and/or Expedition Leaders are final and non-negotiable on any charter sponsored by or brokered by Northern Atlantic Dive Expeditions.

Northern Atlantic Dive Expeditions is the exclusive broker for expeditions and local diving advertised on this site.

These policies may be amended at the discretion of Northern Atlantic Dive Expeditions, Inc.

Expedition Brokerage:

Northern Atlantic Dive Expeditions, Inc. may sponsor expeditions acting as a participating party or a third party to bring together interested groups to reach an objective or conduct an expedition. In such a case, all negotiations between parties will be mediated and conducted through the Corporation. All parties will be required to sign independent contracts where the terms and conditions of the partnership are stipulated, in some cases with no-compete clauses and/or confidentiality agreements. Once the partnership has been formed, Policies and Procedures outlined in the following sections will be in full force and effect.

Equipment Requirements and Recommendations:

Equipment marked with an * denotes highly suggested but not currently required equipment.

--For technical dives - double tanks with redundant configuration of regulators (independent systems are acceptable but discouraged)

--Buoyancy compensating device/wings with appropriate lift capacity
--Primary light and back-up light (2 back ups are recommended)
--Reel with lift bag
--Jon line*
--50 lb lift bag (100 lb lift bag*)
--Bottom timer/depth gauge, redundant
--Cutting tools (knives, shears) (2-3*)
--Dive tables (if using a computer for decompression dives, you must also have tables for back up)
--Wetsuits are not permitted between November 1 and April 1 (exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis)
--Proper thermal insulation (a hood and gloves must be worn on all dives, regardless of season)
--Safety kit* (aerial flares, mirrors, whistle, dive alert, strobe)
--Appropriate stage bottle configuration (cut-able ties, no metal-to-metal connections, pressure gauges on all tanks)
--Appropriate breathing media for depth and dive profile (air, nitrox, trimix, heliox -- you must hold the appropriate certifications to use any and all gases mentioned)

For recreational dives, single tanks are permitted up to 130 fsw, provided there is redundancy in the system such as a pony bottle, either tank-mounted or rigged as a stage bottle (octopus regulators alone are NOT acceptable).

For dives with a hard bottom below 100 feet (this does not include the Chester Poling), a pony bottle is required for single tank configurations. These dives include but are not limited to: New York Central 14 ii, Reliance, Saturday Night Ledge, etc.

If you are diving a rebreather, you must be carrying appropriate bailout gas in sufficient quantities to allow you to safely abort your dive. You must hold rebreather-specific certifications for the types of dives being done.

Diving air below 130 fsw is permitted but discouraged. Diving air below 190 fsw is prohibited.

Policies for Training, Equipment and Repair

Dry Suits and Regulators:

All suit and regulator repair is performed by trained individuals and will be consistent with manufacturer's specifications. Northern Atlantic Dive Expeditions will warranty all parts and installations for a period not to exceed ninety days. There are no refunds on equipment or suit repair once the work has been started or completed.

Northern Atlantic Dive Expeditions will supply all necessary parts and materials. A $75.00 surcharge will be added to all accounts where materials (such as seals, zippers, pockets, etc) or parts (regulator service kits, hoses) have been provided.

A price quote, which includes parts, materials and labor will be given prior to the initiation of any work. Payment in full is due upon receipt.

Equipment:

All equipment sold through manufacturers for which we are dealers, such as McNett, Global or A-Plus Marine are subject to the refund/warranty policies of those corporations. Northern Atlantic Dive Expeditions will do its best to represent these policies and ensure customer satisfaction for all products.

Training:

All training courses are non-refundable after the course begins and a 50% deposit is due upon enrollment. Balance is due in full on the first day the course begins. If you cancel your training prior to it commencing, you forfeit your deposit. Enrollment in any course sponsored by Northern Atlantic Dive Expeditions guarantees we will work with you until you have met the requirements outlined in the course. It does not guarantee a certification card.

For questions regarding this policy, or any policy of Northern Atlantic Dive Expeditions, Inc. please contact us directly.

Waivers, Requirements and Disclaimer:

SCUBA diving can be hazardous. You are always under your own care, custody and control when diving. All divers will be required to fill out waivers before engaging in any activities conducted through Northern Atlantic Dive Expeditions, Inc. Divers who are not using appropriate equipment will not be permitted to dive. You must be physically fit for scuba diving, having had a routine physical exam each year. You must have DAN insurance of master or preferred status.

Participation in any charter brokered by Northern Atlantic Dive Expeditions is contingent upon agreement to any and all polices, payment schedules and objectives as defined here and/or in any document generated through the said Corporation.

The requirements for conducting technical dives outlined in these pages are not to be substituted for actual training as they are supplementary to the prerequisites, standards and procedures of the training agencies approved as meeting the necessary requirements for deep diving. These pages are for information and terms of participation only and are the sole opinion of Northern Atlantic Dive Expeditions, Inc.