RUI DIVING CENTRE

AIDA 2 & PADI FREEDIVER COURSE AGREEMENT

Course Policy, Training, Rescheduling and Certification Terms

This AIDA 2 and PADI Freediver Course Agreement (the “Agreement”) is entered into between Rui Diving Centre (“RDC”) and the student identified above (the “Student”). If the Student is under the age of majority, “Student” also includes the parent or legal guardian signing this Agreement. The parties agree as follows:

1. Course Validity

The course is valid for one year from registration. The Student must complete online theory, confined-water training, and open-water training and evaluation within that period. Incomplete portions expire after one year and fees already paid are non-refundable. To continue after expiry, the Student must re-register under the pricing, standards, and requirements then in effect.

2. Refunds, Transfers and Exchanges

Once registration and payment are completed, all fees are non-refundable, non-transferable, and non-exchangeable. Fees cannot be transferred to another person, applied to another course, or redeemed for merchandise, gift cards, store credit, or account credit. The Student must confirm availability, swimming ability, medical fitness, and course requirements before enrolling.

3. Course Content and Training Time

The course includes:

• Online theory;
• Five hours of actual in-water confined-water training;
• Two hours of actual in-water open-water evaluation;
• Instructor guidance; and
• Certification processing after all applicable performance requirements are met.

The stated times are planned training times. Actual arrangements may be reasonably adjusted for student performance, facility access, weather, water conditions, or safety. RDC is not required to replace time lost because of lateness, medical condition, missing or unsuitable equipment, incomplete online learning, or another personal cause. Additional training may incur extra fees.

Transportation, accommodation, meals, parking, dive-site admission, boat fees, and any item not expressly listed are excluded from the course fee.

4. Student-Provided Equipment

RDC does not rent personal freediving equipment. The Student must purchase and bring:

• Freediving mask;
• Freediving snorkel;
• Freediving fins;
• A wetsuit suitable for the environment and water temperature;
• Freediving weight belt and appropriate weights;
• Dive socks or boots; and
• Any other personal equipment required for the course.

All equipment must fit properly, be in good condition, and meet course safety requirements. The instructor may reject unsuitable, inadequately insulated, damaged, or unsafe equipment. If required equipment is missing or unsuitable, the instructor may refuse participation and the rescheduling terms will apply.

5. Training Equipment Provided by the Instructor

During the course, the instructor will provide a freediving buoy, dive line, and bottom weight. These shared items are solely for supervised instruction, safety management, and open-water training. They are not personal equipment and may not be used independently outside the course.

6. Equipment Transportation and Safekeeping

The Student must transport personal equipment to and from the pool, confined-water location, and open-water site. Delivery, pickup, loading, handling, and transportation are excluded. The Student is responsible for personal equipment. RDC and the instructor are not responsible for loss, theft, or damage except to the extent liability cannot lawfully be excluded.

7. Confirmed Course Dates

Once confirmed, course dates generally cannot be changed. The Student must review work, school, travel, transportation, and personal commitments before confirming. Instructors, facilities, water sites, and spaces are arranged in advance; approval of a rescheduling request is not guaranteed.

8. Complimentary Rescheduling

Rescheduling without a fee is available only when:

• The Student cannot safely participate for a medical reason and supplies supporting medical documentation if requested;
• RDC cancels or postpones because of extreme weather, thunderstorms, strong wind, hazardous water, or site closure;
• The pool or training facility closes unexpectedly; or
• RDC or the instructor determines that another safety issue prevents the course from proceeding.

Complimentary rescheduling does not create a right to a refund. Replacement dates depend on instructor, facility, weather, seasonal, and space availability.

9. Rescheduling Fee

A $99 plus HST rescheduling fee applies when:

• Required online theory is not completed on time;
• A change is requested within 48 hours of the scheduled session;
• The Student is late or absent without sufficient notice;
• The Student cannot attend because of work, transportation, travel, or another non-emergency personal reason;
• Required personal equipment is missing or unsuitable in fit, insulation, or condition;
• Required medical, liability, or course documents are incomplete; or
• Required written medical clearance has not been obtained.

Payment does not guarantee a particular date and does not extend the original one-year validity period. Replacement dates remain subject to availability.

10. Online Theory Requirements

The Student must complete required online theory, knowledge review, and preparation before in-water training. If incomplete, the instructor may refuse participation and the $99 plus HST rescheduling fee applies. The Student must access the learning account in advance and promptly report account, material, or technical issues.

11. Late Arrival, Absence and Participation

The Student must arrive at the stated time and allow enough time for check-in, changing, and equipment preparation. Lateness may affect safety, content, and other students. The instructor may refuse participation based on the delay and circumstances. Missed time caused by lateness, absence, or another personal reason is not automatically replaced; a replacement session is subject to the $99 plus HST fee.

12. Medical Statement and Physician’s Clearance

The Student must truthfully complete all required freediving medical and course documents before in-water training. If a response requires physician’s clearance, valid written clearance must be provided before participation.

The Student must disclose any condition that may affect freediving safety, including heart or circulatory disease, respiratory disease, seizures or fainting, ear or sinus problems, recent surgery or injury, pregnancy, medication affecting awareness or reaction, or any other condition affecting breath-hold or water safety. Material health changes must be reported before continuing.

13. Alcohol, Drugs and Physical Condition

The Student must not participate while affected by alcohol, recreational drugs, or any substance impairing judgment, awareness, reaction, or coordination. The instructor may refuse or stop participation for severe fatigue, dehydration, illness, fever, respiratory infection, or another unsafe condition. A personal health condition is not a basis for refund; complimentary rescheduling is governed by Section 8.

14. Freediving Safety Rules

The Student must follow all instructor safety directions and buddy procedures, including:

• Never conducting in-water breath-hold training alone;
• Using the buddy system required by the instructor;
• No hyperventilation;
• No unauthorized increase in depth, distance, or breath-hold time;
• Completing required surface recovery breathing;
• Remaining within the assigned training area;
• No unauthorized use of the buoy, line, or bottom weight;
• Stopping and notifying the instructor immediately upon discomfort, equalization difficulty, or abnormal symptoms;
• Never disregarding body signals or safety procedures to pursue performance; and
• Following the instructor’s directions throughout open-water training.

The instructor may immediately stop training and may refuse further participation if the Student does not follow safety requirements. Resulting retraining, rescheduling, or reevaluation costs are the Student’s responsibility, and fees paid remain non-refundable.

15. Weather, Facility and Course Adjustments

Freediving is affected by weather, temperature, visibility, thunderstorms, wind, waves, current, and site access. For safety, RDC may change time or location, substitute a site, adjust content or sequence, postpone or cancel training, or limit depth, distance, breath-hold time, or activities. An RDC-initiated safety adjustment does not incur a rescheduling fee but is not grounds for a refund.

16. Course Level, Performance and Certification

The course is arranged to the requirements of AIDA 2 and PADI Freediver. Attendance, completion of scheduled hours, or achievement of an individual depth, distance, or breath-hold time does not guarantee certification. The teaching instructor makes the final determination of performance and eligible certification level under the applicable standards.

If the Student does not meet AIDA 2 or PADI Freediver requirements but meets AIDA 1 or PADI Basic Freediver requirements, a lower-level certification may be issued as follows.

16.1 Student Has Attended Open-Water Training and Evaluation

If the Student has used the included open-water training and evaluation but meets only AIDA 1 or PADI Basic Freediver requirements:

• The corresponding lower-level certification may be issued without an additional certification fee;
• Once issued, the course is considered complete;
• The included open-water training and evaluation opportunity is considered used; and
• To continue toward AIDA 2 or PADI Freediver, the Student must separately register and pay for additional training or reevaluation.

16.2 Student Has Not Attended Open-Water Training and Evaluation

If the Student has not attended open-water training and evaluation but has met AIDA 1 or PADI Basic Freediver requirements through theory and confined-water training:

• The Student may request the corresponding lower-level certification;
• A $59 plus HST certification fee applies;
• Issuance does not affect the remaining included open-water training and evaluation;
• The Student may continue within the original one-year validity period; and
• If all later requirements are met, the Student may apply for AIDA 2 or PADI Freediver certification under the applicable standards.

All arrangements depend on instructor, facility, weather, water, and space availability. A lower-level certification does not represent completion of AIDA 2 or PADI Freediver.

17. Additional Training When Certification Requirements Are Not Met

17.1 AIDA 1 or PADI Basic Freediver Standard Met

After receiving the relevant certification, the Student may register for RDC’s Friday freediving practice at the Pan Am diving pool. Advance registration is required and participation depends on facility, instructor, and space availability. Fees are charged separately at the rate published when registering. Practice is not free remedial training under this course and cannot replace required open-water skills or evaluation.

17.2 AIDA 1 or PADI Basic Freediver Standard Not Met

The Student must take additional confined-water training:

• Duration: two hours;
• Fee: $199 plus HST;
• Date subject to instructor, pool, and space availability; and
• Additional training does not guarantee certification; all theory, skill, and safety requirements must still be met.

If the requirements remain unmet, further paid training may be necessary at the applicable per-session rate.

17.3 AIDA 1 Standard Met, but AIDA 2 or PADI Freediver Standard Not Met

If the Student meets AIDA 1 or PADI Basic Freediver requirements but not the open-water requirements for AIDA 2 or PADI Freediver, additional open-water training and evaluation are required:

• Fee: $299 plus HST;
• Date and site subject to instructor, weather, water, and space availability;
• Participation does not guarantee target-level certification; and
• All target-level skill, safety, and performance requirements must still be met.

All additional training and evaluation must be completed within the original one-year validity period. After expiry, re-registration at then-current pricing and requirements may be necessary.

18. Instructor’s Safety and Certification Decisions

Safety is the primary consideration. Based on health, theory preparation, swimming ability, equipment, equalization, skills, surface recovery, buddy and rescue ability, judgment, safety awareness, current physical and mental condition, and water conditions, the instructor may determine whether the Student may participate or continue, progress to open water, increase training difficulty, undertake remedial training or reevaluation, or receive certification. The instructor may stop any training considered unsafe.

19. Acceptance of Policy

By registering, paying, or signing this Agreement, the Student confirms that the entire Agreement has been read, understood, and accepted. A parent or legal guardian must sign for a Student under the age of majority. RDC may reasonably update schedules, arrangements, fees, and policies; the version accepted at registration applies to the Student’s course.

 

 

SIGNATURE AND ACCEPTANCE

The parties confirm that they have read, understood, and agreed to all terms of this Agreement.

Parent or Legal Guardian (required if the Student is under the age of majority)

Rui Diving Centre

The Student and Rui Diving Centre should each retain a complete signed copy.