RUI DIVING CENTRE

Open Water Diver Course Policy

English Version | Rui Diving Centre

1. Course Validity

The Open Water Diver Course is valid for one year from the date of registration.

Students must complete all online theory, confined-water training, and open-water training within this one-year period. Any incomplete portion of the course will expire at the end of this period, and all fees paid are non-refundable.

Students who wish to continue after the course has expired must re-register according to the course pricing and requirements in effect at that time.

2. Refunds, Transfers, and Exchanges

Once registration and payment have been completed, all course fees are:

• Non-refundable;
• Non-transferable to another person;
• Not exchangeable for another course;
• Not redeemable for products, gift cards, store credit, or account credit.
• Students are responsible for confirming their availability, physical condition, and ability to meet the course requirements before registering.

3. Rental Equipment Included in the Course Fee

The course fee includes the rental of the following equipment during scheduled course training:

• BCD (Buoyancy Control Device)
• Regulator
• Scuba cylinder
• Weights

The included rental equipment may only be used by the registered student during scheduled course activities. It may not be loaned to another person or used for diving activities outside the course.

Students are responsible for the proper use and care of all rental equipment. If equipment is lost or damaged due to misuse, the student will be responsible for all applicable inspection, repair, or replacement costs.

4. Personal Equipment and Additional Rentals

Except for the equipment specifically included in the course fee, students are responsible for purchasing and preparing all other equipment required for the course.

Rui Diving Centre only provides rental services for the following equipment:

• Scuba cylinders
• Weights
• BCDs
• Regulators
• Drysuits

The store does not provide rentals for any equipment beyond the items listed above. Personal equipment that students must purchase and provide includes, but is not limited to:

• Mask
• Snorkel
• Fins
• Wetsuit
• Diving boots
• Any other personal equipment required for the course

Drysuit rental is not included in the Open Water Diver Course fee. If a drysuit is required, the applicable rental fees, training requirements, and any other related charges must be confirmed and paid separately.

All personal equipment must fit properly, be in good working condition, and meet the safety requirements of the course and the local diving environment. The instructor may refuse the use of any equipment that is unsuitable, damaged, or considered unsafe.

5. Equipment Collection, Transportation, and Return

Students are responsible for:

• Collecting the required equipment from Rui Diving Centre;
• Transporting all equipment to the swimming pool and open-water dive site;
• Returning all rental equipment to Rui Diving Centre as instructed after the course.

The course fee does not include equipment delivery, pickup, handling, or transportation services.

Rental equipment must be returned by the required deadline. Late returns, loss, or damage may result in additional charges.

6. Confirmed Course Dates

Once course dates have been confirmed, they generally cannot be changed. Students should review their work, school, travel, and personal schedules before confirming their course dates.

Course spaces, instructors, pool sessions, and open-water training must be arranged in advance. Therefore, approval of a rescheduling request is not guaranteed.

7. Complimentary Rescheduling

A course may be rescheduled without a fee under the following circumstances:

• The student is unable to participate safely due to a medical condition and provides a medical certificate or other supporting documentation when requested;
• Rui Diving Centre cancels or postpones the course due to extreme weather, dive-site closure, or unsafe water conditions;
• Rui Diving Centre or the responsible instructor determines that the course cannot proceed because of another safety-related issue.

Complimentary rescheduling does not entitle the student to a refund. The replacement date will be arranged according to instructor availability, pool or dive-site access, and available course spaces.

8. Rescheduling Fee

A $99 plus HST rescheduling fee applies in any of the following situations:

• The required online theory has not been completed by the deadline, preventing the student from attending the scheduled training;
• The student requests a change within 48 hours of the scheduled course start time;
• The student arrives late and cannot participate;
• The student is absent without sufficient notice;
• The student cannot attend due to work, travel, transportation, scheduling, or another non-emergency personal reason;
• The student does not bring the required personal equipment, or the equipment does not meet safety requirements, preventing participation.

Payment of the rescheduling fee does not guarantee a specific replacement date. All replacement dates are subject to instructor, pool, dive-site, and course-space availability.

9. Online Theory Requirements

Students must complete the required online theory before attending the applicable confined-water or open-water training sessions.

If the online coursework has not been completed on time, the instructor may refuse the student’s participation in the in-water training. A $99 plus HST rescheduling fee will apply.

Students are responsible for accessing their online learning accounts in advance and promptly notifying Rui Diving Centre of any account, course-material, or technical issues.

10. Medical Statement and Physician’s Clearance

Students must accurately complete the required diver medical statement and all other course documents before participating in any in-water training.

If any response on the medical questionnaire requires a physician’s clearance, the student must provide valid written medical approval before the course begins. The student may not participate in confined-water or open-water training until the required clearance has been received.

Students are responsible for the risks and consequences resulting from an undisclosed medical condition, inaccurate health information, or failure to report a relevant change in their physical condition.

11. Late Arrival, Absence, and Participation

Students must arrive at the designated location at the specified time and allow sufficient time to prepare their equipment.

Late arrival may affect course safety and the progress of other students. Depending on the length of the delay and the course circumstances, the instructor may refuse the student’s participation in that session. This will be treated as a late rescheduling, and a $99 plus HST rescheduling fee will apply.

12. Weather, Dive-Site, and Course Adjustments

Diving activities are affected by weather, water temperature, visibility, wind, waves, dive-site access, and other environmental conditions.

For safety reasons, Rui Diving Centre reserves the right to:

• Change the course time;
• Change the training location or dive site;
• Postpone or cancel a scheduled training session;
• Adjust the order or content of the course.

Changes made by Rui Diving Centre for safety reasons will not result in a rescheduling fee but do not constitute grounds for a refund.

13. Certification Standards and Additional Training Fees

Participation in the course or completion of the scheduled training hours does not automatically guarantee Open Water Diver certification. Students must demonstrate the knowledge, diving skills, safety awareness, and performance required by the applicable training standards.

The teaching instructor will make the final decision regarding whether a student has met the required performance standards and qualifies for certification.

If a student does not meet the required performance standards and wishes to continue training toward certification, the following conditions apply:

13.1 Incomplete Confined-Water Training

If the student is unable to complete all required skills or meet the required performance standards during the originally scheduled confined-water sessions, the student must repeat confined-water training.

• Additional confined-water training fee: $299 plus HST;
• The open-water portion of the course will remain unaffected and may be arranged after the confined-water requirements have been completed;
• The replacement training date is subject to instructor, pool, and course-space availability;
• The student may not proceed to open-water training until all confined-water requirements have been completed and the teaching instructor has approved their progression.

13.2 Incomplete Open-Water Training

If the student completes the confined-water training but does not complete all required skills or meet the certification performance standards during the scheduled open-water training, the student must repeat the open-water training and evaluation.

• Additional open-water training and evaluation fee: $399 plus HST;
• The replacement date and dive site are subject to instructor availability, weather, water conditions, and available course spaces;
• Repeating the training does not guarantee certification. The student must still meet all course performance requirements.
• All additional training and evaluations must be completed within the original one-year course validity period. If the course expires, the student may be required to register for the complete course again.

14. Instructor’s Safety and Certification Decisions

Diver safety is always the primary consideration. Based on the student’s medical condition, theoretical preparation, swimming ability, skill performance, equipment, risk awareness, and water conditions, the teaching instructor has the authority to determine whether the student may:

• Participate in or continue a training session;
• Progress to open-water training;
• Repeat training or an evaluation;
• Receive Open Water Diver certification.

All safety and certification decisions made by the teaching instructor will be based on the applicable training standards and the student’s demonstrated performance.

15. Acceptance of Policy

By registering for or paying for the course, the student confirms that they have read, understood, and accepted this policy.

Rui Diving Centre reserves the right to reasonably update its course schedules, fees, and related policies. The policy accepted by the student at the time of registration will apply to their course.