Dive Policy

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Blue North Scuba Club follows these guidelines on Club dives.

  • Maximum depth is 130 ft. for those divers who have training at that depth.
  • There will be no planned decompression dives.
  • Divers should maintain neutral buoyancy.
  • Dives over 40 ft. will include a 3 min. safety stop at 1/2 the deepest depth, and a 3 min. safety stop at 10-15 ft.
  • All divers on a Club dive must be a Blue North Scuba Club member or guest of a Blue North Scuba Club member.
  • All divers on a Club dive must be a member of OUC, the Ontario Underwater Council, for the current calendar year, and sign the annual OUC Release Agreement.
  • Both parents of Minors must sign the OUC Indemnity Agreement before a Minor can accompany us on Blue North scuba events or courses.
  • All divers must be certified by a recognized scuba diving agency or be participating in an open water certification dive supervised by a certified scuba instructor.
  • All Club dives will have a qualified Divemaster who is responsible for running the dive in a safe manner.
  • The Divemaster can refuse any person the right to dive on a Club dive.
  • The Divemaster may set limits such as the maximum depth, maximum bottom time, geographical limits and the minimum air pressure remaining in the main air supply at the end of the dive.
  • All divers are required to use a buoyancy compensator, alternate air supply regulator, submersible pressure gauge and dive computer including depth gauge. Discuss with the Divemaster if you intend to use Dive Tables before going diving.
  • The Divemaster may require additional equipment on a particular dive.
  • Safety equipment, such as an oxygen kit and first aid kit (and if possible an AED), will be present and in a state “ready to use” on Club dives.
  • While diving in buddy pairs is our policy, the Divemaster may allow a group of three divers to dive together when it is considered safe.
  • The Divemaster may relinquish their duties and responsibilities to another suitably qualified Divemaster.
  • The Divemaster, and Instructors in a training situation, will ensure that all diving activities are conducted in a safe manner.
  • Completed Divemaster records of a dive will be submitted to and retained by the Club for seven years.

Definition of Terms

  • A “Club dive” is an open water dive sanctioned by the Blue North Board and sanctioned by OUC.
  • A “Divemaster” is a diver who is certified as a Divemaster by a recognized scuba training agency. Certified Instructors are qualified to serve as Divemasters.