NCRD Trip Policies
Club-Sponsored Trips: A primary aim of the Northern California Rainbow Divers (NCRD) club is to provide high quality, good value, safe and fun trips to club members in settings that occur in relaxed and non-threatening environments and that respect the natural beauty underwater.
Payments Policy: The club policy regarding deposits and all other amounts paid for club-sponsored dives is that all monies are non-refundable unless otherwise stated in the trip announcement and/or related materials. It is the responsibility of the NCRD Trip Leader to collect funds from trip participants and to maintain trip accounts on behalf of the club; this is not the responsibility of the NCRD Treasurer or any other of the club's officers. Payments for NCRD-sponsored trips may be made by check or by credit card via PayPal. If paying by PayPal, an uplift of approximately 3% will be added to the total paid, to cover the club's PayPal transaction fees. If paying by check, trip participants should mail their check to the address provided by the Trip Leader. Payments should not be sent to any other address or given directly to any person other than the Trip Leader.
Travel and Dive Accident Insurance: Because funds paid by divers for participation in club-sponsored events are usually non-refundable, divers are encouraged to consider purchasing trip insurance to protect against possible losses of investments in expensive dive vacations resulting from unexpected trip interruptions or cancellations due to personal reasons. Additionally, insurance coverage for SCUBA-related dive accidents or emergency evacuation from the dive site is often required by many of the dive operators contracted by NCRD and should be obtained and maintained in force by all divers prior to participating in NCRD dive excursions. More details on Travel and Dive Accident insurance can be found here.
Dive Trip Pricing and Rebates: On some NCRD dive trips, assuming a sufficient number of fully-paid divers, the club may offer up-front pricing discounts and/or post-trip rebates to participating NCRD members. Rebates are not guaranteed, and if applicable, are determined after payment of all NCRD trip-related expenses. NCRD member rebates and discounts are part of our club′s non-profit philosophy: a club that works for our members to create great diving opportunities at affordable prices.
Diving Safety: It is the club′s policy that all divers on club-sponsored trips will adhere to diving safety standards and protocols recognized by all major certification agencies, such as PADI, SAA, NAUI, SSI and others. Unsafe divers put themselves and others at risk. NCRD trip leaders have the authority to warn unsafe divers who do not adhere to this policy. Divers who continue to violate this policy or who exhibit dangerously unsafe behavior may be asked by the NCRD Trip Leader to abstain from diving.
Diving Stewardship and Reef Etiquette: It is the club′s policy that all divers on club-sponsored trips will strive to practice ″very low impact″ diving. Divers will strive to avoid damage to living reefs and ecosystems, will not harass wildlife, and will otherwise minimize their ″footprint″ on the places they dive. Further, trip participants who observe repeatedly poor or questionable reef etiquette or diving practices are encouraged to report their observations to the NCRD Trip Leader as soon as possible. NCRD Trip Leaders have the authority to warn divers who do not adhere to this policy. Divers who continue to violate this policy may be asked by the NCRD Trip Leader to dive without camera equipment or to abstain from diving.