Welcome
to our website. If you continue to browse
and use this website you are agreeing
to comply with and be bound by the following
terms and conditions of use, which together
with our privacy policy govern Essex School of Diving's relationship
with you in relation to this website.
General Information
The term “Essex School of Diving Ltd”
or “us” or “we”
refers to the owner of the website whose
registered office is 572 Ipswich Road Colchester Essex CO4 9HB. Company registration No. 7025172
The term “you” refers to
the user or viewer of our website.
The use of this website is subject to
the following terms of use:
• The content of the pages of this
website is for your general information
and use only. It is subject to change
without notice.
• Neither we nor any third parties
provide any warranty or guarantee as to
the accuracy, timeliness, performance,
completeness or suitability of the information
and materials found or offered on this
website for any particular purpose. You
acknowledge that such information and
materials may contain inaccuracies or
errors and we expressly exclude liability
for any such inaccuracies or errors to
the fullest extent permitted by law.
• Your use of any information or
materials on this website is entirely
at your own risk, for which we shall not
be liable. It shall be your own responsibility
to ensure that any products, services
or information available through this
website meet your specific requirements.
• This website contains material
which is owned by or licensed to us. This
material includes, but is not limited
to, the design, layout, look, appearance
and graphics. Reproduction is prohibited
other than in accordance with the copyright
notice, which forms part of these terms
and conditions.
• All trademarks reproduced in this
website, which are not the property of,
or licensed to the operator, are acknowledged
on the website.
• Unauthorized use of this website
may give to a claim for damages and/or
be a criminal offence.
• From time to time this website
may also include links to other websites.
These links are provided for your convenience
to provide further information. They do
not signify that we endorse the website(s).
We have no responsibility for the content
of the linked website(s).
• You may not create a link to this
website from another website or document
without Essex School of Diving’s
prior written consent.
• Your use of this website and any
dispute arising out of such use of the
website is subject to the laws of England
and Wales.
Types of Payment we accept
Payment may be made by cash, cheque (provided the cheque has cleared before a course starts or is covered by bankers card), Debit or Credit card ( note payment by Credit card incurs a 3% charge). We only use a Secure encrypted card machine (World pay) for card payments. We do accept card payments whilst attending our training sites or cash, but not cheque's.
Purchasing Courses , Payments and Attendance
Payment for all course training will generally be received prior to or at the commencement of the course start date unless otherwise agreed in writing (email) by us. Once a course is underway, then it is your responsibility to ensure that you are available for training during the length of the course. If you miss training on days that courses are running, Essex School of Diving Ltd will make every effort to ensure that you can complete your training on your return, but cannot be held responsible if no instructors are available to continue your training.
Should you require additional lessons extra to those of the standard course requirements or have missed lessons which were available to you (Through no fault of Essex School of Diving Ltd) then, a further charge of £25.00 per lesson may be added to the initial course price so that you can complete the course. In such a case, we will ensure that you are informed of your requirements.
Courses/Vouchers Purchased as Gifts
Scuba Courses bought as gifts/presents/vouchers for either Christmas, Birthday or any other reason, is the buyers responsibility, (the purchaser) to ensure that the recipient(s) of the gift(s) are available for training as we offer a no refund policy on gifts bought. All scuba courses purchased as gifts/presents will need to be started within 9 weeks of Gift Purchase Date (unless a specific date has been otherwise agreed) otherwise the purchase will be forfeited. We will only issue Credit Notes provided there is good reason through illness (medical certificate required). The credit note will only be valid for original named person and will not be accepted for others. All credit notes will be subject to a 'valid time' status as agreed by Essex School of Diving Ltd at the time the credit note is issued.
Holidays, Trips, Qualification Sessions
Any Holiday's, trips, or qualifying booked through us, either directly or indirectly (third person) a deposit or holiday fee is paid. If you are required to cancel your holiday/trip/qualifying for whatever reason, then we offer a no refund policy on any of the above. If cancellation is beyond your control then any monies due will be refunded through our tour operator, (as per their terms and conditions). All diving fees will be forfeited, as those fees would have already been paid to the dive centre/Instructor concerned at the time of booking the holiday, trip or qualifying.
Pre-Booking Courses & Cancellation
For Courses booked in advance, a deposit will be taken to secure your place on the course, deposits will only be refunded if the course is cancelled by you, not less than three weeks prior to course start date, and ALL PADI materials ( if supplied) are returned in a pristine re-saleable condition. An admin fee of 25% of the deposit plus the cost of course materials (if damaged) will be deducted from deposit or amount paid and a invoice issued for any other costs not realised or covered in the deposit. Courses cancelled less than 21 days prior to course start date will result in all course fees and deposits paid to be forfeited.
Paying By Interest Free Installments
When paying by installments an initial deposit will be taken. Once the course has started, you will be required to attend training every available week, unless due to unforeseen circumstances or by prior arrangement, you are unable to attend. You will be required to make an installment payment each session you attend. For courses that are paid by installments, then the course must be completed within an nine week period. Failure to complete the course within this period may result in an invoice being issued for the remainder of course fee or extra charges being applied.
All Courses where the student has elected to pay by installments will need to be paid in full before end of course training and before certification is issued.
When this payment method is chosen, Essex School of Diving will keep a record of payment which will be signed by both parties each time a payment is received. In cases of disagreement which are found unproven, Essex School of Diving Ltd reserves the right to terminate any further training of the complainant without refund or redress.
Termination of Training
Essex School of Diving Ltd reserves the right to refuse or terminate training(without refund) to anyone they feel who is not suitable to train for a Scuba diving course. We also reserve the right to make a charge for any equipment damaged/lost through malicious or willful intent to damage either through negligence and/or misuse of equipment.
We offer a no refund policy for courses that are terminated by either the Student or Essex School of Diving Ltd. Whilst every effort will be made by Essex School of Diving to ensure students progress successfully throughout any course, (including Confined Water Training and Open Water Qualifying), we cannot be held responsible if a student is unable to complete the course in a reasonable timescale for various reasons.
Records Retained by Essex School of Diving/ Data Protection
All records will be held in a safe and secure environment which will only be accessible by the owner or an appointed member of staff. We will only retain all completed, relevant PADI records for a time as specified by PADI Standards. The only forms we are required to retain for completed courses by PADI are the PADI Record card, knowledge Reviews, Quiz answer sheets and Final Exam answer sheet for each course. All other records, school forms, progress reports, hire forms are discarded and destroyed after completion and sign off of a course.
Course Termination/Records
When a course is terminated by a student, or the student has left the course before course completion, we shall retain the above records for a period of 3 months, after which time all such records held will be destroyed unless a written application is made to the above business address to retain the records for whatever purpose.
Requesting Information
You may make a request for copies of your own personal records at the Admin charge of £3.00 per copy per each individual item plus postage and packing. Such a request should be made by email or by writing to the above business address. On receipt of the request, and at the discretion of Essex School of Diving Ltd, you will then be asked to pay the required amount of charge involved via invoice. Only after payment has been received will we despatch any of the said material. However, if you wish to make a complaint or have made a complaint via PADI regarding any course, we will only despatch our records to the UK PADI office for investigation and will abide by the PADI guidelines and conclusions.
Free Try Dives
A cost refund will be deducted off the confined water course full price provided a deposit of £50 is paid for the Confined Water course within 48 hours of the Try dive. This renders the Try dive free. If 48 hours or more elapse after the Try dive, we reserve the right to charge the full cost of the course.
Equipment Hire/Loan
Essex School of Diving Ltd. reserve the right to charge for any damaged or broken equipment hired and returned by you other than when on a Scuba Diving course. We shall not be deemed liable for any equipment supplied by us. It is entirely the responsibility of the hirer/loanee, to check the condition of the equipment prior to the hire/loan and before return of equipment. Equipment that is hired or loaned to you is entirely at the recipient's risk and should be checked before use. We are not responsible should any hired/loaned equipment fail through misuse, negligence or wilfully damage.
Hire Forms
When hiring or borrowing equipment, you will be required to complete a Hire form containing your name, address, contact number and card details along with the equipment hired or loaned to you at the time. When the equipment is returned, the form will be either destroyed or given back to you after the equipment has been checked. We do not retain this information after the safe return of equipment. Should you fail to return the equipment in a satisfactory condition, your card will be charged for repair or the total cost to replace lost/damaged goods. |