Policy & Procedures
Welcome to the Gypsy Blood Dive! We will do everything possible to make sure all of your experiences are safe and enjoyable.
All members of the Gypsy Blood Dive Team are committed to your safety and dive enjoyment. However, it is each divers sole responsibility to ensure he/she possesses all the necessary skills, training, equipment and insurance required of ocean diving. Make sure before your dive all of your equipment is properly maintained, serviced and in perfect working order. This is your responsibility, and if you have any doubts, DO NOT DIVE.
Diving is a wonderful sport, but not without risks. YOUR safety while diving is YOUR responsibility. You are under your own care, custody and control while diving.
Insurance
The dive boat Gypsy Blood has boat insurance that covers you while on-board, only. The dive boat insurance does not cover divers once they engage in any dive activities. Once you begin to suit up you are considered engaged in dive operation activities (including once you enter the water) and you are no longer covered by the boat’s insurance. Each diver is responsible for his or her own dive insurance and we highly recommend D.A.N. Master coverage or equivalent. All divers, by signing the daily waiver form, acknowledge their agreement that they carry current dive insurance coverage.
Certification
All divers must have the proper certification from a nationally recognized agency such as P.A.D.I., NAUI, etc, for dives they are planning to participate in.
All divers must hold a minimum of Advanced Open Water Diver Certification. You will be asked to provide your certifying agency name and certification number for each dive, along with showing a member of the Crew your C-Card.
The only exceptions will be students with their instructors doing certification dives. Instructors must discuss and gain approval from the Captain on all training dives.
Equipment/Storage
Review and print our Recommended Equipment Checklist.
While the Gypsy Blood is a big, wide-open boat, storage is not unlimited.
Once your gear is loaded on-board, you will be asked to ensure your gearbox fits under your space on the bench.
Oversized boxes, garbage can on wheels, large pelican cases, etc. will not be allowed on the boat. Please be considerate to other divers and leave the big containers in your car.
A redundant air supply is required. All divers MUST dive with a pony or stage bottle with a separate regulator, including students. There will be no exceptions to this rule.
Obviously ocean currents are impossible to predict and are often very different on the surface when compared to depth. We therefore require all divers to include in their standard gear configuration the following:
Audible signaling device.
Lift bag or surface marker and a strobe light.
Up line that can be secured at depth and long enough to reach the surface.
While wreck reels and dive lights are not required, they are highly recommended.
Divers will now be required to carry a 4-6’ Safety Sausage/SMB in case of emergency.
Blow Outs & Refunds
As a general rule, because obviously weather is highly unpredictable, refunds will be made within three days of a cancelled charter.
Blow Out Policy
If we get blown out the day before or without ever leaving the dock, all divers will receive a full refund.
If the weather is too rough for the original destination and we can safely dive on an alternate destination that is what we will do!
If we leave the dock and the Captain turns the trip due to weather, everyone receives a full refund and lunch is on us!
If we leave the dock with a dive shop who has chartered the whole boat, the trip leader will be called to the wheelhouse to discuss options.
If we get to the wreck and make one but not all of the scheduled dives, full fare has been earned.
No Shows
Any individual or group that books a trip on the Gypsy Blood is responsible for the FULL COST of the trip upon reservation. Any no-show at the dock will be charged full fare, regardless of any change in destination.
Anyone who is their own weatherman and decides not to show will be charged full fare. The boat will leave the dock promptly. Please arrive at least 30 minutes early prior to departure to load your gear.
Under normal circumstances if you do not wish to make the dive for other reasons (i.e. sea sick, tired, can't equalize, etc.) you are still responsible for the fare and no certificate will be issued.
Food & Accommodations
All Shop and Club trip include soft drinks and water which is included in the cost of the trip. There is restroom on board for your convenience as well as a fresh water shower near the stern.
Miscellaneous Information
We will provide a thorough review of the boat and basic safety procedures before we get underway. Once at the site we will also provide an overview of the wreck.
We require all divers, regardless of planned dive depth, to make a 3-5 minute safety stop at 15 feet. Plan your dive accordingly.
All divers must enter and exit the water with a dive buddy and must descend on the designated "down line", whether that be the anchor line or another designated line attached to the wreck.
Nitrox divers must show a valid certification card and have cylinders clearly marked with mix contents.
We enforce all fish and game regulations on board so before you take lobsters to the surface or spear fish please make sure they are of a legal size and are in season. There are NO EXCEPTIONS.
Of course, illegal substances, alcohol and drugs are strictly forbidden on board.
A two-tank wreck dive may include two dives on the same wreck, or dives at two separate locations. Often weather can be a big determining factor in this decision.
All night dives are 2-tank dives and all divers must be at least Advanced Certified or diving with an instructor. All divers must have a light, one back-up light, wreck reel and of course a redundant air supply.