Boat Policies


Certifications & Experience
Diving off the Mid-Atlantic is not for everyone. Divers with less than 20 logged dives or divers who have only dove in tropical environments should get some additional experience in local quarries prior to diving on any of our trips. This additional training will get you accustom to cold water or low visibility diving.

We suggest that you have a minimum of an Advanced Open Water Certification with over 20 logged dives to participate in any of our wreck diving charters. However, we REQUIRE an Advanced Open Water Certification with cold water and low viz experience for anyone diving in Zone 3, 4, and 5 or when enrolled in any of our specialty courses. Divers signing up for Zone 4 and 5 are also required to have 40 logged dives and deep water experience.

We do not provide any equipment, including tanks, on our charters unless reserved and confirmed in advanced. You must bring all your own dive gear in good working order when you come to dive.

Anybody who arrives at the boat the morning of a trip without the proper certification will not be permitted to dive and will not be offered a refund.

Cancellations/Reschedules
In the event that the Captain of the dive boat cancels the trip due to conditions, all divers will receive a 100% refund. In all other scenarios, cancellations are subject to a 25% cancellation fee and reschedules are subject to a $25 reschedule fee. No cancellations or reschedules are permitted within 14 days before the trip.

Minimum Divers
The Dive Boat requires a minimum of divers to run depending on the trip. In the event that we do not have the minimum divers registered for the trip 24 hours prior to the trips departure we will let all registered divers know that the trip is cancelled and registered divers will be given a 100% refund.

Cancellations Due to Conditions
The Captain and Crew of the dive boat may, at their sole discretion, deem the conditions unfit for certain dive sites or to dive at all. In the event that conditions are unfit for a certain dive sites, a substitute dive site will be chosen. In the event that conditions render diving altogether unsafe, the dives will be cancelled and divers will be given a 100% refund of their dive trip fee.

Prohibited Items
All passengers of OC DIVE BOAT are prohibited from carrying aboard the following items:
  • Alcoholic Beverages
  • Illegal drugs and/or other mind altering substances
  • Weapons, Firearms, Explosives or any other item or device other than industry standard dive knife or spear gun that may cause bodily or physical harm to themselves, another passenger, the vessel, and its crew.

The Captain and crew reserve the right to ask any passenger to display the contents of any luggage or container before or during our charter service. The Captain and crew also reserve the right to contact the local Police and/or US Coast Guard authorities to have any passenger removed with no refund from the vessel at anytime for not cooperating in any attempt to guarantee the safety of other passengers, the vessel, and its crew.

Behavior Policy
All passengers of OC DIVE BOAT are expected and required to conduct themselves in an appropriate manner at all times during the charter service. We have a zero tolerance policy for acts of aggressive or violent behavior towards any passenger, crew, or the vessel while onboard. The Captain and crew reserve the right to contact the local Police and/or US Coast Guard authorities to have any passenger removed with no refund from the vessel at anytime for behavior deemed as unacceptable.

Passenger Gear Policy
All passengers of the OC DIVE BOAT are responsible for the loading and unloading of all their personal gear and dive equipment aboard the vessel. OC DIVE BOAT will provide bungee cords to all passengers but it is the passenger's responsibility to properly secure their gear and equipment to the vessel before voyage and while underway. OC DIVE BOAT cannot predict the conditions of the high seas therefore cannot be responsible for any damaged passenger equipment due to not properly securing it by the passenger owner. The Captain or crew of OC DIVE BOAT reserve the right to require a passenger to rearrange or move their equipment if they find it a risk or hazard to any passenger, the vessel, or its crew. OC DIVE BOAT does not provide any equipment or gear so it is the responsibility of the passenger to bring any and all gear necessary to complete their dives. Refunds will not be given to passengers who forget to bring or check the working condition of their gear.

Liability Waiver Requirements Policy
All passenger divers must provide proof of certification and sign our Liability Waiver Forms before boarding our vessel.