RISK DISCLOSURE
Welcome to Dive! Tutukaka.
Nau mai, haere mai!
Whether you are joining us for a trip to the Twin Wrecks, or to the Poor Knights Islands Marine Reserve, there is some important information we are required to share with you about your excursion.
Firstly, all our trips involve an element of time onboard one of our boats, and although our staff hold first aid qualifications, and all our vessels are equipped with first aid kits, oxygen, and a defibrillator, only limited medical treatment is available onboard if required. To help ensure your safety, please disclose any medical issues and follow all crew instructions.
We will always cancel trips if current or predicted weather conditions are unsuitable, but the ocean is rarely completely still, so please treat the boat like an unstable platform. Decks may be slippery when wet, and the vessel may make sudden movements; please take care while boarding, disembarking, and moving around, particularly if using the stairs.
All our boats adhere to rigorous Maritime New Zealand standards, but certain moving parts and heavy equipment can still present dangers. Crew will explain onboard safety procedures, including what to do if an emergency arises. Please pay attention to all signage, stay away from out-of-bounds areas, and do not interfere with crew activity e.g. anchoring, launching the tender.
Although all our vessels have covered areas where you can shelter from the elements, for most people the principal reason for joining one of our trips is to experience the natural beauty of this unique location. NZ is famous for its ‘four seasons in one day’, so please take precautions to manage your sun exposure, while also ensuing you have some warm, dry clothing available.
Once we arrive at our activity site for the day, you are encouraged to enjoy the marine environment, both on top of and below the surface.
Please note that this is an ocean environment, with water too deep to stand in. Your skipper will conduct a risk assessment before selecting a suitable site, but it is impossible to eliminate all hazards and risks from adventure activities. Current, surge, waves, rocks and/or white water may be present in the wider area, and water temperature varies during the year. Typical summer highs are 22 C, while winter temperatures can drop to 15C; for this reason, we provide a wide range of exposure suits for both adults and children. The Poor Knights Islands are a marine reserve, and you will be able to observe many different species of fish and other aquatic life but treat everything you encounter as wild and untamed. Potential serious harm can be caused by bites or stings.
The islands themselves are stunningly beautiful, and home to several species not commonly found on the mainland. They have been classified as a nature reserve for over 100 years, and landing on the islands without a permit is strictly prohibited. While on or below the water, please stay within the boundaries identified by the skipper, and do not climb onto any rocks, or enter caves, cracks or other areas noted by the crew. If conditions allow, your skipper will likely take the boat through one or more archways and enter a large sea cave as part of your time at the islands.
Unless you have booked a sole charter, you will be sharing your day with other customers. Please be kind and courteous to each other. If you are bringing your family, please remember that boats are not playgrounds, and that you are expected to actively supervise all children in your care at all times. Additionally, there may be other vessels enjoying the marine environment. During all water-based activity your crew will be maintaining a watch, and a dive flag will be displayed, but please ensure you also keep a look out for other boats, jet-skis or alike, as serious harm can be caused through impacts or by spinning propellers. Misusing activity equipment can be hazardous, so if you are using snorkelling gear for the first time or wish to try one of our kayaks or SUPs, please listen to the safety advice provided by the crew. If you are engaging in unguided scuba diving, please stay within the limits of your certification. If you are trying scuba diving for the first time, or joining us for a guided dive, your experienced dive guide will provide a specific safety briefing.
There is a lot we do, and there is a lot we have to tell you, and sometimes it is best to do it in a way you can remember. The photo below aims to do just that!
We aim to disclose risk, not waive it. Please make sure you are aware of the risks before you book. Don't take for granted that anyone in your group knows what going on a boat means, and even though you may be familiar, others may not.
Please, we ask you to pay attention, even though you may have been on our boats many times before.
You will be on an unstable platform, and water-based activities will be undertaken around you.
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Dive! Tutukaka may record personal information about a user of this website. Any contact or personal information provided will be kept confidential and will only be recorded and used for Dive! Tutukaka purposes. Dive! Tutukaka will not use personal information for any other purpose, and will not disclose it to any third party without prior consent.
Disclaimer
This website is intended to provide general information to the public. Dive! Tutukaka accepts no responsibility or liability for any errors, omissions, or inaccuracies, in the information provided. Further, it will not be liable to anyone in respect of any loss, damage, injury or expense, suffered or incurred as a result of reliance on the information on this website.
Visitors to this website are advised that: Material on this website is information of a general nature only, is not legal advice, and is not intended to address the specific circumstances of any particular individual or entity. This website contains links to third-party websites which are not under the control of Dive! Tutukaka. Dive! Tutukaka is not responsible or liable for the contents of any linked website, or any link contained in a linked website. Dive! Tutukaka provides these links only as a convenience, and the inclusion of a link does not imply endorsement of the link site by Dive! Tutukaka. Further, the appearance on the website of any advertisements, product or service information does not constitute an endorsement by Dive! Tutukaka and Dive! Tutukaka does not investigate any claims made by any advertiser. Product information is based solely on material received from suppliers. Dive! Tutukaka reserves the right to exclude any material submitted, and any decision to exclude material will be at the sole discretion of Dive! Tutukaka;
Dive! Tutukaka may change, delete, add to, or otherwise amend information on this website without notice;
Each page on this website must be read in conjunction with this disclaimer and any other disclaimer that forms part of it.
We strive to provide accurate content. If you find a mistake or something that should not be there, please contact us. Linked website content may change significantly over time. Please contact us if you find that a website that we currently link to, does not meet the appropriate standards.
Linking to this website
Appropriate links to this website are encouraged.
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The material on this website is copyright. The copyright owner is Dive! Tutukaka. Material may be copied for personal use, or for educational or research purposes provided that it is attributed to Dive! Tutukaka including a reference to this website. Material on this website must not be used for any other purpose without the prior written consent of Dive! Tutukaka.
Where any inconsistency exists between this copyright statement and any copyright statement contained in any document on this website, any such inconsistency shall be resolved in favour of the latter document.
Anti-SPAM policy
Dive! Tutukaka is anti-SPAM. We promise never to pass on your email address or personal details to any other person or organisation, for any reason. If you are subscribed to Vis! (our email newsletter) you can unsubscribe at any time simply by clicking on the ‘unsubscribe’ link at the bottom of the email.
Cancellations
Seasickness, inability to equalise, weather conditions, and personal health conditions are not premises for refund.
Dive! Tutukaka will offer alternate dates/product if conditions do not allow for safe travel.
There are times that the weather conditions force us to cancel a trip to either the Poor Knights or the Twin Wrecks. Swell and wind conditions and directions may make the trip and the diving dangerous on some days.
Safety for passengers and crew are always foremost on our minds, however we also know that divers are keen to get a dive. It is our experience on this coast that our weather is actually quite different from Auckland, Whangarei and quite often the official forecast. With this in mind we very seldom cancel a trip until the morning of departure. Basically, we go diving unless conditions are not safe.
For those that drive up early in the morning we are happy for you to ring us the night before (till 9 pm) or early in the morning (6.30 am onwards) if conditions look very doubtful for diving.
Bookings and cancellations MUST be made via email - there are risks we MUST disclose and we need to know you have had access to that information. Please provide us with a valid email address and please, check your emails!
We will be able to give you an update and outlook on local conditions. We also can offer alternative dives if one or the other trips are cancelled due to weather conditions.
Medical Information
All marine related activities, including diving, are potentially dangerous, and may require elements of skill by those undertaking the activity. You should not undertake a water-based activity for which you are un-trained or un-prepared. These water-based activities, including diving, also require a level of physical fitness and that you are in good health.
If you do have a medical history of heart or lung disorders, asthma, or epilepsy, or are an insulin dependant diabetic, you should declare it to our staff. We are not medically trained, but we are trained to identify and minimise potential risk. You may need a medical from a doctor that requires you to be declared “fit to dive” before we can take you diving.
We reserve the right to withdraw any person who, in our opinion, is likely to endanger themselves or others and we reserve the right to cancel any trip, diving, or other activity if we become concerned for any reason for your safety or that of any other person. If any activity is cancelled in those circumstances we are not obliged to make any refund.
Group Bookings
We make arrangements in good faith, and with integrity. If you do change your plans, please let us know, we can easily make alternate arrangements to cater for your schedule and travel plans.
Credit card details must be taken at point of booking to secure bookings, for groups of four and over.
24 hour notification of cancellation – no charge.
6 hour notification of cancellation – 50% charge. (Sole Charter of a boat requires a 12 hour notice of cancellation or 50% will be charged.)
No show – full amount will be charged.
WE WILL NOT TAKE PAYMENT PRIOR TO THE DAY.
Health and Safety Policy
Dive! Tutukaka is committed to:
• Preventing serious harm to staff and customers
• Complying with health and safety legislation.
• Establishing measurable objectives and targets to ensure continued improvement with the aim to eliminate work-related illness and injury.
• Continually improving health and safety management.
• Taking all practicable steps to ensure the health and safety of staff and customers.
• Committed to the maintenance and protection of the marine environment in which we are privileged to work.
• Committed to acting as kaitiakitanga and exhibiting manaakitanga in pursuit of sustainable development of our environment, and our community.
In meeting these commitments, Dive! Tutukaka will take responsibility for health and safety procedures, however employees need to be aware of their responsibilities and comply with the company’s health and safety policy.
This policy is appropriate to the nature and scale of our risks. Each employee will be actively encouraged to take personal responsibility for safety, to be aware of their responsibilities and to play a vital and responsible role in maintaining a safe and healthy workplace.
Together we aim to:
• Provide a healthy and safe workplace, safe equipment and proper materials.
• Identify and manage all hazards and risks.
• Establish and insist on safe practices at all times.
• Accurately report and record workplace incidents.
• Comply with all relevant legislation, regulations and codes of practice.
• Involve our team in the development of health and safety systems
• Invite feedback on, and regularly review safety systems in order to continuously improve.
Your participation is much appreciated.
Kate Malcolm is responsible for the Safety Management Systems.
Chapter Three of our Operations Manual records how we plan to fulfil our policy in greater detail.