Why Choose Us?>Terms & Conditions
Orkney and Shetland Charters
Booking Terms and Conditions 2024/25
Please read the following carefully before sending your deposit. By sending your deposit, you are agreeing to these Terms and Conditions.
1)A deposit is required to be paid to Orkney and Shetland Charters to confirm your booking. Its purpose is to secure your space and to cover the reasonable administration costs, mobilisation of the vessel and preparation for your charter. Deposit refunds are only available in the circumstances detailed in clause 9 and are otherwise non-refundable.
2) Please confirm your intention to book by email.
3) For Full Group Charters the balance of the charter price is payable to Orkney and Shetland Charters on the date stated in the booking email, if not stated therein, on the 1st day of the month, 3 months prior to the booking as detailed in your E invoice.
4) Each person making a booking with Orkney and Shetland Charters, on behalf of another passenger, or group of passengers confirms that he/she has the authority of that passenger and that each such passenger agrees to be bound by these Terms and Conditions.
5) Each person making a booking or included in a booking affirms that they are of sufficient experience to undertake the diving or other activity they have booked and that they are fit, mobile, agile and if required, qualified enough to do so.
6) No children under the age of 18 may be carried aboard without prior notification.
7) The Charterer, whether an individual or a group booking the whole vessel, is responsible for the whole of the fee he/she has undertaken to pay and must pay the balance at least 3 months before the start of the charter period. – By accepting the booking conditions in this document the charterer has entered into a contract with Orkney and Shetland Charters and is responsible for paying the entire fee agreed, on or before the due dates. – If for any reason, the Charterer cancels the booking after the balance is due, he/she remains responsible for the whole of the fee. It may be possible to transfer a booking to another individual or group with our prior agreement. – In view of the above conditions, we strongly recommend that you consider a separate Holiday Cancellation Insurance policy, which are available from several independent companies and brokers.
8) If you wish to cancel all or part of your diving holiday after your balance has been paid. Orkney and Shetland Charters cannot refund your charter fee. We recommend you take out adequate holiday insurance.
9) If due to equipment failure, injury or death Orkney and Shetland Charters cannot provide the whole charter (week) booked or a suitable equivalent alternative, we will refund all money paid to us, in full, and the passenger or charterer shall have no further claim against us.
10) As is accepted practice – Orkney and Shetland Charters reserve the right to vary the charter fee of any space or booking prior to the booking being confirmed by a paid deposit. This specifically allows Orkney and Shetland Charters to discount, make reduced price offers or free spaces at any time these spaces remain un-booked, on any charter where un-booked spaces remain.
11) Orkney and Shetland Charters give notice that all arrangements made by us are on the condition that we shall not be liable for any death, injury or damage, loss, delay or irregularity that may be caused by persons or conditions out with our control. We accept no responsibility for any losses or additional expense due to delays or changes in air, road, rail, sea or other services, strikes, war, weather, or causes by government, police or customs amounting to Force Majeure.
12) For reasons of safety, Orkney and Shetland Charters reserve the right to vary the charter and its associated activities in any way we consider preferable due to adverse weather or any other conditions. The master will endeavour to find suitable alternative dive or activity sites if practical. In the event that passage or activities are cancelled the following will apply: 1 – 3 Days No refund. 4 – 6 days A refund of £15.00 per dive or half days activity lost. We recommend that you have adequate holiday insurance to cover the loss of holiday activities.
13) All decisions regarding the safety of any vessel in the employ of, or chartered to Orkney and Shetland Charters and the safety or health of those on board including during drop-off and recovery of divers, rest with the master. The charterer is responsible for informing the master of any injuries or illness involving any guest as soon as possible following their occurrence.
14) In the event that the cost of fuel for the charter operations exceeds the amount allowed for within the standard charter fee, we reserve the right to charge an extra “fuel surcharge” amounting to the shortfall. Details of this surcharge is available on request from Orkney and Shetland Charters.
15) Recreational diving will consist of 2 dives per day (unless otherwise agreed) weather conditions permitting. Further dives can be arranged as a group (charges apply)
Boarding in Stromness is from 14.30 on Saturday – Departure by 09.00 Saturday.
Boarding in Shetland is from 0700 Sunday – departure by 1700 Friday.
Boarding in Norway is at 1500 on Saturday – departure by 0800 Saturday.
16) Air and mixed gas fills are to between 200 – 230 bar depending on filling conditions. Responsibility for checking that the gas mix and pressure is within tolerance for the dive rests with the diver.
17) Any catering booked other than breakfast is not included in the charter fee and is payable at the end of the charter.
a) Breakfast – 07.00 – 08.00. / Lunch – as activities permit. / Dinner – as activities permit. (Variations in this schedule are by prior arrangement only)
b) No meals are provided on Saturdays
c) Alternative diets are catered for however guests are responsible for alerting the chef to any requirements at least 7 days before the commencement of their charter.
d) Surcharges:
Vegetarian – No surcharge
Vegan – £15.00 surcharge per person per week is payable
Gluten Free, Wheat free, Dairy or Lactose Free diets – A surcharge of £15.00 per person, per week, is payable – unless evidence of a medical practitioners diagnosis is provided to Orkney and Shetland Charters.
e) No food provided by Orkney and Shetland Charters or its employees may be considered to be allergen free.
f) Food provided by Orkney and Shetland Charters may contain nuts.
18) Any equipment hired from Orkney and Shetland Charters is used entirely at the hirers own risk. Orkney and Shetland Charters shall not be responsible for any accident or injury to any person or persons arising from diving or the use of diving equipment. The hirer shall be liable for repair or replacement of any hired equipment damaged or lost. Please ensure you have adequate holiday insurance cover.
19) All vessels in the employ or chartered to Orkney and Shetland Charters are fully insured to carry 12 passengers within their area of operation. Our insurance does not cover passengers who are away from the vessel or while engaged in diving or other activities. Orkney and Shetland Charters do not accept responsibility for loss of, or damage to, passengers gear, property or valuables whilst onboard or in transit. Orkney and Shetland Charters also do not accept responsibility for any injury or death sustained while involved in any other activity out with our control, specifically injuries or deaths while engaged in sporting activities. Please ensure you have adequate holiday insurance cover.
20) The master of any vessel in the employ of Orkney and Shetland Charters may refuse to carry any passenger or their luggage / equipment for any reason relating to the safety of the vessel and / or its passengers and crew. The master also reserves the right to refuse to carry any passenger who contravenes 1) the diving regulations relating to protected wrecks and their environs or 2) the lawful instructions of the master.
21) Orkney and Shetland Charters supports the Protection of Wrecks in Scapa Flow, Shetland and Norway. Please note that by booking with Orkney and Shetland Charters you are agreeing to abide by the Laws of England, Scotland and Norway as applies, The National Respect our Wrecks Code of Practice, the Scapa Flow Diving Code of Practice, the Orkney Voluntary Underwater Conservation Zone and the Orkney and Lerwick Harbour bylaws regarding diving and wrecks.
In particular due to the protected status of the wrecks of the German High Seas Fleet under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979, divers may not carry salvage equipment or undertake any salvage activities when diving the wrecks of the Coln, Brummer, Dresden, Markgraf, Konig, Kronprinz Wilhelm and Karlsruhe or any other designated site. Salvage equipment also may not be carried when diving wrecks that are protected by the Military Remains Act and salvaging artefacts from these designated wrecks is strictly forbidden.
Salvaging or the carrying of salvage equipment is also expressly forbidden by Norwegian law and will result in legal action.
22) No drugs (other than those proscribed by a doctor) or other unlawful substances are permitted on board the vessel at any time.
23) Orkney and Shetland Charters reserve the right to alter these Terms and conditions at any time. If you need any further clarification on these Terms and Conditions then please do not hesitate to contact us.
24). If any provision of these Terms and Conditions are held to be invalid or unenforceable by any judicial or other competent authority, all other provisions of these Terms and Conditions will remain in full force and effect and will not in any way be impaired. If any provision of these Terms and Conditions are held to be invalid or unenforceable but would be valid or enforceable if some part or parts of these Terms and Conditions were deleted, the term and/or condition in question will apply with the minimum modification necessary to make it valid and enforceable.
25). Data Protection. Your details will be stored securely and purely for the purposes of this booking. Your details will not be used for marketing purposes unless you choose to sign up to our mailing list. All passengers’ details and details of emergency contacts must be provided on or before the first day of the charter. This information will be kept aboard for the duration of the charter. Should an emergency involving the group arise this information may be shared with emergency and medical services. Your information may also be shared for the purpose of disease contact tracing. It will not be shared with any other 3rd party. These records are stored securely under GDPR guidelines.
Orkney and Shetland Charters 24/25
