Release of Liability/Assumption of Risk/Non-Agency Acknowledgment Form PADI FREEDIVER AND MERMAID TRAINING PROGRAMS Please read carefully and fill in all blanks before signing.
Non-Agency Disclosure and Acknowledgment Agreement I understand and agree that PADI Members (“Members”), including Vancouver Diving Locker and/or any individual PADI Instructors and Divemasters associated with the training program and/or activity in which I am participating, are licensed to use various PADI Trademarks and to conduct PADI training, but are not agents, employees or franchisees of PADI Americas, Inc, or its parent, subsidiary and affiliated corporations (“PADI”). I further understand that Member business activities are independent, and are neither owned nor operated by PADI, and that while PADI establishes the standards for PADI diver training programs, it is not responsible for, nor does it have the right to control, the operation of the Members’ business activities and the day-to-day conduct of PADI programs and supervision of divers by the Members or their associated staff. I further understand and agree on behalf of myself, my heirs and my estate that in the event of an injury or death during this activity, neither I nor my estate shall seek to hold PADI liable for the actions, inactions or negligence of Vancouver Diving Locker and/or the instructors and divemasters associated with the activity.
Liability Release and Assumption of Risk Agreement I hereby affirm that I am aware that freediving and mermaid training and activities (“Programs”) have inherent risks which may result in serious injury or death. I understand and agree that neither my guide(s)/instructor(s), nor the facility through which this program is offered, Vancouver Diving Locker nor PADI Americas, Inc., nor its affiliate and subsidiary corporations, nor any of their respective employees, officers, agents, contractors or assigns (hereinafter referred to as “Released Parties”), may be held liable or responsible in any way for any injury, death or other damages to me, my family, estate, heirs or assigns that may occur as a result of my participation in this Program or as a result of the negligence of any party, including the Released Parties, whether passive or active. In consideration of being allowed to participate in this Program, I hereby personally assume all risks of this Program whether foreseen or unforeseen, that may befall me while I am a participant in this Program including, but not limited to, the academics, confined water and/ or open water activities. I further release, exempt and hold harmless said program and Released Parties from any claim or lawsuit by me, my family, estate, heirs or assigns, arising out of my enrollment and participation in this Program including both claims arising during the Program or after I receive my certification. I understand that freediving and mermaid Programs are physically strenuous activities and that I will be exerting myself during this Program, and that if I am injured as a result of heart attack, panic, hyperventilation, drowning or any other cause, that I expressly assume the risk of said injuries and that I will not hold the Released Parties responsible for the same. I further state that I am of lawful age and legally competent to sign this liability release, or that I have acquired the written consent of my parent or guardian. I understand the terms herein are contractual and not a mere recital, and that I have signed this Agreement of my own free act and with the knowledge that I hereby agree to waive my legal rights. I further agree that if any provision of this Agreement is found to be unenforceable or invalid, that provision shall be severed from this Agreement. The remainder of this Agreement will then be construed as though the unenforceable provision had never been contained herein. I understand and agree that I am not only giving up my right to sue the Released Parties but also any rights my heirs, assigns, or beneficiaries may have to sue the Released Parties resulting from my death. I further represent I have the authority to do so and that my heirs, assigns, or beneficiaries will be estopped from claiming otherwise because of my representations to the Released Parties.
I, BY THIS INSTRUMENT AGREE TO EXEMPT AND RELEASE MY GUIDE(S)/INSTRUCTOR(S), THE FACILITY THROUGH WHICH I RECEIVE MY INSTRUCTION /ACTIVITY
VANCOUVER DIVING LOCKER , AND PADI AMERICAS, INC., AND ALL RELATED ENTITIES AS DEFINED ABOVE, FROM ALL LIABILITY OR RESPONSIBILITY WHATSOEVER FOR PERSONAL INJURY, PROPERTY DAMAGE OR WRONGFUL DEATH HOWEVER CAUSED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE NEGLIGENCE OF THE RELEASED PARTIES, WHETHER PASSIVE OR ACTIVE. I HAVE FULLY INFORMED MYSELF AND MY HEIRS OF THE CONTENTS OF THIS NON-AGENCY DISCLOSURE AND ACKNOWLDGEMENT AGREEMENT AND LIABILITY RELEASE AND ASSUMPTION OF RISK AGREEMENT BY READING BOTH BEFORE SIGNING BELOW ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AND MY HEIRS.
PADI Freediver Safe Diving Practices Statement of Understanding Please read carefully before signing. This is a statement in which you are informed of the established safe diving practices for freediving. These practices have been compiled for your review and acknowledgement and are intended to increase your comfort and safety in diving. Your signature on this statement is required as proof that you are aware of these safe diving practices. Read and discuss the statement prior to signing it. If you are a minor, this form must also be signed by a parent or guardian. I, ____, understand that as a freediver I should 1. Always freedive with a trained buddy and follow established freediving buddy practices. 2. Not participate in open water freediving after scuba diving on the same day. 3. Equalize my ears and mask immediately as I descend, frequently and gently, before I feel discomfort. 4. Never continue descending without equalizing. If I can’t equalize, return to the surface. 5. Never attempt a forceful and/or extended equalization. A forceful, extended equalization can cause serious, permanent injuries to ears and hearing. 6. Descend with my lungs full. 7. Freedive in good health. Never freedive with a cold or congestion. 8. Even if I’m a scuba diver, not take a breath from scuba at depth while freediving. An exception may be an emergency, in which case the scuba diver should share air with me as we both make a scuba ascent. 9. Use relaxation to extend breathhold time. Not use hyperventilation. 10. Increase breathhold durations gradually. Gain experience slowly. 11. After descending to depth, head up well within my limits. The deeper the dive, the sooner I should head up. 12. Send a diver who blacked out underwater or who may have inhaled water at the surface to the hospital, even if apparently fully recovered. 13. For open water freediving, weight myself so that I float comfortably at the surface after exhaling. 14. Remove the snorkel from my mouth when I descend on a freedive. 15. Not exhale during the dive, except immediately before breaking the surface upon ascent so I can inhale sooner. 16. Upon returning to the surface, exhale passively and gently. Inhale actively and more quickly. Do this at least three times. 17. Recover for at least three times the duration of my breathhold before starting another dive. 18. When ascending from a dive to depth, have my buddy escort me for the final part of my ascent. 19. Not start a descent until my buddy has completed recovery from a previous dive. 20. Follow the one-up, one-down buddy system. 21. Assess conditions before a freediving session and plan my session. It is ultimately me who decides whether to go freediving. I am responsible for my own safety, so only I can make the final decision to dive. 22. Avoid freediving in large and rough surf. 23. Avoid contact with all organisms, but especially unfamiliar ones. Know the potentially hazardous ones for the area where I’m freediving. 24. Get a local orientation to a new freediving location and/or join a group to help learn about conditions, organisms, hazards and local procedures. 25. Protect myself from the sun and stay hydrated I have read the above statements and have had any questions answered to my satisfaction. I understand the importance and purposes of these established practices. I recognize they are for my own safety and well-being, and that failure to adhere to them can place me in jeopardy when freediving
Participant’s signature Date May 9, 2024
Diver Medical | Participant Questionnaire Recreational scuba diving and freediving requires good physical and mental health. There are a few medical conditions which can be hazardous while diving, listed below. Those who have, or are predisposed to, any of these conditions, should be evaluated by a physician. This Diver Medical Participant Questionnaire provides a basis to determine if you should seek out that evaluation. If you have any concerns about your diving fitness not represented on this form, consult with your physician before diving. If you are feeling ill, avoid diving. If you think you may have a contagious disease, protect yourself and others by not participating in dive training and/or dive activities. References to “diving” on this form encompass both recreational scuba diving and freediving. This form is principally designed as an initial medical screen for new divers, but is also appropriate for divers taking continuing education. For your safety, and that of others who may dive with you, answer all questions honestly. Diving Medical Guidance to the Physician These guidelines are typically used by physicians who have been approached by an individual wishing to take part in recreational scuba diving or freediving. They will usually have completed a WRSTC Diver Medical Participant Questionnaire. Recreational scuba diving and freediving (hereafter "diving") is performed safely by many people. The risks associated with diving may be increased by certain physical conditions, and the relationship to diving may not be readily appreciated by candidates. Thus, it is important to screen divers for such conditions. A physical examination for diving focuses on conditions that may put a diver at increased risk for decompression sickness, pulmonary overin!ation with subsequent arterial gas embolization, and other conditions such as loss of consciousness, which could lead to drowning. Additionally, divers must be able to withstand some degree of thermal stress, the physiological effects of immersion, and have suf"cient physical and mental reserves to deal with normal diving and possible emergencies. The history, review of systems, and physical examination should include as a minimum the points listed below. The list of conditions that might adversely affect the diver is not exhaustive, but contains the most commonly encountered medical problems. The brief introductions serve as an alert to the nature of the risk posed. The potential diver and his or her physician must weigh the bene"ts to be had by diving against an increased risk of injury or death due to the individual’s medical condition. As with any recreational activity, there are limited data for diving with which to calculate the mathematical probability of injury. Experience and physiological principles only permit a qualitative assessment of relative risk. For the purposes of this document, Severe Risk implies that an individual is believed to be at substantially elevated risk of injury compared with the general population. The consultants involved in drafting this document would generally discourage a candidate with such medical problems from diving. Relative Risk refers to a moderate increase in risk, which in some instances may be acceptable. To make a decision as to whether diving is contraindicated for this category of medical problems, physicians must base their judgment on an assessment of the individual candidate. Temporary Risk refers to medical problems which may preclude diving but are temporary in nature, allowing the individual to dive after they have resolved. Following many of the sections is a short list of references that give more information on the topic. The lists are not exhaustive, but examples that may be of particular relevance. Diagnostic studies and specialty consultations should be obtained as indicated to determine the candidate’s status. A list of references is included to aid in clarifying issues that arise. Today's date: May 9, 2024
|