Three Levels of Protection
Ontario Underwater Council
The Ontario Underwater Council (OUC) would like to remind everyone of the three levels of protection we offer to support and safeguard our community.
1) Preventive Measures.
The OUC board and club representatives collaborated to update our Risk Management Document. This led to the release of the OUC Club Insurance and Sanctioning Requirements Document, which includes 20 OUC Safety Recommendations—our first line of defense. You can review the document here:
OUC Club Insurance and Sanctioning Requirements Document.
2) Release & Indemnity Agreements.
Our second level of protection consists of Release and Indemnity Agreements, providing protection for OUC-sanctioned events. Please review the updated agreements:
- Adult Release Agreement
- Collects both Preferred First Name and Full Legal Name.
- Prompts for 8-digit membership number.
- Minor Indemnity Agreement
- Must be completed by both living parents.
- Collects Date of Birth to meet insurance requirements.
In a recent decision, the OUC board has made it easier for minors to join sanctioned introductory diving activities by allowing non-scuba-certified parents (who may not be OUC members) to complete the Minor Indemnity Agreement. We ask that club executives take responsibility for verifying both parents’ consent to ensure due diligence.
3) OUC Liability Insurance Policy.
In cases where preventive measures and agreements are not sufficient, OUC provides liability insurance coverage for all members residing in Canada or the United States while participating in OUC-sanctioned activities. Dive professionals who are OUC members, certified, and in active status with a recognized training organization can also get coverage through an OUC training club, as long as they conduct diving or non-diving training according to the organization’s standards.
Ontario Underwater Council
Top Six Diving Safety Tips
Ontario Underwater Council
The Ontario Underwater Council thought this might be a timely reminder as we enter the new year. As a community, we continue to strive for what we believe to be safe diving practices. Here we offer six safety tips based on a DAN report.