Caribbean Dive Guide ("we", "us", "our") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website. Please read this policy carefully.
1. Information We Collect
Information You Provide Directly
We collect information you voluntarily provide when you:
- Contact us — name, email address, and message content submitted via our contact form
- Subscribe to our newsletter — email address
- Submit conditions reports or site suggestions — name, email, and submission content
Information Collected Automatically
When you visit our website, we may automatically collect:
- IP address and approximate geographic location (country/region level)
- Browser type and version
- Pages visited and time spent on each page
- Referring website or search query
- Device type (desktop, mobile, tablet)
This information is collected via server logs and, where you have consented, analytics cookies. See our Cookie Policy for details.
2. How We Use Your Information
We use the information we collect to:
- Respond to your enquiries and contact form submissions
- Send newsletter emails to subscribers (with your consent)
- Review and act on conditions reports, corrections, and site suggestions
- Improve the content and functionality of our website
- Understand how visitors use our site (analytics)
- Comply with legal obligations
We do not use your personal data for automated decision-making or profiling.
3. Legal Basis for Processing (Texas / US Users)
We process your personal data in accordance with applicable United States and Texas state privacy laws. Our processing is based on the following grounds:
- Consent — newsletter subscriptions, analytics cookies
- Legitimate interests — responding to enquiries, improving our service, server security logs
- Legal obligation — where required by applicable law
4. Data Sharing and Disclosure
We do not sell, trade, or rent your personal data to third parties. We may share your information with:
- Service providers — third-party vendors who assist in operating our website (hosting, email delivery). These providers are contractually bound to protect your data and may not use it for their own purposes.
- Legal authorities — where required by law, court order, or to protect the rights and safety of Caribbean Dive Guide or others.
5. Data Retention
We retain personal data only as long as necessary for the purposes described in this policy:
- Contact form submissions — 2 years from submission date
- Newsletter subscriptions — until you unsubscribe
- Server logs — 90 days
- Analytics data — 26 months (aggregated, anonymised)
6. Your Rights
Depending on your location, you may have the following rights regarding your personal data:
- Access — request a copy of the personal data we hold about you
- Rectification — request correction of inaccurate data
- Erasure — request deletion of your personal data ("right to be forgotten")
- Restriction — request that we limit how we use your data
- Portability — receive your data in a structured, machine-readable format
- Objection — object to processing based on legitimate interests
- Withdraw consent — where processing is based on consent, withdraw it at any time
To exercise any of these rights, contact us at [email protected]. We will respond within 30 days.
7. Cookies
We use cookies and similar tracking technologies. For full details, see our Cookie Policy.
8. Third-Party Links
Our website contains links to third-party websites, including dive operator websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of those sites and encourage you to review their privacy policies.
9. Children's Privacy
Our Service is not directed at children under 16. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children under 16. If you believe we have inadvertently collected such data, please contact us immediately.
10. Data Transfers
Your data may be processed in the United States and other countries. Our primary operations are based in Texas, USA. Where we transfer data internationally, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place in accordance with applicable data protection law.
10. Governing Law
This Privacy Policy is governed by the laws of the State of Texas, USA. Any disputes arising under this policy shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the State of Texas, USA.
11. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. The date of the most recent revision is shown at the top of this page. Continued use of the Service after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.
12. Contact
For privacy-related enquiries, contact us at [email protected] or via our contact form.