40 Fathom Grotto
Visitor Policies

9 April 2007

By signing the 40 Fathom Grotto Guide Agreement, Guides agree to adhere to the most current Grotto policies and procedures, as posted on the 40FathomGrotto.com website.

Violation of any of these rules by guides or their guests may result in eviction from the property and/or revocation of guide privileges.

Diving Rules

• Guides are responsible for ensuring that their students and guests adhere to all 40 Fathom Grotto policies and procedures.
• Divers are to be under the direct supervision of a qualified 40 Fathom Grotto Guide at all times. Any time a diver is in the water, his or her guide is to be in the water and in direct visual contact with the diver, controlling and supervising all activities. This precludes any type of solo diving, even by Guides.
• Guides are responsible for ensuring that the divers they supervise remain within the depth limitations imposed by divers’ level of certification and/or the teaching standards for any courses they are taking, as defined by the sanctioning certification agency.
• In-water activities are to be limited to Guide-supervised scuba, rebreather and/or surface-supplied diving or diver training, or breath-hold diver training. Due to the Grotto’s depths, there is no swimming or unsupervised free diving allowed.
• At no time is any diver at the Grotto to penetrate a natural overhead environment beyond direct sight of daylight. This precludes any form of overhead environment diving before sunrise or after sunset.
• Important: Under no circumstances will any defacing, removal or damage to sea biscuits, sand dollars or any other fossil, rock or natural formation be tolerated.

Other Rules

• Minors are to be under adult supervision at all times.
• There is a property-wide speed limit of five miles per hour.
• Fires are allowed only in designated grills or fire pits.
• Smoking is not allowed on the docks at any time, and is limited topside to areas in which non-smokers will not be subjected to secondhand smoke.
• Alcohol consumption is not allowed during normal business hours. Use of profanity or other offensive behavior (as determined by the Grotto management) is prohibited at all times.
• Firearms, fireworks and illegal drugs are prohibited.
• Damage to or defacing of any Grotto property, including grass, trees or plants, is prohibited.
• Common household pets are not allowed. Alligators must be on a leash at all times.