Effective Date: 14 October 2024

Dive Buddy (“we”, “our”, “us”) is committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring that your personal information is handled in a safe and responsible manner. This Privacy Policy outlines how we collect, use, store, and protect your personal data when you use our website, mobile application, and associated services.

1. Information We Collect

We may collect the following types of personal data:

• Personal Identification Information: Name, email address, phone number, postal address, and other contact information.
• Account Information: Usernames, passwords, profile data, and app usage history.
• Location Data: We may collect your location if you provide consent, primarily for app functionality (e.g., finding dive centres).
• Payment Information: Billing information (for purchases or partnerships) and transaction history. Note: We do not store payment card details directly; this is handled by third-party payment processors.
• Technical Data: IP address, browser type, device information, operating system, and browsing behaviour (via cookies or similar technologies).

2. How We Use Your Information

We use your data for the following purposes:

• Providing Services: To manage your account, process transactions, and deliver the features and services available through Dive Buddy.
• Partner Applications: To review and process partnership enquiries submitted via the website or app.
• Communication: To send you relevant updates, newsletters, marketing communications, or information regarding your partnership or app usage.
• Improvement & Analytics: To analyse usage patterns, improve the user experience, and maintain the safety and security of our platform.
• Legal Compliance: To comply with applicable laws and regulations, or respond to legal processes, where necessary.

3. Sharing Your Information

We may share your information with:

• Service Providers: Third-party companies (e.g., hosting services, payment processors) to perform functions necessary to operate our services.
• Business Partners: With your consent, we may share information with third-party partners (e.g., affiliate marketing programs) so that they can offer relevant promotions or services.
• Legal Authorities: Where required by law, or to protect our rights, we may share information with regulatory authorities, law enforcement, or other government bodies.

4. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to:

• Enhance your user experience by remembering preferences.
• Analyse how the platform is used and improve its performance. You can control the use of cookies through your browser settings. However, disabling cookies may affect your ability to use some features of the platform.

5. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organisational security measures to protect your data from unauthorised access, loss, or disclosure. These measures include encryption, secure server environments, and regular security audits. However, no method of data transmission or storage is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

6. Data Retention

We retain your personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes outlined in this policy or as required by law. Once your data is no longer needed, we will securely delete or anonymise it.

7. Your Rights

Under applicable data protection laws, including the GDPR, you have the following rights regarding your personal data:

• Access: You have the right to request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
• Correction: You have the right to request corrections to any inaccuracies in your data.
• Erasure: You may request that we delete your data in certain circumstances.
• Restriction: You can request that we limit the processing of your data.
• Portability: You can request that your data be provided to you or another data controller in a machine-readable format.
• Objection: You have the right to object to certain processing activities, such as direct marketing.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at support@divebuddyapp.com. We may require you to verify your identity before processing the request.

8. Children’s Privacy

Dive Buddy is not directed to individuals under the age of 16. We do not knowingly collect personal data from individuals under this age. If we learn that we have collected such data, we will take steps to delete it promptly.

9. International Transfers

If you access Dive Buddy from outside the UK or EU, your data may be transferred to, stored, and processed in countries where data protection laws may differ. We ensure appropriate safeguards are in place to protect your data during international transfers, in accordance with applicable laws.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we do, we will revise the effective date at the top of this page. We encourage you to review this policy periodically to stay informed about how we are protecting your data.

11. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or how we handle your personal data, please contact us at:

• Email: support@divebuddyapp.com