Datenschutz & AGB.

1. Scope and contact

theDiveGlobe is an independently operated hobby project for divers. This Privacy Policy explains how theDiveGlobe ("we", "us", or "our") handles personal information when you use our website, dive discovery tools, account features, Neptune AI, and community services. It also explains the choices available to you.

For privacy questions or requests, email support@thediveglobe.com. This policy covers our handling of information; third-party websites and services you visit separately have their own policies.

2. Information we collect

What we collect depends on the features you use. Some information is necessary to provide an account or respond to a request; optional profile details and community contributions are your choice.

• Account and preferences: your email address, username or display name, authentication records, profile details you provide, language and measurement preferences, and communication choices.
• Diving activity and uploads: dive logs, sites visited, dates, locations, notes, collections, wishlists, passport activity, reviews, photographs, and associated details you choose to save or share.
• Community activity: buddy posts, trip plans, connection requests, contact details you choose to share, messages, feedback submissions, votes, and reports.
• AI interactions: prompts, recent conversation context, responses, and relevant account or diving information used to answer your request. If you use photo identification, the submitted image and identification results are also processed.
• Support and communications: contact-form information, emails, newsletter preferences, and records needed to respond to you.
• Technical information: IP address, browser and device information, request times, pages or features used, error and security logs, and cookies or browser-storage identifiers. Technical logs can include information submitted in a request; do not put secrets in prompts or messages.

We receive information directly from you, through your use of the service, and from service providers supporting those interactions. Other users may include information about you in messages, posts, photographs, or reports. Please share someone else’s information only when you have permission or another lawful basis.

3. How we use information

• Provide accounts, authentication, saved diving records, maps, recommendations, and the features you request.
• Enable buddy discovery and communication, display contributions, and process feedback and votes.
• Respond to support requests and send account, security, and service messages.
• Send optional marketing communications in line with your choices and applicable consent requirements. Marketing permission is separate from accepting the Terms of Service.
• Maintain reliability, troubleshoot problems, prevent abuse, protect users, and understand how the service is used.
• Meet legal obligations and establish, exercise, or defend legal claims.

Where data-protection law requires a legal basis, we rely on performance of our agreement for requested services; legitimate interests in operating, securing, and improving the service where those interests are not overridden by your rights; consent where required for optional uses; and compliance with legal obligations. You may withdraw consent without affecting processing that was lawful before withdrawal.

4. Public content, buddy connections, and messages

Feedback, reviews, and other contributions submitted to public areas may be visible to visitors and other users, copied, or indexed by search engines. An anonymous feedback label hides your displayed identity from other visitors; it does not remove the association with your account in our systems.

Buddy posts and the profile information shown with them are visible to people using the buddy feature. Contact details and messages are handled according to the connection and sharing features you use. Review the information in a post or connection request before sharing it.

Buddy messages are stored to support conversations. They should not be treated as end-to-end encrypted. Removing a message from your own view may only hide it for you; recipients may still have access or retain copies. Avoid sharing passwords, identity documents, financial information, or sensitive medical details.

5. Neptune AI and photo identification

AI features process your request and relevant context through external AI services. The current implementation includes Google Gemini for Neptune conversations and photo identification. Other configured AI integrations may be used for the feature you select. Relevant saved diving information can be retrieved to personalize an answer, and some requested actions can update your saved collections or plans.

Use of an AI feature may send prompt text, recent conversation context, relevant retrieved information, or submitted photographs to the AI provider. Provider handling depends on the service and account settings used. Contact us if you need details before submitting sensitive information. We do not promise that AI requests are never retained or used by providers unless the applicable configuration supports that promise.

AI output may be inaccurate. The diving and AI limitations in the Terms of Service apply.

6. Location, cookies, and browser storage

With browser permission, location-based features can access device coordinates. Coordinates may be sent to a reverse-geocoding provider, including BigDataCloud in the current implementation, to identify a country or locality and support preferences. Location you enter in a dive log or buddy post is also processed as part of that content.

You can decline or revoke device-location access in your browser. You can also choose preferences manually where available. An IP address may still reveal an approximate region without device-location permission.

Cookies and local or session storage support sign-in, preferences, verification flows, and other site functions. Hosting and analytics services may process usage information and technical identifiers. Such information is not necessarily anonymous simply because it does not contain your name.

Browser controls let you clear or block storage, but this may sign you out or prevent features from working. Where a cookie-preference control is available, use it to review optional categories. Consent required by law must be obtained before optional tracking is activated; acceptance of the Terms alone is not cookie consent.

7. Who receives information

We do not sell or rent your personal information. Information is disclosed as needed for the following purposes:

• Service delivery: providers supporting hosting, authentication, databases, file storage, email, analytics, AI, maps, and location services. The current service includes Webflow, Supabase, Brevo, Google Gemini, and BigDataCloud for the functions described above. External assets and embedded services can also receive technical request information such as an IP address.
• Sharing you request: other users or visitors when you post publicly, connect with a buddy, send a message, or otherwise use a sharing feature.
• Safety and legal matters: where reasonably necessary to comply with law or a valid legal request, protect rights or safety, prevent abuse, or resolve a dispute.
• Business changes: relevant information may be transferred as part of a merger, acquisition, or transfer of the service, subject to applicable law and notice of material changes.

Our providers may process information in countries other than yours. Applicable protections and transfer arrangements depend on the provider and location. Contact support@thediveglobe.com for details about the processing locations and safeguards relevant to your information.

8. Retention, deletion, and security

Retention depends on the information and its purpose: whether it is needed for your account or saved records, an active conversation or support issue, security and abuse prevention, a legal obligation, or a dispute. Closing an account does not necessarily remove every record immediately.

You may request deletion of your account and personal information. Some records may need to be retained where the law permits or requires it. Backup copies may remain until replaced through the backup cycle. Copies held by recipients or other websites are outside our direct control, and removing an item from your view is not always the same as deleting the underlying record.

We use technical and organizational measures intended to protect personal information, but no system can guarantee absolute security. Keep your credentials private, use a strong password, and contact us promptly if you suspect unauthorized access.

9. Your choices and privacy rights

• Review or update available account and profile information through the service, or contact us for help.
• Unsubscribe from marketing emails using the email’s unsubscribe option or contact support. Necessary account and security messages may still be sent.
• Control device-location permission and browser storage using browser settings.
• Request access, correction, deletion, or a copy of your personal information. Depending on applicable law, you may also have rights to portability, restriction, objection, or withdrawal of consent, and to appeal a request decision.
• You may object to processing based on legitimate interests where applicable, and to direct marketing. You may also complain to the data-protection authority responsible for your location.

Send requests to support@thediveglobe.com and describe what you need. We may ask for proportionate information to verify your identity or an authorized representative’s authority. Do not email your password. We will respond within the period required by applicable law and explain any applicable exception. Exercising a privacy right will not result in unlawful discrimination.

10. Children and policy changes

The service is not designed specifically for children. If you believe a child has supplied personal information without legally required permission, contact us so we can assess the situation and take appropriate action. Applicable age and consent requirements still apply to use of the service.

We update this policy when our practices or legal requirements change. The date above identifies the latest revision. For material changes, we will provide additional notice or seek consent when required. An update does not override choices or consent required by law.

1. Using the service

These Terms of Service govern your use of theDiveGlobe’s website, accounts, dive-discovery tools, Neptune AI, and community features. By using the service, you agree to these terms. If you do not agree, do not use it. The Privacy Policy explains our handling of personal information; agreeing to these terms is not blanket consent to optional marketing or tracking.

You must be legally able to enter this agreement and meet applicable age and consent requirements. If you act for an organization, you must have authority to bind it.

2. Accounts and security

Provide accurate account information, keep it up to date, and protect your credentials. Do not impersonate someone else, use another person’s account without permission, or share access in a way that compromises security. Notify support@thediveglobe.com if you suspect unauthorized use.

You are responsible for activity you authorize through your account. We may require email verification or other reasonable checks to protect the service. Keep your own copies of records and photographs that matter to you.

3. Diving safety and information limits

theDiveGlobe is an information and community platform. It is not a dive operator, instructor, medical service, emergency service, navigation system, or substitute for recognized training and qualified local guidance.

Maps, coordinates, depths, ratings, conditions, wildlife information, and user reports may be incomplete, inaccurate, or outdated. Conditions can change rapidly. Independently check access restrictions, permits, weather, currents, hazards, equipment, and local advice before a dive. Stay within your training, experience, health, and equipment limits.

Do not use the service to calculate a decompression obligation, select a breathing gas, assess fitness to dive, or make an emergency decision. In an emergency, contact local emergency services and appropriate dive-emergency assistance. Nothing in these terms removes duties or liabilities that cannot lawfully be excluded.

4. AI-generated content

Neptune AI and photo-identification results are automated suggestions and may be wrong, incomplete, or unsuitable for your circumstances. Check important information against reliable sources and qualified professionals. Identification results do not establish that an animal is safe to approach, touch, handle, or consume.

You are responsible for reviewing AI output and any actions you request, including changes to saved collections or plans. AI output does not certify a dive site, buddy, itinerary, or activity as safe. Do not submit content that you lack permission to share or that should remain confidential.

5. Buddy connections and community conduct

Buddy discovery and chat help users connect; they do not certify identity, qualifications, reliability, insurance, or fitness to dive. A profile, match, or recommendation is not our endorsement. Independently assess a prospective buddy, agree on plans and safety procedures, and use care when sharing contact details or meeting offline.

Do not use the service to harass, threaten, discriminate, stalk, impersonate, defraud, or exploit others. Do not post unlawful content, disclose another person’s private information without permission, infringe intellectual-property rights, or send spam, malware, or deceptive promotions.

Do not bypass access controls, disrupt the service, manipulate votes or reviews, harvest personal information, or use automated access that compromises security or availability. Report abuse or safety concerns to support@thediveglobe.com; urgent danger should be reported to emergency services.

6. Your contributions and our content

You retain ownership of content you submit, subject to the rights of others. You confirm that you have the rights and permissions necessary to upload, share, and process it, including photographs of other people and third-party material.

You grant us a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to host, store, reproduce, format, transmit, and display your content as reasonably needed to provide, maintain, and secure the service and carry out your sharing choices. This includes processing by providers working to deliver those functions. It does not transfer ownership or authorize unrelated advertising use of private content.

This license continues for as long as content remains on the service, and for limited backup, legal, or technical retention described in the Privacy Policy. Content already shared with others may remain in their copies. Suggestions may be used to improve the service without an obligation to implement them or pay compensation.

Our branding, design, software, and original materials belong to us or our licensors. Subject to these terms, you may use the service for its intended purposes. Do not claim ownership of our materials or redistribute them beyond permission granted by us or applicable law.

7. Moderation and service availability

We may review reports and remove, restrict, or decline content that violates these terms, infringes rights, threatens safety, or exposes the service to legal or security risk. We do not promise to review every contribution before it appears.

We may suspend or terminate access for a material breach, abuse, a legal requirement, or a security risk. Where appropriate, we will provide notice and an opportunity to resolve the issue; immediate action may be necessary to protect users or the service. Contact support to question a moderation or account decision.

Features may change, be interrupted, or be discontinued. Where reasonably practicable, we will provide notice of changes that materially affect access to saved records. We cannot guarantee uninterrupted availability or that every error will be corrected. You may stop using the service and request account deletion.

8. External services and links

External websites, service providers, embedded tools, and services offered by other users operate under their own applicable terms. A link or listing does not mean we endorse or guarantee a third party. Review relevant terms before sharing information, arranging activities, or entering a transaction with them.

9. Disclaimers and responsibility

To the extent permitted by applicable law, the service is provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis, without promises that information or recommendations are accurate, complete, uninterrupted, or fit for a particular purpose. Your use must take account of the safety and information limits described above.

To the extent permitted by applicable law, we are not liable for indirect or consequential losses arising from use of the service. This does not exclude or limit liability for fraud, willful misconduct, death or personal injury caused by negligence where such exclusion is prohibited, or any other liability that cannot lawfully be excluded.

Nothing in these terms limits mandatory consumer protections, statutory warranties, privacy rights, or other rights that applicable law does not allow you to waive.

10. Questions, disputes, and updates

Please contact support@thediveglobe.com first so we can try to resolve a concern. This does not restrict your right to contact a regulator, seek urgent relief, or use a court or other remedy available under applicable law. These terms do not impose mandatory arbitration or a class-action waiver.

We may revise these terms as the service evolves. Material changes will receive additional notice where appropriate or required by law, and any required consent will be requested. If you do not accept revised terms, stop using the service; obligations and rights already accrued remain subject to applicable law.

If a provision is unenforceable, the remaining provisions continue to apply to the extent allowed by law. Failure to enforce a provision on one occasion does not waive the ability to enforce it later. Questions about these terms may be sent to support@thediveglobe.com.