1.     Introduction

 

Welcome to GlobalDiveSphere GmbH ("we," "our," "us"). We are committed to protecting your personal data and ensuring transparency in how we collect, use, and share information. This Privacy Policy applies to our global platform and explains our practices for users worldwide. It complies with applicable data protection laws, including:

 

• The Swiss Federal Act on Data Protection (FADP)
  
  
• The EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
  
  
• The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA)

 

 

2.     Identity and Contact Details of the Controller

 

The controller responsible for the data processing is:

 

GlobalDiveSphere GmbH

Kranichweg 2

3074 Muri bei Bern

Switzerland

Email: support@globaldivesphere.com

Phone: +41762827869

 

For questions regarding this Privacy Policy or your rights, please contact us at the above address.

 

 

3.     Data We Collect

 

We collect the following types of personal data:

 

• Personal Identification Data: Name, email, phone number, nationality, date of birth, address, etc.
  
  
• Location Data: We collect approximate and/or precise location data from your device (GPS, Wi-Fi, or network-based) when you use features such as dive spot search, map display, or location-based recommendations. This data is only collected while the app is in use and is not stored permanently on our servers.
  
  
• Location Data (Extension): Users have full control over whether to share their location. Location sharing can be enabled or disabled at any time via the user profile settings. When enabled, other users can see the user’s current location on the interactive map. Location sharing only occurs with the user’s explicit consent and can be revoked at any time.
  
  
• Diving Data: Dive locations, dive logs, dive statistics, preferences, etc.
  
  
• Technical Data: IP address, MAC addresses, browser type, operating system, device settings, cookies, etc.
  
  
• Usage Data: Information about how you use our Services, including date, time, and duration of access, visited content,  app interactions, etc.
  
  
• Communication Data: Information exchanged when you contact us, including the content and metadata of communications.
  
  
• Registration Data: Data provided during registration for our services, including login credentials.
  
  
• Behavioral and Transaction Data: Data on your usage behavior and transactions, including purchase history and preferences.
  
  
• Preference Data: Data on your interests and preferences, derived from your usage and transactions.
  
  
• Photo, Audio, and Video Recordings: Multimedia content from events, including livestreams.
  
  
•  Other Data: Any other data you provide or that we collect in other contexts, including data from public sources and third parties.

 

 

4.     Where We Use Your Data

 

We use your data in the following contexts:

 

• Website and Mobile Application: To provide and enhance your experience on our website and mobile application.
  
  
• Customer Support: To assist you with inquiries, requests, and support needs.
  
  
• Marketing and Promotions: To send you promotional materials, newsletters, and information about our services.
  
  
• Events and Activities: To manage and promote events, including the use of multimedia content.
  
  
• Analytics and Research: To analyze usage patterns and conduct research to improve our services.
  
  
• Legal and Compliance: To comply with legal obligations and protect our rights.

 

 

5.     Purpose of Data Processing

 

We process your data for the following purposes:

 

• Service Provision and Maintenance: To provide and maintain our Services, ensuring they function correctly and are accessible to you.
  
  
• Personalization: To improve and personalize your experience by tailoring content and features to your preferences.
  
  
• Communication: To communicate with you, including sending updates, newsletters, and promotional materials.
  
  
• Location Services: To provide location-based functionalities such as showing dive spots near you, navigation support, and personalized recommendations based on your current location. Location data is processed only for these purposes and is not shared with third parties beyond the services required to provide these functions (e.g., Google Maps API).
  
  
• Location Services (Extension): Location sharing within the app is solely intended to display a user’s current location to other users – for example, followers – on the interactive map. Location data is not shared with third parties outside the platform. Users can enable or disable location sharing at any time through their profile settings.
  
  
• Analysis: To analyze usage and trends to improve our Services and develop new features.
  
  
• Security: To ensure the security of our Services, including fraud prevention and detection.
  
  
• Legal Compliance: To comply with legal obligations, such as record-keeping and reporting requirements.
  
  
• Fraud Prevention: To prevent, detect, and investigate fraud, unauthorized access, and other illegal activities.
  
  
• Website and App Optimization: To operate and optimize our website and app, ensuring they are user-friendly and efficient.
  
  
• Rights Enforcement: To enforce our rights and defend against legal claims.
  
  
• Marketing and Information: For marketing and informational purposes, including targeted advertising and market research.

 

 

6.     Legal Basis for Data Processing

 

We process your data based on the following legal grounds:

 

• Contractual Necessity: To fulfill our contractual obligations to you or to take steps at your request prior to entering into a contract (Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR).
  
  
• Legal Obligations: To comply with legal requirements (Art. 6(1)(c) GDPR).
  
  
• Legitimate Interests: To pursue our legitimate interests, provided that your interests or fundamental rights and freedoms do not override these interests (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR). Our legitimate interests include:
  
  
  • Improving and developing our products and Services.
    
    
  • Providing our products and services to third parties.
    
    
  • Communicating and maintaining contact with customers.
    
    
  • Conducting advertising and marketing activities.
    
    
  • Preventing fraud and investigating criminal activities.
    
    
  • Protecting customers, employees, and other individuals, as well as data, secrets, know-how, and other assets.
    
    
  • Ensuring IT security.
    
    
  • Ensuring and organizing business operations.
    
    
  • Managing and developing our company.
    
    
  • Enforcing or defending legal claims.
    
    
  • Complying with domestic and foreign laws and internal policies.
    
    
• Consent: Where you have given your consent for specific data processing activities (Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR). You can withdraw your consent at any time by contacting us at the address provided in section 2. The withdrawal of consent does not affect the lawfulness of processing based on consent before its withdrawal.

 

 

7.     Sharing Your Data

 

We may share your data with:

 

• Service Providers: Third-party companies that help us operate and improve our Services, including:
  
  
• • Vercel Inc. (USA): Hosting of our web application, content delivery network (CDN) services, and performance monitoring. Data processed may include IP address, device/browser information, and usage metrics.
    
    
  • GetStream.io, Inc. (USA): Provision and management of our in-app chat functionality, including processing of user identifiers, chat messages, and related metadata.
    
    
  • Google LLC – Firebase (USA): Authentication and account security services, including sign-up/sign-in, password management, and fraud prevention. Data processed may include email address, authentication tokens, IP address, and device information.
    
    

• • These providers process personal data solely on our behalf and in accordance with our instructions. Where data is transferred to the United States, we ensure appropriate safeguards such as EU Standard Contractual Clauses with adjustments under the FADP, and, where applicable, reliance on the EU/Swiss-U.S. Data Privacy Framework.
    
    
• Legal Authorities: When required by law or to protect our rights.
  
  
• Location Data: Location Data may be processed through third-party map or navigation services (e.g., Google Maps API) strictly for the purpose of providing location-based functionalities in the app.
  
  
• Business Partners: For joint marketing and promotional activities.
  
  
• Social Media Platforms: For marketing and engagement purposes.
  
  
• Other Third Parties: As necessary for business operations and legal compliance.

 

 

8.     Cookies and Other Technologies

 

We use cookies and similar technologies to enhance your experience on our website and app. These technologies help us understand how you use our Services and enable us to provide personalized content and advertisements. Cookies are small text files that are stored on your device when you visit our website. We use the following types of cookies:

 

• Necessary Cookies: These cookies are essential for the operation of our website and app. they enable basic functions like page navigation and access to secure areas. Without these cookies, the website cannot function properly.
  
  
• Performance Cookies: These cookies help us understand how visitors interact with our website by collecting and reporting information anonymously. They allow us to measure and improve the performance of our website.
  
  
• Marketing Cookies: These cookies are used to track visitors across websites. They help us deliver relevant advertisements and measure the effectiveness of our marketing campaigns.
  
  

You can manage your cookie preferences through your browser settings. Most browsers allow you to block or delete cookies, but this may affect the functionality of our website.

 

 

9.     Social Media

 

We maintain profiles on social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Youtube. When you interact with us on these platforms, we may collect and process your data in accordance with this Privacy Policy and the privacy policies of the respective platforms. The data we collect may include your profile information, interactions with our content, and other information you provide to the platforms.

 

We use the data collected from social media platforms for the following purposes:

 

• Engagement: To interact with you and respond to your comments and messages.
  
  
• Marketing: To promote our services and share updates and news.
  
  
• Analysis: To analyze the performance of our social media content and understand our audience.
  
  

Please note that the social media platforms may also collect and process your data for their own purposes. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of the respective platforms to understand how they handle your data.

 

 

10.     Data Transfer

 

We may transfer your data to countries outside of your residence, including the United States, for processing and storage. We ensure that appropriate safeguards are in place to protect your data during such transfers. These safeguards may include:

 

• Standard Contractual Clauses: We use standard contractual clauses approved by the European Commission to ensure that your data is protected when transferred outside the European Economic Area (EEA).
  
  
• Privacy Shield / Data Privacy Framework: For transfers to the United States, we may rely on the EU-U.S. and Swiss-U.S. Data Privacy Framework, which provides a mechanism for complying with data protection requirements when transferring personal data from the EU or Switzerland to the U.S.
  
  
• Binding Corporate Rules: We may implement binding corporate rules to ensure that your data is protected within our corporate group.
  
  
  

Where data is transferred to our service providers located in the United States, such as Vercel Inc. (hosting and performance monitoring), GetStream.io, Inc. (in-app chat services), and Google LLC – Firebase (authentication and security services), we ensure that these providers process personal data solely on our behalf and in accordance with our instructions. We also ensure appropriate safeguards, such as EU Standard Contractual Clauses with adjustments under the FADP, and, where applicable, reliance on the EU/Swiss–U.S. Data Privacy Framework.

 

If you would like more information about the safeguards we use for data transfers, please contact us at the address provided in section 2.

 

The recipients mentioned in section 7 are usually located in Switzerland, but they may also be located in any other country worldwide. If a recipient is located in a country without adequate legal data protection, we ensure compliance with applicable data protection by concluding the EU Commission's standard contractual clauses – with necessary adjustments under the FADP – unless the recipient is already subject to a legally recognized framework ensuring data protection, or we rely on an exemption (e.g., legal proceedings abroad, overriding public interests, necessity for contract performance, consent of the data subject).

 

 

11.     Data Retention

 

We retain your data for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy, comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce our agreements. The retention period may vary depending on the type of data and the purpose for which it was collected. Once your data is no longer needed, we will securely delete or anonymize it.

 

 

12.     Data Security

 

We take appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your personal data from loss, unauthorised access and misuse. These include employee training, IT and network security solutions, access controls and restrictions, encryption of data carriers and transmissions, pseudonymisation of personal data (e.g. in the context of data transfer to service providers) and regular checks.

 

 

13.     Obligation for Providing Data

 

As part of our business relationship, you must provide the data that is necessary for the establishment and implementation of a business relationship and the fulfilment of the associated contractual obligations. Without this data, we will generally not be able to provide the services you have requested. The website cannot be used either if certain data is not disclosed in order to secure data traffic.

 

 

14.     Profiling and Automated Decision-Making

 

We may use profiling and automated decision-making to analyze your preferences and provide personalized services. Profiling involves the automated processing of your data to evaluate certain personal aspects, such as your interests and behavior. Automated decision-making involves making decisions based solely on automated processing, without human intervention.

 

You have the right to object to profiling and automated decision-making and request human intervention. If you would like to exercise this right, please contact us at the address provided in section 2.

 

 

15.     Your Rights

 

You have the following rights regarding your personal data:

 

• Access: You can request access to your data to understand what data we hold about you and how it is being processed.
  
  
• Correction: You can request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data to ensure that we have accurate information about you.
  
  
• Deletion: You can request deletion of your data when it is no longer necessary for the purposes for which it was collected, or if you withdraw your consent (where applicable).
  
  
• Objection: You can object to the processing of your data for direct marketing purposes or on grounds to your particular situation.
  
  
• Portability: You can request the transfer of your data to another entity in a structured, commonly used, and machine-readable format.
  
  
• Restriction: You can request the restriction of processing your data while we verify the accuracy of your data, if the processing is unlawful, or if you need the data for legal claims.
  
  
• Withdrawal of Consent: You can withdraw your consent at any time if the processing is based on your consent.

 

To exercise these rights, please contact us at the address provided in section 2. We may need to verify your identity before processing your request.

 

 

16.     Amendments

 

We may amend this privacy policy at any time. The current version published on our website shall apply. If the privacy policy is part of an agreement with you, we will inform you of the change in the event of an update.

 

 

 

This version is valid as of August 28, 2025.

 

 

 

1.     Introduction

 

Welcome to GlobalDiveSphere GmbH ("we," "our," "us"). By accessing or using our platform, including our website and mobile application (collectively, the "Services"), you agree to comply with these Terms of Use. If you do not agree with these terms, please do not use our Services.

 

Our platform is provided free of charge. There are no subscription fees, and users can access all core features without payment. The platform may include partnerships and advertisements, but these do not affect the core user experience.

 

Currently, our Services are provided free of charge. If in the future additional paid features or premium subscriptions are introduced, the applicable terms, pricing, and cancellation rights will be clearly communicated to you in advance.

 

By using our Services, users outside of Switzerland explicitly agree that Swiss law shall govern their use of the platform and that any disputes shall be resolved as outlined in these Terms.

 

If you download or use our Services via third-party platforms (such as the Apple App Store or Google Play Store), their respective terms and conditions also apply in addition to these Terms of Use.

 

2.     Registration as a User

 

• Users must be at least 16 years old to register an account. Users under the age of 13 are strictly prohibited from using the Services. Users aged 13 to 15 may not use the Services, even with parental consent. By creating an account, you confirm that you meet this requirement.
  

  
  

• When registering, you agree to provide accurate, complete, and up-to-date information. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your login credentials.

  
  

• Any content you upload (e.g., photos, videos, dive logs) may be displayed on the platform. By doing so, you grant GlobalDiveSphere a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to use this content for the operation of the platform. However, you retain full ownership of your content.

  
  
• We reserve the right to review, remove, or restrict access to any content that violates these Terms, applicable law, or our community guidelines, without prior notice and at our sole discretion.
  
  

• Users may only upload content that they own or have the necessary rights to share. Uploading copyrighted or unauthorized content without permission is strictly prohibited.

  
  

• We comply with "Safe Harbor" principles and will take immediate action upon being notified of any illegal or infringing content.

 

 

3.     Participation in Events

 

• GlobalDiveSphere may provide a platform for third-party event organizers to list and promote diving-related events.

  
  

• GlobalDiveSphere itself is not responsible for organizing these events and assumes no liability for cancellations, schedule changes, or any issues related to event participation.

  
  

• Any ticket purchases or event registrations made through our platform are strictly between the user and the third-party organizer.

  
  

Any agreements, transactions, or disputes related to third-party events are solely between the user and the event organizer. GlobalDiveSphere GmbH is not a party to such agreements and is not liable for any damages, losses, injuries, or other issues arising from participation in such events.

 

 

4.     User Conduct

 

Users must adhere to the following guidelines:

 

• Respectful and lawful interaction with other users.

  
  

• No harassment, hate speech, discrimination, or harmful content.

  
  

• No unauthorized commercial promotions or spam.

  
  

• No posting of illegal or harmful content.

  
  

• Any violation may result in warnings, content removal, or account suspension.

 

5.     Intellectual Property Rights

 

• All content on this platform, including text, graphics, logos, and software, is the property of GlobalDiveSphere GmbH unless otherwise stated.

  
  

• Users may share platform content only for non-commercial purposes and must credit GlobalDiveSphere GmbH accordingly.

  
  

• Unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or modification of any content, in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited without prior written permission.

 

 

6.     Limitation of Liability

 

• GlobalDiveSphere GmbH provides the platform "as is" and does not guarantee uninterrupted or error-free service.

  
  

• We are not responsible for the accuracy, reliability, or safety of any user-generated content, including dive site recommendations, logs, or shared experiences. Users engage in any diving activities at their own risk.

  
  

• We assume no liability for external links or third-party services integrated into the platform.

  
  

• Users are responsible for ensuring their own safety while participating in diving activities. GlobalDiveSphere GmbH does not provide any guarantees, certifications, or safety measures regarding diving recommendations.

  
  
• User-generated information such as dive site descriptions, conditions, or recommendations is not verified by GlobalDiveSphere GmbH and may not reflect actual safety requirements. Users must independently verify all conditions and assume full responsibility for their own safety.
  
  

The information provided on the platform does not constitute medical, safety, or professional advice. Users are responsible for ensuring they are medically fit and adequately trained for any diving activities.

 

 

7.     Advertisements & Third-Party Services

 

• Our platform may display third-party advertisements and promotional content. These advertisements do not constitute an endorsement by GlobalDiveSphere GmbH.

  
  

• Any interactions with third-party advertisers are at the user's own discretion and risk.

  
  

• If personalized advertising or tracking technologies are used, users can manage their preferences through our Cookie Policy or opt-out where applicable.

 

 

8.     Data Privacy & Processing

 

• Our data processing practices are governed by our Privacy Policy, which explains how we collect, use, and share user information.

  
  

• Users acknowledge that their personal data may be transferred and stored in Switzerland, regardless of their country of residence. By using the platform, users consent to such data transfers.

  
  

• GlobalDiveSphere GmbH complies with GDPR for EU users, CCPA for California users, and applicable global data protection laws.

  
  

• GlobalDiveSphere GmbH may analyze user interactions to improve the platform experience. Users can manage their data preferences in their account settings or contact us for further inquiries.

 

 

9.     Termination of Account

 

• We reserve the right to remove any content that violates these Terms or applicable laws immediately and without prior notice. Repeated or severe violations may result in the permanent suspension or deletion of your account, at our sole discretion.
  

  
  

• Users may delete their accounts at any time. However, some data may be retained as required by law or for legitimate business purposes.

 

 

10.    Amendments to These Terms

 

• We may modify these Terms of Use at any time. If significant changes are made, we will notify users through the platform or via email.

  
  

• Continued use of our platform after changes have been made constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.

 

 

11.    Governing Law & Dispute Resolution

 

• These Terms of Use are governed by the laws of Switzerland.

  
  

• Any disputes arising from these Terms shall be resolved through negotiation. If no resolution is reached, disputes shall be settled in the competent courts of Bern, Switzerland.

  
  

• For users outside of Switzerland, we recommend resolving disputes via mediation or arbitration before initiating legal action.

 

 

 

For any questions regarding these Terms of Use, please contact us at: support@globaldivesphere.com

 

 

 

This version is valid as of August 28, 2025.

 

 

 

 

1.     Company Information

 

GlobalDiveSphere GmbH

Kranichweg 2

3074 Muri bei Bern

Switzerland

Phone: +41 76 282 78 69

Email: support@globaldivesphere.com

Website: www.globaldivesphere.com

Registered with: Commercial Register of the Canton of Bern

UID: CHE-269.439.855

 

 

2.     Disclaimer

 

GlobalDiveSphere GmbH strives to ensure that all information on this website and within the mobile application is accurate and up to date. However, we do not assume any liability for the completeness, accuracy, or reliability of the information provided. Use of the platform is at the user's own risk.

 

The information provided on the platform does not constitute medical, safety-related, or professional advice. Users are solely responsible for ensuring that they are medically fit and adequately trained to participate in diving activities.

 

Despite careful content control, we assume no responsibility for the content of external links. The operators of linked pages are solely responsible for their content. We do not endorse, monitor, or assume responsibility for third-party content, advertisements, or integrated services on our platform.

 

Use of this website and mobile application is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, which govern the rights and obligations of users.

 

 

3.     Copyright Notice

 

All content on this website – including text, graphics, logos, images, and software – is, unless otherwise stated, the intellectual property of GlobalDiveSphere GmbH. Unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or modification of any content, in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited without prior written permission.

 

Content from this website may only be shared for non-commercial purposes, provided that GlobalDiveSphere GmbH is credited as the source. In the event of copyright infringements, we expressly reserve the right to take legal action.

 

 

 

For any inquiries regarding copyright permissions, please contact us at support@globaldivesphere.com.

 

 

 

This imprint is valid as of August 28, 2025.