Quality milestone · 2018
ISO 9001:2015
We were the first company in the sector to obtain the ISO 9001:2015 certificate for whale watching and crewed services for maritime excursions (AENOR, 2018).
What did the ISO 9001:2015 certificate mean for Picarus?
ISO 9001:2015 is the international standard for quality management systems. AENOR certified Picarus in 2018 —the first company in the whale-watching sector to obtain it—, with a scope that covered the management of whale-watching excursions and crewed boat charter. The certification is not currently in force.
- Standard
- ISO 9001:2015 — Quality management systems
- Milestone
- first company in the sector to obtain it (AENOR, 2018)
- Validity
- not currently in force
- Source
- AENOR magazine article, issue 341
What it was and who certified it
ISO 9001:2015 is the international reference standard for quality management systems: it accredits that an organisation works with documented, customer-oriented processes under continuous improvement, verified through audits by an independent certification body.
An ISO is not a diploma you hang once: the certifier verifies it through periodic audits. Picarus obtained it in 2018 and today the certificate is not in force — and we would rather say so with the same clarity with which we tell the milestone.
What it means when you sail with us
We were the first company in the whale-watching sector to obtain this certificate, awarded by AENOR in 2018. The certification is not currently in force, but the way of working it demanded —clear processes, safety and customer information on every outing— is still how we operate on board.
The story was covered in AENOR’s corporate magazine (issue 341, October 2018), which you can read at the link below: how a small sailboat company from Los Gigantes decided to manage itself with the rigour of a large corporation.
- Standard
- ISO 9001:2015 — Quality management systems
- Certifier
- AENOR, internationally recognised through the IQNet network
- Scope
- Management of whale-watching excursions and crewed boat charter service for maritime excursions
- Milestone
- First company in the sector to obtain it (2018)
- Validity
- Obtained in 2018 · not currently in force
Frequently asked questions
-
What was the scope of Picarus’ ISO 9001 certificate?
The certified scope was the management of whale-watching excursions and the crewed boat charter service for maritime excursions: it covered Picarus’ whole activity, not an isolated department.
-
Who issued the certificate and when?
It was issued by AENOR in 2018, with international recognition through the IQNet network. AENOR’s own magazine (issue 341, October 2018) covered it as the first company in the sector to achieve it.
-
Is it currently in force?
No. Picarus obtained the certificate in 2018 and it is not currently in force. We tell the milestone because it is real and verifiable —AENOR’s magazine covered it—, and we say so with the same transparency we ask for when verifying the rest of our seals.
Verify it at the source
The article in AENOR’s corporate magazine about our certification is public: it confirms the certifier, the standard, the scope and our status as the first company in the sector.
AENOR magazine · issue 341 · October 2018
«ISO 9001 para Picarus Sailing Club»
Read the article (in Spanish) ↗ (opens in a new window)Official sources last verified in July 2026.
Certifications
A guarantee of trust
Quality milestone · 2018
ISO 9001:2015
We were the first company in the sector to obtain the ISO 9001:2015 certificate for whale watching and crewed services for maritime excursions (AENOR, 2018).
Learn more →-
Certified destination
Whale Heritage Area Tenerife-La Gomera
The first destination in Europe certified for its responsible relationship with whales and dolphins: the marine strip we sail.
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Official emblem
“Barco Azul” (Blue Boat) flag
The Canary Islands Government emblem identifying vessels legally authorised for whale watching.
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State authorisation
AROC authorisation
The Spanish Government authorisation for recreational cetacean watching, with our sailboats on the official register.
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Member
ACEST — South Tenerife Cetacean Association
South Tenerife whale-watching companies united for cetacean conservation and the dignity of the activity.
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Member
World Cetacean Alliance
The world’s largest alliance for the protection of whales, dolphins and porpoises, with Picarus in its responsible-operator directory.
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Signatory company
Sustainability Charter for Whale Watching
The voluntary commitment of Tenerife’s whale-watching companies to cetaceans and the marine environment, driven by Turismo de Tenerife.
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Contributor
Calderones de Canarias
Citizen science: over 500 tropical pilot whales photo-identified in Canary waters with the help of the crews.
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Contributor
Tonina Association
Canarian biologists dedicated to marine research and outreach: cetaceans, turtles and sharks.
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