Cancellation Policy
A minimum of 48 hours' notice is required to re-schedule or alter all or part of a reservation.
Any changes to the booking (date, names, etc) incur a $20 administration fee.
We must notify the operator of any cancellations within the specified cancellation period. It is your responsibility to ensure you submit your cancellation request with adequate time, and during our standard business hours (9 am-5 pm), to allow us to contact the tour provider. All cancellation requests must be in writing and sent via email to [email protected]. Any emails received outside of these hours will be considered received the following day.
Cancellation fees are as follows:
- 20% cancellation fee 30 days or more prior to departure
- 50% cancellation fee if within 30 days prior to departure
- 100% cancellation fee within 14 days prior to departure
There will be no refund of any part of your tour costs should you fail to arrive at a scheduled tour departure time. Tour departures may not be delayed due to passenger circumstances - including events beyond your control, medical problems, airline delays, weather etc.
All passengers are strongly advised to purchase comprehensive travel insurance that includes trip cancellation insurance, evacuation and medical cover. Please read the wording of your insurance policy carefully and ensure it covers you for all potential activities. No refund or compensation will be issued for unused equipment, prepaid/pre-booked courses and/or Scuba dives, or guides if you cannot complete the entire tour. Please see Scuba Diving – Important Information below.
Terms And Conditions
This website acts as a booking agent only for the tours advertised herein. Although we endeavour to provide accurate information, we are not liable for inaccurate information concerning services.
Check-in: If you are Making your own way (no return transfers booked), please check-in and board at 7.30 am. Your transfer vessel is named Reef Experience and is located on A Finger, at Cairns Marlin Marina.
Terms and Conditions
- A minimim of 2 people are required to book our Top Deck Club - the whole cabin needs to be booked. Sole occupancy is available.
- Please note that we do not offer children's pricing. However, for families traveling with a third guest who is a small child aged 2 to 11 years, a roll-away bed can be added to your cabin, subject to availability. Infants (0 to 2 years) can be accommodated with cot hire and small meals, also subject to availability. Kindly be aware that we cannot provide both a roll-away bed and a cot in the same cabin. Each cabin has a maximum occupancy of three people.
- Open-Dated Ticket: In certain cases, Open-Dated tickets may be issued. These tickets are valid indefinitely but are non-refundable. Any fare increase must be paid at the time of rebooking. Once a customer accepts an Open-Dated ticket, the cancellation policy applicable to the original booking date will remain in effect.
- Schedules, vessels, dive locations, and itineraries are subject to change without prior notice due to unforeseen circumstances, with full consideration for your safety and enjoyment. We reserve the right to adjust tours, schedules, prices, and itineraries at any time without notice. We are not liable for any changes, cancellations, or delays, and we accept no responsibility for any loss, additional expenses, or out-of-pocket costs incurred as a result, whether caused directly or indirectly.
- Neither this site nor any associated company or agent advertised through this site is responsible for your costs or losses resulting from alterations, cancellations, any loss, any damage, delays, deaths or personal injury.
- All passengers are strongly advised to purchase Comprehensive Travel Insurance that covers personal injury and the events, including but not limited to your cancellation for any reason and the cancellation or alteration to the scheduled itinerary for reasons involving weather or passenger, crew or vessel safety. Please read your insurance policy's wording carefully and ensure it covers you for all potential activities. Please be aware that scuba diving and other in-water activities are not covered by all travel insurance companies. In a medical emergency, any evacuation, vessel relocation, medical or other expenses are the financial responsibility of that passenger.
- The passenger acknowledges and consents to Reef Encounter taking photographs or video recordings during the course of this activity / tour. The passenger acknowledges and consents to Reef Encounter receiving and using images of the passenger from third parties and using these images for marketing and promoting its services.
- No alcohol may be consumed before in-water activities.
- Please inform us of any special requirements 48 hours before your travel date, such as dietary requirements, allergies, mobility and disability issues. This can be done in the ‘Booking Message’ section of your online reservation or by contacting our friendly reservations team.
Scuba Diving – Important Information
- All Certified Divers must present a valid Certification Card. Failure to present a Certification Card may result in the customer being unable to participate in scuba diving. They can enjoy snorkelling activities instead. No refunds would be offered.
- The minimum age for Introductory Diving is 12 years old. The minimum age for certified diving and Open Water Courses is 10 years old. All junior divers must either be accompanied by a certified parent or guardian or must dive with a dive professional at an additional charge. If the diver is under the age of 18 years, parental or guardian consent is required for that diver to undertake a dive. The parent or guardian should sign the medical declaration as a witness.
- Upon arriving at our vessel and before commencing any dive activities, all passengers must complete our liability forms. All information provided must be strictly accurate. If during the tour, it becomes apparent that a form has been incorrectly completed, either by omission or false statement, we reserve the right to prevent any customer from undertaking any scuba diving or snorkelling activities while on board our vessel. Any decision made in this regard will be at the absolute discretion of the Dive Crew aboard the vessel.
- The dangers and risks associated with scuba diving in an open ocean environment under variable conditions apply to our tours. We reserve the right to prevent any customer from participating in scuba diving if we determine that they are physically or medically unsuitable to do so or if it is in the best interests of our crew or other scuba divers. Our crew are trained professionals, and it is up to their sole discretion who they take diving and/or snorkelling. No refunds would apply.
- Please remember you must allow 24 hours from your last dive before flying.
Medical Conditions & Medications
Queensland, Australia has some of the strictest scuba diving rules in the world but also the safest scuba diving record. We are regulated by the Queensland Government Code of Practice and comply with all rules including medical as is the law.
- All passengers participating in any Scuba activities must complete a Medical Questionnaire. If you’ve answered yes to any questions or take any prescribed medication, you may need further medical clearance. This must be arranged prior to your day of departure.
- Medication: DO NOT presume that by taking medication is controlling your medical conditions, and you should be fine to scuba dive, as it is the medication that can be the problem when scuba diving. Particularly prescribed medication may require a medical clearance.
- Entry-level certificate divers: Medical certificates are no longer mandatory for our Open Water Course, unless:
a) has or has had any of the medical conditions mentioned in the SSI Medical Questionnaire
b) is over 45 years old
c) has a body mass index of more than 30 and a waist circumference of more than 102cm for males or 88cm for females.
d) is taking prescription medications (with the exception of birth control or anti-malarial drugs other than mefloquine (Lariam)
e) has had surgery in the last 12 months
f) struggles to perform moderate exercise (for example, walk 1.6 km/ 1 mile in 14 minutes; or swim 200 m/yards without resting), OR has been unable to participate in normal physical activity due to fitness or health reasons within the past 12 months.
If any of the above applies, a medical certificate may be required. The medical certification should be provided in English, preferably by a medical practitioner with experience in diving medicine, within 90 days prior to the first scuba dive. The certificate must state that the person is medically fit to dive.
- No refunds on uncompleted dives due to medical conditions and/or prescribed medications or change of mind.
- If you do have any pre-existing/existing medical conditions or are taking any medication whatsoever and are not sure whether you will be deemed medically fit to Scuba Dive, please get in touch with our Office at 07 4037 2700 or email us at [email protected], we will be only too happy to help you if we can. Alternatively, the best thing to do is to consult your own Doctor for a Dive Medical.
Peak Season Surcharge
A Peak Season SURCHARGE of $100 per person is payable onboard on the first day of travel and is applicable for all travel:
- from the 23/12/2024 to 01/01/2025
- from the 17/04/2025 to 22/04/2025
