Diving and snorkelling Booking terms & conditions.
These terms apply to diving trips, snorkelling trips, SSI courses and related services booked with Ocean Tribe Limited, Diani Beach, Kenya.
Please read these terms before booking. By confirming your booking, you agree to these terms and any specific conditions clearly provided in your quotation or booking confirmation.
1. Booking confirmation and payment
A deposit of 50%, or full payment, is required to secure your booking. Your booking is confirmed once Ocean Tribe has received payment and issued confirmation.
Unless we confirm a different arrangement in writing, the remaining balance is due 48 hours before your activity starts. Bookings made within 48 hours of departure require full payment when booking.
If we agree to accept a cash balance on the activity day, payment must be completed before participation.
Course materials are provided once the required payment and student registration details have been received.
Special conditions for private charters, group bookings, accommodation, safaris or third-party services will be provided before you confirm the booking.
2. Prices and currencies
Prices are quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated. Advertised activity prices include applicable taxes and compulsory fees. Optional extras and separately charged services will be identified before you confirm them.
Currency conversions displayed by the booking platform are indicative. Your bank or payment provider may apply its own exchange rate and charges.
Cash payments in USD, KES, GBP or EUR require prior agreement. Ocean Tribe will confirm the exchange rate and amount payable before accepting payment.
3. Cancellation by the guest
Please send cancellation requests in writing to Ocean Tribe. The cancellation period is calculated from when we receive your request to the scheduled start of your activity, using local time in Kenya.
| Notice before the scheduled start | Refund |
|---|---|
| More than 7 days | 100% |
| More than 3 days and up to 7 days | 50% |
| 3 days or less | No refund |
| Failure to attend at the agreed meeting or pickup time | No refund |
Refund percentages apply to the activity price, subject to the course-material and separately disclosed third-party conditions below.
Peak-season Kisite Marine Park bookings
For Kisite Marine Park bookings scheduled between 1 July and 31 October, or between 14 December and 14 January, at least 7 days’ cancellation notice is required for a refund.
With 7 days or more notice, the activity price is refundable, subject to any applicable course-material or separately disclosed third-party conditions. With less than 7 days’ notice, no refund is available.
Refund arrangements
Refunds are normally returned through the original payment method to the original payer.
Refunds processed more than 180 days after the original payment are subject to the disclosed 20% processing charge, where permitted by law. This charge does not reduce any refund entitlement that cannot lawfully be restricted.
We consider requests for exceptions individually and will try to minimise cancellation costs where reasonably possible. An exception is not guaranteed.
4. SSI course materials and partly completed courses
SSI digital materials purchased or assigned specifically for you may become non-refundable once ordered, assigned or activated, where permitted by law. We will identify any such charge before committing it on your behalf.
Access, transfer and validity of SSI materials are governed by the applicable SSI terms. Please contact us if you need to continue your training at another SSI centre.
Course completion and certification depend on meeting all applicable knowledge, skill, watermanship and medical requirements. Payment does not guarantee certification.
If you withdraw after training begins, we will assess any refund against the training already delivered, materials supplied and applicable cancellation conditions. Additional training or rescheduling charges will be explained before you agree to them.
5. Cancellation or changes by Ocean Tribe
Safety takes priority. Ocean Tribe may change a site, departure time, itinerary or activity because of weather, sea conditions, equipment issues or other operational circumstances.
Light rain alone does not normally cause cancellation. Decisions are based on the overall conditions and the suitability of the activity.
If we cannot provide your booked activity, we will offer a suitable alternative or rescheduling where possible. If you do not accept an alternative, we will refund the affected services we have not provided.
If an activity has already partly taken place, we will explain any refund for the undelivered portion. A substantial change to the booked service will be discussed with you.
Refunds and other remedies required by law remain available.
6. Health, medical information and fitness to participate
Guests must be medically and physically suitable for their chosen activity. Tell us before booking about any condition, disability, medication or support requirement that may affect participation.
Students and introductory divers must complete the required medical screening documents accurately. Medical clearance from a qualified physician is required where indicated by the current questionnaire or applicable training requirements.
Please arrange any necessary clearance before your activity. Participation may be postponed or refused if required clearance is missing or there is a safety concern.
Do not participate while unwell or under the influence of alcohol, recreational drugs or any substance that affects safe participation.
If you cannot participate for a personal medical reason, the guest cancellation policy applies, subject to your statutory rights. We recommend suitable cancellation insurance.
7. Flying and travel to altitude after diving
Tell Ocean Tribe about your flight and altitude-travel plans before scheduling dives.
For our recreational diving activities, plan at least 18 hours between your final dive and flying. A longer interval may be necessary because of your dive profile, computer instructions or medical advice.
Follow the longer applicable restriction. If you experience possible diving-related symptoms, do not fly and seek urgent diving medical advice.
8. Certification, experience and training
Certified divers must provide evidence of a recognised certification and sufficient experience for the planned dive.
Uncertified guests may participate only in a suitable introductory or training programme under the supervision required by its standards.
Tell us your certification level, approximate logged dives and date of your most recent dive before booking. A refresher, check dive or different activity may be required if your experience does not suit the proposed programme.
We may refuse a particular dive where certification, experience, conditions or behaviour create a safety concern. Any additional training or service charges will be explained before you accept them.
9. Equipment checks and use
Guests may use suitable personal equipment or equipment supplied by Ocean Tribe.
Our team remains responsible for its equipment provision and maintenance obligations. Guests must also complete the checks taught or explained to them and report any fault, poor fit or concern before use.
Do not use equipment you believe is defective or that you do not understand how to operate. Ask the team for assistance.
Personal equipment must be appropriate, serviceable and suitable for the activity. Ocean Tribe may decline its use if there is a safety concern.
10. Equipment care, loss and damage
Guests must take reasonable care of equipment supplied by Ocean Tribe, follow handling and storage instructions, and return all issued items to a team member at the agreed time.
Report any loss, damage or malfunction immediately.
Guests may be charged for equipment lost, not returned or damaged through negligence, misuse, deliberate actions or failure to follow reasonable instructions.
Guests will not be charged for normal wear and tear, pre-existing damage, equipment defects or loss or damage caused by Ocean Tribe staff.
Equipment charges
Our Equipment Loss and Damage Charges schedule forms part of these terms. Please review it before confirming your booking.
Equipment Loss and Damage Charges View the equipment price schedule and the explanation of repair, replacement and separately assessed charges. Read the equipment charges schedule →The schedule version provided or linked when you accept these terms applies to your booking. Later amendments will not automatically apply to an existing booking.
For lost or irreparably damaged equipment, the listed charge or documented current replacement cost applies, whichever is greater, subject to applicable law. Necessary delivery, import duties and taxes may form part of replacement cost and will be explained.
Repairable damage is assessed according to the reasonable repair costs. We will not charge both repair and full replacement costs for the same item, or charge twice for the same components.
Equipment not listed in the schedule will be assessed using documented repair or replacement costs.
Any claim for lost rental revenue will be separately itemised, supported by evidence and limited to recoverable loss directly caused by the incident. It is not an automatic daily penalty. Available substitute equipment, avoided costs and reasonable steps to minimise loss will be taken into account.
Ocean Tribe will explain the proposed charge and provide supporting information where available. Guests may question or dispute the assessment before it is finalised.
Equipment recovery
Personal safety always takes priority. Do not exceed your training, leave your group or attempt an unsafe recovery to retrieve equipment. Report the loss and follow the dive leader’s instructions.
11. Guest conduct and safety instructions
Guests must follow reasonable instructions from Ocean Tribe instructors, guides and boat crew.
Unsafe, illegal, abusive or deliberately irresponsible behaviour may result in an activity being stopped or participation being refused. A refund is not normally available for services lost because of such behaviour, subject to applicable law.
Respect marine life, other guests and local communities. Do not touch, chase, feed or collect marine life unless expressly authorised as part of a lawful, supervised activity.
12. Personal belongings
Bring only the personal items you need and keep valuables secure. Tell the team before leaving valuables in its care.
Ocean Tribe is not an insurer of personal belongings. Responsibility for any loss, theft or damage will be determined by the circumstances and applicable law. Nothing in these terms excludes liability that cannot lawfully be excluded.
13. Risk acknowledgement and required forms
Diving, snorkelling, boating and related activities involve inherent risks.
Before participation, guests must complete the applicable registration, medical screening, risk acknowledgement and other required documents. A parent or legal guardian must provide the required consent for minors.
These documents do not remove Ocean Tribe’s legal duties or any guest rights that cannot lawfully be excluded.
14. Ocean conditions and marine life
Dive sites, visibility, currents, sea conditions and marine-life encounters vary.
We cannot guarantee a particular species, sighting, visibility level or site. Sites are selected according to conditions, certification and experience.
A particular sighting not occurring does not itself create a refund entitlement where the booked service has otherwise been provided.
15. Insurance
We recommend insurance appropriate to your activities, including cover for cancellation, medical treatment, diving emergencies, evacuation and personal belongings.
Check that your policy covers your planned depth, certification level and activities. Consider cover for accidental loss or damage to hired equipment.
We will provide reasonable supporting booking information for a legitimate insurance claim.
16. Photos and videos
Photography or video services may be available during your activity. Any separately charged service will be explained before purchase.
Permission to use identifiable images for Ocean Tribe’s website, social media or promotional materials will be requested separately. Agreeing to these booking terms does not automatically give promotional consent.
For guests under 18, promotional use requires permission from a parent or legal guardian.
Tell the team if you prefer not to be photographed. You may withdraw promotional consent for future use by contacting us, although material already distributed may not always be recoverable.
17. Questions, complaints and applicable law
Please raise any concern promptly with the Ocean Tribe team so we have an opportunity to address it. Unresolved complaints should be sent in writing with your booking reference and relevant details.
These terms are governed by Kenyan law. Nothing in them limits rights, remedies or liability that cannot lawfully be excluded.
Booking acceptance
By confirming your booking, you acknowledge that you have read and accepted these Booking Terms & Conditions and the linked Equipment Loss and Damage Charges schedule .
If booking for other participants, please share these documents with them. Each participant must complete their own required forms, or have them completed by a parent or legal guardian where appropriate.
Questions before you book?
Speak to Ocean Tribe about your activity, payment, equipment or any part of these terms.
