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.
