-This is important and affects your legal rights, so please read them and our other terms referenced in this document carefully
-The following terms and conditions set out the basis on which all training, courses, dive bookings and services sale are sold and/or made by “RIAMAR Diving”, (“We”, “Us”, “Our”, “The Company”), to and/or with the purchaser, (“You”, “Your”), from Our websites (“the Site”), by Telephone or in person in the Dive Center.
-These terms and conditions, together with our Privacy Policy and any order form or payment instructions comprise the whole agreement between You and Us in relation to each sale for example course or dive booking or dive equipment rental, excursion, we accept from you.
– By making a booking via the site, over the telephone, email or in person you agree to be bound by these terms and conditions.
– By making a booking you acknowledge that You have not relied on any statement, warranty or representation other than those which are made in these terms and conditions, Our Privacy Policy, any order form, data form, medical statement form, liability waiver form, statement of understanding, rental agreement form or any payment instructions.
– In Cape Verde it is mandatory the possession of a diving license in order to dive. It is the customer’s responsibility being able to present a valid document proving that he/she has such accreditation. These can be, in addition to the actual diving license (physical or digital), a photograph or photocopy of the certification or screen prints of the official website of the diving organization that has issued his/her credentials. No emails, letters or documents from other dive centers or instructors ensuring that he/she has such credentials nor dives recorded in logbooks or computers will be accepted. In the event where the customer cannot prove his/her diving license, he/she will not be able to join in the booked activity and will not get any refund or change of date.
– Bookings can be made for a specific activity, date and time although it is not mandatory. However, in this case, the customer will be written down on the “Waiting List” and his/her place will be pending on availability.
-Candidates using “RIAMAR Diving” equipment for any course, dive, snorkeling or any activity are responsible for that equipment and will be charged in full for any loss or damage howsoever caused.
-Candidates may not participate in diving activities without a satisfactorily completed medical statement and statement of understanding and assumption of risk and liability waiver release form. Any delays caused to the course by failure to complete these administrative and medical requirements will be chargeable at the current missed session rate.
-“RIAMAR Diving Center” its employees or contractors cannot be held responsible for damage to or loss of any personal equipment caused prior to, during or after any activities. Overnight , or during the transport is at owner`s risk.
– The delivery of the didactic material to the student or the release of the on line teaching system is considered the beginning of the dive course.
– “RIAMAR Diving Center” will not accept returns of teaching material.
-You are entitled to cancel your course at any point. All cancellations can be made by e mail. Cancellation will take effect from the day this notice is received and receipt will be confirmed in email.
– In case of cancellation of activities purchased through another website or agency please contact them directly and follow their cancellation and refund policy.
– Once the client boards, the money paid will not be refunded if the dives are not made due to any of these: seasickness, problems with ear pressure equalisation, cold or problems with personal diving equipment.
– In case of last minute cancellation due to weather or maritime issues, a refund will be made or the buyer client can schedule another date.
–IMPORTANT NOTE: Refunds or any compensation payments do not apply to circumstances beyond our control (force majeure). We can cancel your dive trip in the following circumstances: war, threat of war, riots, civil strife or terrorist activity, industrial disputes, natural or nuclear disasters, fire, technical problems with transport, airport closures, bad weather conditions and similar events beyond our control.
-Please note that we are not able to refund any kind of fees, charged or paid to a third party, like Paypal, bank or credit card company.
– Refund will be issued to the original form of payment that you used upon purchase. The accreditation terms are subject to existing bank clearing regulations, which are not controlled by RIAMAR. In some cases, it may take up to 45 days (for purchases made locally at the aquatic center) to see the refund reflected on your account due to country and bank regulations.
-This policy shall take effect on the date of issuance (20.05.2023) and remain valid until formally withdrawn or superseded by an updated version.
-Once you receive a confirmation of payment, your reservation is guaranteed. If you would like to book, please follow our online platform, where you can find all instructions and payment options.
-At RIAMAR DIVING CENTER, we’re passionate about sharing the ocean with you.
We’ll always do our best to accommodate your needs and make your experience enjoyable. At the same time, please remember that a dive center is a professional business, and just like hotels, airlines, and tour operators, we need clear policies to ensure fair and smooth operations.
Booking
- Bookings made less than 1 month before the activity: Reservations are confirmed only with full payment.
- Group bookings (4 or more participants) and multi-day packages: Require full payment at the time of booking,
- regardless of the booking date. Bookings made 1 month or more in advance: Require a 30% deposit to confirm the reservation. The balance must be paid before the activity begins.
- Certified divers must present a valid certification and logbook on arrival.
- Students must complete the required medical questionnaire and declare any health conditions that may affect diving safety.
(For storing your medical data we are under contract with HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996). Therefore we can only take responsibility when divers book online individually).
Cancellation by the Guest
- Same day or 24–48 hours prior to activity: No refund.
- 72 hours – 7 days prior to activity: 30% refund of deposit or payment.
- 7–14 days prior to activity: 70% refund of deposit or payment.
- More than 14 days before the activity: Full refund of deposit or payment.
- Course packages: Once academic materials or e-learning codes are issued, their cost is non-refundable. Completed dive lessons are not refundable. A dive course is about learning, practicing and gaining confidence – certification is the final outcome when all standards and requirements are met.
- Multi-day packages: Multi-day dive packages are non-refundable because we reserve your diving spots, equipment, and instructor time in advance. Once booked, these resources can’t easily be reassigned to other divers, especially during high season. We will try our best to reschedule your dives if availability allows.
Cancellations or No-Dives After Boarding
- Once a diver has boarded the dive boat, no refunds will be issued, regardless of whether the diver completes the dive.
- This includes cases of seasickness or personal discomfort. We strongly recommend that guests prone to motion sickness take necessary precautions before boarding.
In case of medical emergency, a non-fit-to-dive medical report is obligatory to present from a local medical provider to start refund request.
Our 24-hour non-refundable policy remains in effect for cancellations due to sickness. However, if you are unable to dive for medical reasons, a valid local medical certificate may be presented and will be accepted for use toward applicable upcoming bookings.
Failure to present a valid medical examination report prior to the start of the course or diving/snorkeling activities will be considered a customer cancellation, and the above non-refundable policy shall apply.
Cancellation by the Dive Center
If the dive center cancels due to weather, safety, or operational reasons, guests may:
- Reschedule to another available date, OR
- Receive a full refund of unused services.
Refunds are not granted if activities are canceled due to a guest’s lack of certification, medical clearance, or non-compliance with safety standards.
Additional Conditions
- Divers must respect the dive center’s safety briefings, depth limits, and local regulations. Failure to comply may result in exclusion without refund.
- Guests are strongly advised to hold travel & dive insurance covering accidents, medical treatment, cancellations, and missed services.
- The dive center is not responsible for missed dives due to flight schedules, seasickness, personal choice, or other personal reasons.
For guided dives, you may change the date of your reservation for free if you advise us more than 48 hours before the dive date and alternative dates are available. We do not allow swapping booked dives from one person to another.
For divers have not been diving for over a year, we recommend that you book a refresher course before your dives. If you do not book a refresher and our divemasters/instructors believe safety is an issue, you will not be allowed to enter the water. You can also book a private instructor to accompany your dives.
PLEASE NOTE THE DIVE/SNORKELING SITES ARE SELECTED ACCORDING TO WEATHER CONDITIONS AND OVERALL EXPERIENCE OF THE GROUP. THE AFTERNOON SINGLE DIVE IS ALWAYS A SHALLOW, EASY DIVE. THEREFORE THERE IS NO GUARANTEE FOR COMPLETING THE PREVIOUSLY ASSIGNED DIVE/SNORKELING SITE.
Thank you for understanding that while diving is an adventure, running a dive center also means operating like any other tourism company. These policies allow us to maintain high safety standards, respect our team’s work, and provide a fair service to all our guests