Sail Fish Scuba Policies

Scuba diving and snorkeling require swimming ability and good physical and mental health. You are responsible for ensuring you are fit to dive. Any medical conditions that don’t meet PADI standards must be disclosed at booking. If you have any concerns, request a medical form from our staff and consult a doctor. No refunds will be issued if you cannot pass the medical questionnaire or fail to provide required medical clearance at check-in for your scuba course.

If you're not a confident snorkeler, we recommend improving your skills before joining the reef snorkel charter, which requires strong swimming ability and takes place in open ocean with no place to stand. We offer Discover Snorkeling experience at a separate rate for those who wish to try snorkeling and are weak/non-swimmers. For your safety, we may restrict water entry if your skills are inadequate. Snorkeling requires good physical and mental health—consult a doctor if needed. 

 As a diver on the boat, you are expected to follow all safety instructions from the crew and adhere to dive planning procedures. The in-water Dive Professionals do not replace the need for proficiency or formal instruction. You must perform at the skill level of your certification, maintain a respectful attitude toward the crew and other divers, and cooperate to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all. We may deny service to any diver we determine does not meet our safety standards.

 Different organizations may offer varying guidelines on surface intervals before ascending to altitude, but PADI currently recommends waiting 12 hours after a single dive and 18 hours after multiple dives over multiple days. So, if you've been diving for a week and your flight is at 1 p.m., your last dive should end no later than 7 p.m. the day before. Many folks wait 24 hours before flying to play it safe and unwind. 

 Our boat is equipped with DAN emergency oxygen kits and first aid supplies. Our crew members are certified as Oxygen Providers and/or Emergency First Responders. We reserve the right to deny guests the opportunity to dive, snorkel, swim, or participate in any activities if, in our reasonable judgment, they pose a risk to themselves or others, or if we suspect intoxication. 

 Due to safety concerns supported by ongoing research, full-face snorkel masks are not allowed on our boats. These masks are also not recommended in our courses because of risks such as CO₂ buildup and limited ability to perform essential skills. Sail Fish Scuba provides traditional masks, fins, and snorkels for all snorkelers. 

All deep wreck dives require Advanced Open Water certification or equivalent from a recognized agency or be a student undertaking a class with one of our instructors. Divers must have a dive computer (no sharing a dive computer). No decompression dives, unless certified by an recognized agency to do so and have prior approval from our crew. No penetration dives, unless approved by our crew and you are certified to do so by a recognized agency. 

 Each PADI program comes with specific diving guidelines based on your level of training and certification, including minimum age requirements, depth limits, and restrictions on with whom you can dive. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to reach out to us. 

 All divers must know and comply with local diving laws and regulations, including those related to marine life protection, fishing, and dive flag usage. Harassment of marine life, removal of underwater artifacts, or any disturbance to the natural environment is strictly prohibited. 

 Individual bookings require a $25 deposit secured by credit card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or AmEx). You may pay your balance by any method on the day of the charter. Full prepayment is required for private boat bookings. Also, you must have proof of scuba certification. If you don’t have it with you, a staff member can look up your certification online.

Check-in times are 7:00 AM for morning dive charters, 12:00 PM for afternoon dive charters, and 7:30 AM for pool training days, unless otherwise confirmed in writing. 

Cancellations made 48 hours in advance will receive a full refund of the $25 deposit. Late cancellations, no-shows, or rescheduling less than 48 hours before the trip will result in a 100% charge. This means that if someone cancels or reschedules less than 48 hours prior to the trip start time or doesn't show up for their scheduled trip, they will be charged 100% of the payment. Groups of three or more require one week's notice for cancellations to avoid charges. 

 We generally provide ample notice for cancellations but may cancel at the dock on the day of the dive if necessary. Notifications will be sent via phone, email, and/or text to all divers, snorkelers, and passengers. We will make a reasonable effort to reach you, but if you don’t acknowledge receipt, we are not responsible if you show up and the trip has been canceled.  If we cancel a trip, you can either reschedule, receive a voucher to be redeemed for a later time, or get a refund. 

We constantly monitor the weather to stay on top of conditions to ensure the best experience for you. We will notify you if inclement weather is expected during your scheduled trip. Weather-related rescheduling is subject to availability and suitable conditions. If weather or conditions change, the Captain may select alternate locations for the best experience. If needed, a sheltered lagoon is available as an alternative to the open ocean.  

 We may need to reassign your trip to a different dive boat due to unforeseen circumstances. While we strive to avoid these situations, we want to assure you that your safety and enjoyment are our top priorities. We will work with you to ensure your trip proceeds smoothly and safely. 

No refunds will be issued if a student’s class is ended early due to lack of swimming ability, a student's failure to follow diving standards and instruction or if the student chooses to end the course early.  Students are responsible for having all medical forms completed prior to coming to their first day of class. 

 For all courses (including but not limited to Discover Scuba Diving, Refresher Course, Open Water Certification, etc.), a strict 7-day cancellation policy applies, regardless of when the booking is made—even if it's within 7 days of the scheduled experience. 

E-learning codes or any course that has online academics are non-refundable. If your scuba course includes required e-learning and you arrive without completing it in full, you will not be allowed to begin your in-water training as scheduled.

Our instructors are dedicated to your success, but scuba certification is based on meeting performance standards. In rare instances, if a student cannot safely continue or complete the open water dives, no refund will be issued. This includes inaptitude or not meeting certification requirements. No refunds are given to those who fail to review our policies in advance. 

 If it’s been 6–12 months since your last scuba dive, a pool refresher is strongly recommended before diving. If it has been two years or more since your last dive, completing a morning refresher is mandatory before diving with Sail Fish Scuba. If you have any concerns about your scuba diving skills, regardless of your certification level, we also recommend a pool refresher or the PADI ReActivate course. 

We cannot guarantee specific dive sites, events, or boats. Weather, ocean conditions, or other factors may require the Captain or Crew to select alternate locations to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience. Be prepared to dive at different sites than originally planned. We aim to provide as much advance notice and consideration as possible when a destination change is necessary. 

 If we cancel a trip due to inclement weather, you may reschedule, receive a voucher for a later date (at our discretion), or request a refund. This does not apply to training or Discover Scuba dives, which may continue in the confined lagoon. If a two-location trip ends early after the first stop due to weather, a 50% refund may be issued at our discretion. Refunds for mechanical issues at sea may be considered at our discretion. Rain or scattered storms typically do not  warrant cancellation.

No refunds for illness, seasickness, fewer divers than booked (you will still be charged for the full reservation), late arrivals, no-shows, unused tanks or equipment, "one and done" trips (participating in only one dive site on a two-tank trip), medical emergencies, or if certification level cannot be verified. Refunds will not be issued if eLearning is incomplete before scheduled in-water training or if guests fail to review our policies in advance. 

 Guests are responsible for returning all rental gear in the same condition in which it was provided, including all equipment furnished by Sail Fish Scuba. Guests assume all risk of loss or damage, whether or not covered by their personal insurance. This responsibility includes transporting the gear to and from the rental facility and applies during transit, at all named or unnamed locations, and while in use. Guests will be charged to the card on file for any lost or damaged equipment. 

All divers, snorkelers, and boat passengers must complete our waivers before participating in any activities conducted by Sail Fish Scuba.

 By making a reservation with Sail Fish Scuba, you acknowledge and accept that participation in any charter or course is contingent upon the policies, payment terms, and objectives outlined or in related communications. Refunds will not be issued to guests or students who do not review our policies in advance and are either unable or unwilling to participate in a trip or course due to safety requirements set by Sail Fish Scuba.