General Terms and Conditions

Sanook Scuba ltd part. Operator & Agent. Sanook Scuba ltd part., operate tours and dive courses ourselves and we also act as an Agent for reliable 3rd party tour operators.

During the exchange of communication between the customer and Sanook Scuba ltd. part (herein referred to as Sanook Scuba), there is no obligation for the customer or Sanook Scuba.

How to make a booking

When the customer expresses the intention to book, we will then verify availability and send a provisional booking invoice with full details and instructions for payment. We accept payment by credit card, paypal, bank transfer, or cash at our shop. We do not charge a credit card or booking fee.

A booking is confirmed when a non refundable deposit or full amount has been paid, according to the invoice details. Once the deposit has been received by Sanook Scuba a confirmation of booking will be sent to the customer.

By making payment the customer implicitly agrees to these terms and conditions, and to the cancellation policy as stated in the invoice and confirmation of booking. Please check details, prices and dates stated in the provisional booking invoice, and confirmation voucher. Please inform us of mistakes as soon as possible.

Unless otherwise stated these are our standard payment conditions:

Diving day trip & Dive course:

  • Confirm your booking with a 20% deposit (except Similan Islands and Koh Bon day trips which require full payment at time of booking).
  • The balance is required not less than 7 days before your package commencement date. We will send a reminder email before the balance due date. It is the customer’s responsibility to pay the balance due no later than the due date. If for whatever reason we do not receive the balance by the due date we reserve the right to cancel your booking and any deposits paid are non-refundable.
  • Bookings made less than 7 days before commencement require payment in full.
  • Any national marine park fees are payable locally on the tour in cash. These fees are subject to change without notice and are controlled by the local authorities.
  • Courses on liveaboards must be paid in full at time of booking.

Liveaboard:

  • Confirm your liveaboard booking with a 10-30% deposit (50% for full charter bookings).
  • The balance is required not less than 60 days before your liveaboard commencement date (90 days for a full charter booking). We will send a reminder email before the balance due date. It is the customer’s responsibility to pay the balance due no later than the due date. If for whatever reason we do not receive the balance by the due date we reserve the right to cancel your booking and any deposits paid are non-refundable.
  • Bookings made less than 60 days before commencement require payment in full.
  • Any national marine park fees are payable locally on board in cash. These fees are subject to change without notice and are controlled by the local authorities.

Day trip tour booked with snorkelingthailand.com:

  • Online bookings for day tours are paid in full at time of booking
  • Any extra fees such as marine park fees etc will be advised to you in advance on your booking confirmation and will be payable in Thai baht cash locally on the day of the tour. Park fees are subject to change without notice and are controlled by the local authorities.

Payment methods

Credit cards: You can pay by credit card online (we will send you a secure invoice) or in person at our shop. We cannot accept card details over the phone.

Paypal: Send money to our account sanookscuba@gmail.com, or ask us for a paypal invoice.

In cash: At our office or to a Sanook Scuba representative.

Bank transfer/deposit: We can accept bank transfers in Euros, US$, AUS$, GBP and THB. Please ask us for our bank details. Please note that any and all fees for bank transfers at both ends must be paid by the sender. We recommend Wise for international transfers with very low fees.

Cancellation / Refund Policy

To cancel a booking, written notification by email must be given to Sanook Scuba by the lead client /contact person. The date of cancellation will be the date we receive this written notice. In the event of cancellation by the customer, the following cancellation charges will be payable (unless otherwise stated in your confirmation of booking):

Day tour, diving day trip, dive course cancellation:

  • 7 days or more prior to package or tour date: deposit forfeited
  • Within 7 days of package or tour date: 100% of total price
  • No show and last minute cancellation are charged 100% of total price

Liveaboard cancellation:

  • 60 days or more prior to package or tour date: deposit forfeited
  • Within 60 days of package or tour date: 100% of total price
  • No show and last minute cancellation are charged 100% of total price

Please inform us of any changes to your booking as soon as possible.

*All refunds will be less financial fees, the fees won’t be less than 500 Thai baht.

Liability Release and Assumption of Risk

Sanook Scuba cannot be held liable for and will not be responsible for personal injuries, property damage, or wrongful death that may occur during scuba diving and other activities, as a result of the inherent risks associated with them or as a result of acts or omissions of other third parties.

Customers acceptance on a diving tour organised and/or conducted by Sanook Scuba is predicated on them being physically fit to engage in ocean scuba diving, that they have had or will receive sufficient training in scuba diving and that they fully understand and accept the risk of ocean diving, of living and travelling on board a ship and the dangers arising from force of nature.

By booking with Sanook Scuba you release and absolve Sanook Scuba, its agents, employees and invitees from any and all damages resulting from death or personal injuries, including loss of services, which may be sustained on account of, arising from, or in connection with the aforementioned diving tour or the ownership, maintenance, use or operation of any automobile, ship, boat, watersport equipment or otherwise.

Divers may be required to read and sign these forms before they start their dive trip:

  • Liability Release and Assumption of Risk Agreement. Download PDF version here.
  • Standard Safe Diving Practices Statement of Understanding. Download PDF version here.
  • Medical Liability Release form (Only for divers enrolling on a PADI course/program). Download PDF version here.

Unforseen events

If departure of your cruise is not advisable – or may be dangerous to the life or health of the passengers or to the boat, due to conditions such as: perils of the sea, Acts of God, political incidents, force majeure – then the captain has the sole discretion to delay or cancel the cruise departure. Likewise during the cruise, if events occur that make it inadvisable for passengers to land or for the boat to enter port, then the captain shall have the right to delay or postpone sailing until conditions allow, and to make adjustments to the itinerary that may include cancellation of calls to ports, or the re-sequencing of island visits.

Cruises, dive day trips or tour programs cancelled by a tour operator before the start of a tour entitle you to a full refund of monies paid, less any bank charges incurred. Partial cancellations due to bad weather or mechanical problems may entitle you to a partial refund for dives missed, the amount of refund due will depend of the circumstances and on the terms of the specific operator. Re-sequencing of destinations is not considered satisfactory justification for a refund.

In the unlikely event of a cruise being cancelled due to insufficient reservations we will alert you to this as soon as we become aware of the issue. In these circumstances we will take all reasonable steps to ensure you receive an alternative and comparable cruise.

Sanook Scuba shall not be held liable for any expenses or inconvenience incurred as a result of cancellation, delay or change of a cruise, dive or tour program. It is understood that customers take all necessary cancellation insurances to cover such risks.

Weather Policy

Dive and snorkel tours still operate if it’s raining. Tours are cancelled if rough sea unsafe for small boats is forecast. The decision to cancel is made by the boat captain and the harbour master. If a trip is cancelled due to bad weather you can choose to reschedule or take a full refund*.

Additional terms for Taxi / Airport Transfer / Ferry service bookings

In case of flight delay it is the customer’s responsibility to let us know via email, call or SMS. WE will endeavor to reschedule the transfer if possible. A surcharge may apply for rescheduled transfers.

For pick up at Phuket airport the driver will wait one hour from the scheduled arrival time. For pick up at hotels, villas, private home and other accommodation the driver/guide will wait for customers not more than twenty minutes from the agreed and scheduled time.

Pick up times for transfers are based on our experience of typical transfer times and include a margin for possible delays caused by, but not limited to, traffic congestion, accidents, mechanical breakdowns, queues at airport security, customs and immigration.

In the unlikely event of a late arrival resulting in a missed connection Sanook Scuba, as well as it’s subsidiaries, affiliates and representatives, shall not be held responsible for any delay, or become liable for any expenses or inconvenience caused directly or indirectly by any service provider, or by force majeure, or any other event beyond our control, including, but not limited to, war, civil disturbance, severe weather, industrial disputes, accidents to or failure of machinery, equipment, vehicles.

Ferry tickets must be purchased at least 2 days in advance. Departure and arrival times may be subject to change due to weather conditions, we shall not be help responsible for any such delays. All passengers are advised to book and travel a minimum of 24 hours before taking a flight.
Ferries generally allow a maximum 20 kg per luggage per person with excess charge for extra kg. (Not over 50 kg.)

Insurance

All customers should have appropriate insurance to cover the diving they will be doing during their trip. A recommended dive insurance provide is Dive Assure. We also highly recommend that you take out a comprehensive travel insurance policy with cover that includes cancellation, medical, personal liability and effects. 

Travel Documentation

Please check you have the required travel documents before booking your dive trip. Make sure your passport has at least 6 months to run from your time of entry into Thailand. If required, please make sure you have a visa for entry into Thailand.
If your dive cruise includes Myanmar / Burma an entry permit will be arranged by the liveaboard operator for a fee (usually USD200-250). This is different to a Myanmar visa and we can advise on requirements at time of booking.

Diving Documentation

Certification cards must be shown. Guests who cannot prove they are a certified diver may not be allowed to dive. (We can normally check your certification on the PADI database if you tell us your full name and date of birth).

Medical and Health

We are not qualified to give you advice on medical matters relating to vacations. Therefore, be sure to discuss immunisation and prevention of tropical ailments with your doctor and follow their advice.

Divers enrolling on PADI courses will be required to sign a Medical Liability Release form before your PADI course commences. Download PDF version here.

Information we may need from you, and what we do with it

When you confirm your diving booking, please be prepared to provide us with the following details for each participant (we’ll remind you again at the time):

-Full Name (Mr/Mrs/Ms)*:
-Nationality*:
-Date of Birth*:
-Passport number*:
*this information is required by the national parks dept, and the harbormaster. You should also bring a copy of your passport with you.

-Dive certification agency and level:
-Number of logged dives:
-Date of last dive:

-Rental scuba equipment sizes. (Please note you are responsible for any loss or damage to rental equipment and in the event of damage you will be charged accordingly).
-Flight arrival and departure: (flight number / date / time):
-Hotel:
-Special meal requirements:
-Allergies & other medical considerations:
-Emergency contact name and number:
-Dive Insurance: (company / policy number / contact number):

Any personal information we obtain from you is used solely in relation to your booking with us, we use it only for the purpose for which you provided it. We only share select information with our travel partners such as dive boat operators or insurance providers,  or as required to do so by law.

As part of our service we communicate with you via email, phone, chat, whatsapp, LINE, Skype or in person. By engaging with us you consent for us to store your personal data and the personal data of other persons in your travel group that you provide to us.

You have the right to know what personal data we hold. Please contact us to correct, update or permanently delete your personal data at sanookscuba@gmail.com. You can read our full privacy policy here.

Miscellaneous Terms

If there are any changes to the details supplied to us by you it is your responsibility to inform us as soon as possible. In particular we will not be responsible for problems arising from your failure to adhere to instructions in our emails or correspondence (e.g. late changes to your transfer information, your failure to satisfy permit documentation requirements etc).
We reserve the right to change information and prices displayed on websites, brochures and other promotional materials. We cannot be held liable for spelling mistakes, typos and accidental wrong information sent to customers.

Website Content

All prices are quoted inclusive of taxes unless otherwise stated. Our prices reflect operator/supplier prices and are therefore subject to changes that they may make without prior notice. We will inform you of such changes as soon as possible.

Please note that the number of quoted dives/snorkel sessions is a best estimate based on normal circumstances, not a guarantee. Circumstances may arise during vacations (weather, illness, personal choice) where the total number of dives done is less than the number we estimate. There will be no partial refunds in these circumstances.
We will do our best to correct errors and omissions as quickly as practicable after being notified of them. However errors can occur resulting in a package price, product or other detail displayed or presented on our websites being incorrect. In this case we will do our best to correct the terms or revise them to mutual satisfaction, notwithstanding we reserve the right to cancel that contract.

Tour descriptions are made in good faith, we strive to ensure that the information contained on our websites is as accurate and up-to-date as possible. However in view of the detail contained we cannot always guarantee representations made by the operators we promote. Advertised facilities, amenities and schedules may on occasion be restricted, curtailed, changed or cancelled. In addition the operation of amenities and facilities may be subject to licensing regulations, religious observances, public holidays. We shall not be liable for any such or similar circumstance beyond our control nor shall any such event give rise to any refund or other claim.

Website content is subject to change without notice. Website images are intended to set the mood for each tour/destination and may not represent actual views as seen on a specific tour.

Links to Other Websites

We have no responsibility for the content of other third party websites of which links appear on any of our websites or for the actions/inactions of the owners/operators of such sites. We make no representations or warranties in relation to such sites or any packages or services provided on or through those sites or the providers of those services.

Governing Laws

This Agreement and its performance shall be governed and construed in accordance with the laws of Thailand and any dispute concerning it or its interpretation shall be adjudicated in the jurisdiction.

Copyright

The content on any of our websites may not be modified, copied, transmitted, distributed, sold, displayed, licensed, or reproduced in any way without our express written permission, except if you wish to make copies of the website for your own personal and non-commercial use.

Corporate Information

Address:
Sanook Scuba ltd. Part.
21/27 Luangpohw soi 4
Tambon Talad Yai
Amphur Muang
Phuket 83000
Thailand

Our TAT (Tourism Authority of Thailand) license number is: #31/01064

Company registration and insurance certificates can be viewed here.