Terms & Conditions

1. About AquaMatt

AquaMatt (Pty) Ltd organises small-group diving expeditions and produces marine education and conservation storytelling content.

Contact details:

AquaMatt (Pty) Ltd
4 Kings Way
Pinelands
Cape Town
South Africa

Email: matt@aquamattdiving.com
Telephone and WhatsApp: +27 81 046 3952

2. Acceptance of These Terms

By using aquamattdiving.com, submitting a form, requesting a place, communicating with AquaMatt or making a booking, you confirm that you have read and accepted these Terms & Conditions.

Submitting a request through the website does not automatically create a confirmed booking.

3. Website Information

AquaMatt aims to keep the information on this website accurate and up to date. However, expedition details, schedules, prices, availability, accommodation, operators, activities and inclusions may occasionally change.

Images and descriptions are provided for general information and may not represent the exact conditions, wildlife sightings, accommodation or dive sites experienced during a specific departure.

4. Enquiries and Requests

A “Request a Place” submission is an expression of interest only.

After receiving a request, AquaMatt may contact the applicant to discuss:

- diving certification
- logged-dive experience
- recent diving activity
- medical considerations
- equipment requirements
- training requirements
- room preferences
- expedition availability

AquaMatt may decline an application where a participant’s experience, health, fitness or ability is not considered suitable for the planned expedition.

5. Booking Confirmation

A booking is confirmed only when:

- AquaMatt has accepted the participant
- the required booking information has been supplied
- the participant has accepted the applicable booking terms
- the required deposit or payment has been received
- AquaMatt has issued written booking confirmation

Availability shown on the website is indicative and may change before confirmation.

6. Prices

The advertised expedition price is €2,300 per person, based on two guests sharing a twin or double room, unless otherwise stated for a specific departure.

A private-room upgrade may be requested for an additional supplement, subject to availability.

Prices may be displayed in euros or another stated currency. Bank charges, card charges, currency-conversion fees and international transfer fees are the responsibility of the participant unless AquaMatt confirms otherwise in writing.

7. Payments

The payment schedule, deposit amount and final-payment deadline applicable to the booking will be stated in the booking confirmation or invoice.

Insert the confirmed payment terms here before publication:

[INSERT CONFIRMED DEPOSIT AMOUNT OR PERCENTAGE]

[INSERT FINAL PAYMENT DEADLINE]

A booking may be cancelled if payment is not received by the stated deadline.

8. Participant Cancellations

All cancellation requests must be submitted to AquaMatt in writing.

The cancellation policy applicable to the booking will be stated in the booking confirmation and invoice.

Insert the confirmed cancellation schedule here before publication:

[INSERT CANCELLATION AND REFUND SCHEDULE]

Any non-refundable charges already paid to third-party suppliers may be deducted from any refund that would otherwise be due.

Participants are strongly advised to purchase travel insurance that covers cancellation, illness, injury, travel disruption and diving-related risks.

9. Changes or Cancellation by AquaMatt

Diving expeditions depend on weather, ocean conditions, local operator decisions, accommodation availability, transport conditions and other operational factors.

AquaMatt may change the itinerary, order of activities, dive sites, operators, accommodation or transport arrangements where reasonably necessary for safety or operational reasons.

Wildlife encounters and specific species sightings cannot be guaranteed.

If AquaMatt must cancel a departure, participants will be informed as soon as reasonably possible and will be advised of the options available. Any refund or alternative arrangement may exclude losses relating to flights, visas, insurance, personal arrangements or services booked independently.

10. Expedition Itinerary

Published itineraries represent the intended expedition plan.

The timing and order of dives, transfers and activities may change because of:

- weather
- sea conditions
- currents
- visibility
- wildlife activity
- safety concerns
- local operator decisions
- equipment issues
- road conditions
- operational requirements

Such changes do not automatically entitle a participant to compensation where the overall expedition continues to be delivered reasonably.

11. Diving Requirements

Participants must provide accurate and complete information about their:

- certification level
- number of logged dives
- recent diving experience
- medical history
- fitness
- equipment needs
- relevant limitations

Advanced Open Water certification or an accepted equivalent is normally required for participation in all scheduled dives.

Open Water divers with at least 30 logged dives may apply and may be able to complete Advanced Open Water training during the expedition, subject to prior approval and availability.

Participation in any individual dive remains subject to assessment by the local dive operator, instructor, divemaster or boat crew.

12. Medical Fitness

Scuba diving involves physical and medical risks.

Participants must disclose any condition, medication, injury, pregnancy or medical history that could affect their ability to dive safely.

A medical certificate or clearance from a suitably qualified doctor may be required.

A participant may be prevented from diving where AquaMatt or the local dive operator reasonably believes that participation would create a safety risk.

No refund is guaranteed for missed dives resulting from undisclosed medical information, illness, fitness limitations, intoxication or failure to meet required diving standards.

13. Safety and Participant Conduct

Participants must follow all reasonable safety instructions issued by AquaMatt, local operators, instructors, divemasters, boat crews, accommodation providers and activity providers.

Participants must act responsibly and respectfully toward:

- other guests
- staff and suppliers
- local communities
- wildlife
- marine environments
- accommodation and equipment

AquaMatt may remove a participant from an activity or expedition where their behaviour creates a safety risk, seriously disrupts the group, damages property or threatens people, wildlife or the environment.

Additional costs resulting from such removal will be the participant’s responsibility.

14. Insurance

Appropriate travel and diving insurance is mandatory for all participants.

Insurance should include, where relevant:

- scuba-diving activities to the planned depth
- emergency medical treatment
- hyperbaric treatment
- medical evacuation
- trip cancellation
- trip interruption
- lost or damaged equipment
- delayed or cancelled transport
- personal liability

Participants are responsible for checking that their policy is suitable for the expedition.

15. Travel Documents and Personal Arrangements

Participants are responsible for arranging and checking their own:

- passport
- visas
- vaccinations
- health requirements
- international or domestic flights
- travel insurance
- diving insurance
- onward travel
- personal equipment

AquaMatt is not responsible for losses caused by missing, expired or incorrect travel documents.

16. Transport and Meeting Points

Included transfers may collect and return participants at King Shaka International Airport or at a pre-arranged location within the Durban or Ballito area.

Exact collection and drop-off details must be agreed with AquaMatt before the expedition.

Transport outside the agreed collection area or schedule may require an additional charge.

Participants must provide accurate arrival, departure and accommodation details within the requested timeframe.

17. Accommodation

The standard package is based on shared twin or double accommodation.

Room configurations remain subject to accommodation availability.

A private room may be requested for an additional supplement but is not guaranteed until confirmed in writing.

Participants may be responsible for costs arising from damage caused to accommodation or its contents.

18. Included and Excluded Services

The services included in each expedition are those expressly listed on the relevant expedition page, booking confirmation or invoice.

Unless expressly included, the participant remains responsible for items such as:

- international or domestic flights
- personal diving equipment and rental
- Nitrox
- meals not specifically listed
- visas
- insurance
- optional activities
- personal expenses
- gratuities
- private-room supplements
- training and certification fees

Where website information and a written booking confirmation differ, the written booking confirmation will take precedence.

19. Wildlife and Environmental Conditions

AquaMatt does not guarantee sightings of sharks, rays, chimaeras or any other wildlife.

Wildlife encounters depend on natural behaviour, season, weather, ocean conditions and chance.

Participants must not touch, chase, feed, harass or interfere with wildlife unless specifically directed as part of an authorised activity conducted by the responsible local operator.

20. Photography and Media

AquaMatt may take photographs or video during expeditions.

A participant’s image will not be used for commercial promotional purposes without an appropriate legal basis or consent where required.

Participants should notify AquaMatt before departure if they do not wish to appear in general group photographs or expedition content.

Personal photography and filming must not interfere with safety, wildlife or the experience of other guests.

21. Third-Party Suppliers

AquaMatt works with independent dive operators, instructors, accommodation providers, transport providers and activity providers.

These suppliers may apply their own safety procedures and terms.

While AquaMatt selects and coordinates suppliers with care, it does not directly control every action, decision or service provided by an independent supplier.

Nothing in these Terms excludes any responsibility that cannot legally be excluded.

22. Responsibility and Risk

Scuba diving, boating, road transport, wildlife activities and outdoor travel involve inherent risks.

Participants acknowledge that conditions may be unpredictable and that personal injury, illness, property damage, delay or disruption may occur.

Each participant remains responsible for acting within their certification, experience, health and comfort level.

AquaMatt will not be liable for indirect or consequential loss except where liability cannot lawfully be excluded or limited.

These Terms do not remove any rights or remedies available under applicable South African consumer law.

23. Force Majeure

AquaMatt will not be responsible for failure or delay caused by events beyond its reasonable control, including severe weather, natural disasters, epidemics, government restrictions, border closures, civil unrest, strikes, transport disruption, supplier failure or other exceptional circumstances.

Where such an event occurs, AquaMatt will make reasonable efforts to provide information and explore practical alternatives.

24. Intellectual Property

Unless otherwise stated, the text, branding, photographs, video and other content on the AquaMatt website are owned by or licensed to AquaMatt.

Website content may not be copied, reproduced, republished, sold or used commercially without written permission.

Sharing links to publicly available AquaMatt pages is permitted.

25. Privacy

Personal information is processed in accordance with the AquaMatt Privacy Policy.

The Privacy Policy should be read together with these Terms & Conditions.

Create a clickable internal link on the words “Privacy Policy” leading to the existing Privacy Policy page.

26. External Links

The website may include links to third-party websites or social-media platforms.

AquaMatt is not responsible for the availability, accuracy, security or privacy practices of external websites.

27. Governing Law

These Terms & Conditions are governed by the laws of the Republic of South Africa.

Any dispute will be handled by a South African court or other competent dispute-resolution body, subject to any rights available to consumers under applicable law.

28. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions will continue to apply.

29. Changes to These Terms

AquaMatt may update these Terms & Conditions when its services, website, suppliers, legal obligations or business practices change.

The current version will be published on this page with its most recent update date.

30. Contact Us

Questions about these Terms & Conditions may be sent to:

AquaMatt (Pty) Ltd
4 Kings Way
Pinelands
Cape Town
South Africa

Email: matt@aquamattdiving.com
Telephone and WhatsApp: +27 81 046 3952