Sea All Dolphin Swims

General Terms and Conditions for Sea All Dolphin Swims
Sea All Dolphin Swims & Great Ocean Road Surf Tours - Booking Terms & Conditions - General Public

Confirmation: All tours must be confirmed during office hours no less than 24hrs prior to departure. If you have not heard from us please contact us as it means we have not been able to contact you!

Deposits: 100% deposit is required at the time of booking to reserve a place on this activity. If you have a gift voucher or have booked in via another agency or reseller - Red Balloon GoDo RACV eXcapades Adventures Today or Freeman X voucher etc - you will need to bring proof of this purchase on the day.

Check in Times: Because our tours are operated on a precise schedule and involve introductory preparation arrival on time is essential. Check in times will be advised when you re-confirm 24-48 hours before departure. In fairness to our other guests the vessel and lessons will not be held for you if you fail to report by your scheduled check in time and you will forfeit your booking fare (or in the event of a large group booking your trip/tour will be shortened). If for some reason you cannot make the allotted check-in time please advise our office by telephone (5258 3889) to prevent cancellation of your booking.

If in doubt about how long it takes to get to Queenscliff please leave early! Please visit www.dolphinswims.com.au for location details or print out the “Where to find us” document. Please note that if you’re booked in for an afternoon trip in January you may need a little more time to find a car park – it can get very busy.

Cancellations: Cancellation of any booking less than 48hrs prior to departure will be charged full fare. Cancellations of group bookings less than 5 days prior to departure will be charged 50% of full fare. Refunds (minus 10% booking fee) or transfers to another tour will be issued only when a tour is cancelled due to the following:
Environmental Levy: When booking a tour a $5 environmental levy is added to your booking per person. This levy contributes to the not for profit organisation Southern Ocean Environmental Link. The Environmental Levy is non-refundable.
This levy allows projects to be funded that contribute to the sustainability of the ocean and environment we operate in which will allow us to continue to offer this unique experiences for generations to come we thank you for contributing to this.

• Sea All Dolphin Swims/Great Ocean Road Surf Tours regards the weather conditions as unsafe.
• We do not reach the minimum number of guests necessary for the trip to go ahead (generally 10 passengers minimum for boat trips and 3 passengers minimum for surf experiences)
• Unforeseen circumstances outside Sea All Dolphin Swims and Great Ocean Road Surf Tours’ control.

Refunds:

• If a refund is requested prior to 48 hours before departure Sea All Dolphin Swims/Great Ocean Road Surf Tours are happy to do so but a 10% processing fee will be withheld. If a tour is voluntarily cancelled by Sea All Dolphin Swims/Great Ocean Road Surf Tours this fee will also be imposed.
• Please note that Gift Vouchers are not redeemable for cash.
• Please note that if you have booked through another agency (i.e. GoDo RACV eXcapades Red Balloon); we are unable to issue a refund as part of our agency agreement. In the event that you require a refund you will have to contact that agency directly.

Weather: All tours are subject to weather conditions - unsafe wind / sea conditions may result in the cancellation of the tour. You will be notified as soon as that decision is made. Please note that rainy or overcast conditions are not unsafe and in most circumstances are the ideal conditions for viewing wildlife or hitting up the waves. If you have any concerns about the weather please call our office on +613 5258 3889 prior to leaving home for an onsite weather report (bear in mind our office hours are from 10-4pm).

Wildlife: Whilst we do our best to find the wild dolphins there is no guarantee of sightings on every cruise – these dolphins are wild animals in their natural environment. In some cases when sighting dolphins Sea All Dolphin Swims reserves the right to refuse the swim if it risks adversely impacting the dolphins (i.e. when very young calves are present or when dolphins are showing signs of stress). We will make every effort to provide the best possible wildlife experience on the day however please be aware that there are no guarantees or refunds in the event of not finding any of the species advertised on our website or through our brochures. When working with these animals we are bound by both Regulations and a Code of Conduct and must operate within these parameters at all times. For more information please refer to www.dse.vic.gov.au

Permit regulations:

(1) In addition to the conditions set out in regulation 28 for the purposes of section 83H of the Act the following are prescribed conditions for a whale swim tour permit—

(a) the permit holder must not conduct a whale swim within a whale sanctuary zone;
(b) the permit holder must ensure that the tour vessel does not approach within 100 metres of a whale more than—
(i) 5 times each whale swim tour; and
(ii) 10 times each day;
(c) the permit holder must not conduct a whale swim if a calf is present;
(d) the permit holder must not conduct a whale swim if signs of mating are detected;
Examples
The following are signs of mating—
(a) jaw clicks;
(b) fin or tail slaps;
(c) visible penises;
(d) aggressive behaviour such as repeated tail slaps;
(e) belly to belly contact;
(f) female swimming upside down and pursued by males;
(g) flanking behaviour observed being 3 or more dolphins in close contact side-by-side exhibiting increased surface activity.
(e) the permit holder must conduct no more than one whale swim for each approach within the caution zone of a whale;
(f) the permit holder must ensure that a mermaid line is placed in the water before any person enters the water from the tour vessel;
(g) the permit holder must ensure that each person who takes part in a whale swim tour from the tour vessel who is not the permit holder or an employee of the permit holder holds onto the mermaid line at all times while each person is in the water;
(h) while in the water for any purpose—
(i) the permit holder must remain within 10 metres of the mermaid line; and
(ii) the permit holder must not approach a whale from head on or from directly behind; and
(iii) the permit holder must not approach a whale from above or from underneath;
(i) the permit holder must ensure that an employee of the permit holder while in the water for any purpose—
(i) remains within 10 metres of the mermaid line; and
(ii) does not approach a whale from head on or from directly behind; and
(iii) does not approach a whale from above or from underneath;
(j) the permit holder must ensure that the tour vessel is not repositioned during a whale swim;
(k) the permit holder must ensure that the tour vessel is in a neutral gear at all times during a whale swim except where it is necessary to avoid damage or prevent further damage to person or property;
(l) the permit holder must not tow swimmers during a whale swim;
(m) at a distance of less than 30 metres from a whale the permit holder must not enter the water from the tour vessel;
(n) at a distance of less than 30 metres from a whale the permit holder must ensure that no person enters the water from the tour vessel;
(o) the permit holder must ensure that no more than 10 persons not including the permit holder or an employee of the permit holder participate in a whale swim at any one time;
(p) the permit holder must not attempt to attract or herd a whale towards the tour vessel or a person;
(q) the permit holder must ensure than an employee of the permit holder does not attempt to attract or herd a whale towards the vessel or a person;
(r) the permit holder must ensure that if a whale swim has commenced and a calf is detected—
(i) all persons involved in the whale swim immediately reboard the tour vessel;
and
(ii) the tour vessel remains in neutral gear until the calf is at least—
(A) 100 metres from the vessel for a dolphin calf; or
(B) 200 metres from the vessel for a non-dolphin whale calf;
(s) the permit holder must ensure that if a whale swim has commenced and signs of mating are detected—
(i) all persons involved in the whale swim immediately reboard the tour vessel;
and
(ii) the tour vessel remains in neutral gear until the mating activity is at least—
(A) 100 metres from the vessel for a dolphin; or
(B) 200 metres from the vessel for a non-dolphin whale;
(t) the permit holder must ensure that a person who participates in a whale swim from the tour vessel does not use underwater breathing equipment other than a snorkel while the person is in the water;
(u) the permit holder must ensure that at the end of a whale swim the mermaid line is retrieved immediately and the tour vessel withdraws outside the caution zone of the whale.

(2) Subregulation (1)(j) (k) and (l) do not apply in an emergency if human lives are threatened.

Refreshments: Fresh water is available on board and Sea All Dolphin Swims provides light refreshments in the form of hot and cold drinks fresh fruit and biscuits.
There is no evidence that COVID-19 can be contracted through food or food packaging. This aligns with current advice from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and other international and food safety authorities and both Australian & New Zealand Governments. Sea All Dolphin Swims has created and implemented a COVID-19 management plan to ensure all measurements possible are taken to ensure your safety and is aligned with current laws and regulations by both Government and health organisations.
However please be advised that if you choose to consume any food or beverages on our tour you do so at your own risk and Sea All Dolphin Swims does not take any responsibility if you contract an illness through consumption of food or beverages given on tour.
Sunscreen is also provided. Full day and Multi-Day Surf Tours include lunch a drink and snacks.

Disabilities: If there are persons in your group with any disability or concerns please don’t hesitate in contacting our office prior to the trip/lesson and our friendly instructors will do all they can to make their cruise or surf lesson a wonderful experience. Prior warning is appreciated. Sea All has a small range of prescription masks available for those with poor eyesight.

Children: Whether on board the boat or in the water a parent must remain with any child under 5 years of age at all times. Our staff are very experienced with children but are not babysitters! Prams and pushers are not recommended.
(Contact our office if necessary on 03 5258 3889).
Any child under the age of 12 participating in a surf lesson or tour must remain with a parent at all times also.

Sea Sickness: If there is anyone in your group prone to sea sickness or car sickness we recommend that after checking with their pharmacist that they take some form of motion sickness remedy before departure. For safety and legal reasons Sea All Dolphin Swims staff will not administer any form of medication on the cruise.

Purchases: Sea All Dolphin Swims/Great ocean Road Surf Tours hires underwater GoPro cameras. We also sell SD cards. To find out more about these services or to book a GoPro camera in advance – please call the office on 03 5258 3889. We strongly recommend booking the GoPro’s as we only have a limited number available and they are very popular.

What to Bring:
• Change rooms and hot showers are provided but we recommend that you wear your bathers / swimmers / trunks to the harbour to save as much time as possible. We also suggest as a minimum you bring a thick beach towel(s) wind jacket (if windy) sunglasses sun hat (if sunny) and your cameras.
• Dry storage space on the boat is limited so a compact carry bag is recommended.
• Asthma inhalers and any personal medications should also be brought with you.
• If you have your own mask and snorkel and are comfortable using this then you are more than welcome to bring it along.
• Upon booking you will receive by email a copy of our Passenger Safety Form – this must be filled out with your details and handed to staff at the beginning of the trip.
• We are a recycle drop-off point for the following items: batteries old mobile phones printer cartridges and corks. If you have any of these lying around we would be more than happy to help you recycle them!

Please don’t bring:

• Weightbelts: As a part of our dedication to maintaining a safe activity we do not permit the use of weightbelts with our service.
• Surfing wetsuits: (for a dolphin tour) we prefer our guests to wear our 5mm wetsuits.
• Unsafe footwear. High heels are not allowed to be worn aboard the boat.
• Long fingernails: Please be aware that long fingernails are not suitable to a marine / boating environment and are prone to breakage.
• Lots of luggage as we do not have room on the boat to stow it.

Right to Change: Sea All Dolphin Swims and Great Ocean Road Surf Tours reserves the right to make changes modifications additions deletions and corrections to our website and brochure information at any time without notice.

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Please call the office anytime between 10am and 4pm with any further questions or requests on +613 5258 3889

Thankyou - we look forward to meeting you!

The team at Sea All Dolphin Swims & Great Ocean Road Surf Tours