AUM SCUBA – BOOKING TERMS & CONDITIONS
These Terms and Conditions apply to all bookings made with Aum Scuba Phuket (“Aum Scuba”, “we”, “us”, “our”).
By making a booking or payment to Aum Scuba you confirm that you have read, understood and agreed to these Terms and Conditions.
1. Role of Aum Scuba
Aum Scuba acts primarily as a booking agent for independent third-party service providers including but not limited to:
liveaboard vessels
dive boats
accommodation providers
transport providers
tour operators
national park authorities
These services are operated by independent suppliers.
Unless explicitly stated otherwise, Aum Scuba does not own, manage, control or operate vessels, accommodation, transport services or excursions.
Your contract for those services is with the relevant supplier or vessel operator, and their operational decisions are outside the control of Aum Scuba.
Aum Scuba accepts no responsibility for the acts, omissions, negligence or operational decisions of third-party suppliers.
2. Booking and Payment
A booking is made when:
You make a payment (deposit or full payment); and
Aum Scuba issues a booking confirmation.
Until confirmation is issued we reserve the right to decline the booking and refund any payment made.
You must check your booking confirmation carefully and notify us of any errors within five (5) working days.
Failure to notify us within this time may affect your ability to make corrections later.
Fuel Surcharge
We reserve the right to apply a fuel surcharge to any booking in the event of significant increases in fuel costs after the time of booking. Any such surcharge will be communicated to the customer in advance and must be paid prior to departure. If the customer chooses not to accept the surcharge, standard cancellation terms will apply.
3. Liveaboard Payment Terms
Cooling-Off Period
Liveaboard bookings include a 3-day cooling-off period.
During this period you may cancel and receive a full refund minus non-recoverable bank or payment processing fees.
Deposit
After the cooling-off period, a 20% deposit is required to secure the booking.
Balance Payment
The remaining balance must be paid 60 days before the scheduled departure date, unless otherwise specified in writing.
If the balance is not received by the due date we reserve the right to cancel the booking and retain the deposit. Any supplier cancellation penalties already incurred may also be charged.
For bookings made within 30 days of departure, full payment is required immediately.
4. Day Trips
Payment must be completed no later than 48 hours before departure.
Bookings made inside this window must be paid immediately.
5. Private Speedboat Charters
Private speedboat charters require full payment at the time of booking and no later than 14 days before departure.
6. National Park Fees
Some trips involve visiting marine national parks.
National park tickets:
are controlled by Thai government authorities
are limited in number
are non-refundable and non-transferable
Once park tickets have been purchased on your behalf their cost cannot be refunded.
If a booking is cancelled after park tickets are purchased, the cost of those tickets will be deducted from any refund.
7. Currency and Payment Processing
Payments may be accepted in Thai Baht or GBP.
Where another currency is used, conversion will be calculated using exchange rates from Wise at the time of booking.
Payment processing fees are the responsibility of the guest.
Credit card payments may incur a 4% processing fee.
8. Payment Disputes and Chargebacks
By making a payment to Aum Scuba Phuket, you confirm that you have read and accepted these Terms and Conditions.
You agree not to initiate a credit card chargeback or payment dispute for services that are subject to these agreed cancellation policies.
If a chargeback or payment dispute is initiated in violation of these Terms, Aum Scuba reserves the right to recover all associated costs including administrative fees, bank charges, legal expenses and any financial losses incurred.
9. Travel and Diving Insurance (Mandatory)
All guests must hold adequate diving and travel insurance.
Insurance must include cover for:
scuba diving to 40 metres or deeper if required
hyperbaric chamber treatment
medical evacuation
trip cancellation
personal accident
repatriation
Examples include:
Divers Alert Network
DiveAssure
Failure to obtain appropriate insurance does not transfer liability to Aum Scuba.
Participation in activities may be refused if adequate insurance is not held.
10. Health and Diving Fitness
Guests must ensure they are medically fit to participate in diving activities.
A medical questionnaire may be required.
If a dive operator determines that a guest:
does not meet experience requirements
appears medically unfit
poses a safety risk
participation may be refused.
No refunds will be provided in such cases.
11. Diving Certification Requirements
Guests must present proof of:
certification cards
recent dive experience
logbooks when required
The vessel dive crew has final authority regarding participation in dives.
12. Changes by the Guest
If you wish to change your booking you must notify us in writing.
Where changes are possible they may incur:
an administration fee of THB 2,000 per person
supplier amendment charges
Some bookings cannot be amended once confirmed.
13. Transfer of Booking
A booking may be transferred to another person provided:
we are notified at least 7 days before departure
the replacement meets all trip requirements
a transfer fee of THB 3,000 per person is paid
any supplier charges are paid
14. Cancellation by the Guest
All cancellations must be submitted in writing.
Liveaboard Cancellation Policy
60 days or more before departure
Full refund minus bank and processing fees.
31–59 days before departure
No refund but booking may be transferred to the next available departure (subject to operator approval).
30 days or less before departure
No refund and no rescheduling.
All refunds are subject to the refund policies of the vessel operator or supplier.
Where funds have already been transferred to suppliers, refunds will only be issued once those funds are returned to Aum Scuba.
15. Failure to Arrive
Guests are responsible for arriving at the departure point on time.
Failure to arrive due to:
airline delays
cancelled flights
visa problems
personal circumstances
will be treated as a guest cancellation.
No refund will be provided.
16. Events Beyond Our Control (Force Majeure)
Neither Aum Scuba nor its suppliers shall be liable for cancellations, delays, changes or inability to operate due to events beyond reasonable control.
These include but are not limited to:
war or threat of war
acts of terrorism
military conflict
civil unrest
closure of airspace
international sanctions
government travel bans or border closures
epidemics or pandemics
natural disasters
extreme weather conditions
port closures
vessel mechanical failure
fuel shortages
labour strikes
government regulations
In such circumstances:
alternative arrangements may be offered where possible
refunds are limited to funds recovered from suppliers
Aum Scuba shall not be responsible for additional costs such as flights, accommodation or transfers.
17. Changes or Cancellation by Aum Scuba
Minor changes may include:
change of vessel
change of dive sites
change of departure time under 12 hours
These changes do not entitle guests to compensation.
If a trip is cancelled by the supplier or operator we will offer:
an alternative trip
alternative dates
a refund of monies recovered from the supplier
Bank and payment processing fees are non-refundable.
18. Behaviour
Guests must behave responsibly.
If behaviour causes danger, disruption or damage, we may terminate participation immediately.
No refund will be issued.
19. Equipment Damage or Loss
Guests are responsible for any loss or damage to rented equipment.
Replacement costs may be charged.
20. Liability
To the fullest extent permitted by law:
Aum Scuba shall not be liable for any indirect, consequential or incidental losses.
Our maximum liability shall not exceed the total amount paid directly to Aum Scuba for the booking.
Aum Scuba accepts no liability for:
accidents or injuries occurring during activities
vessel operations
actions of third-party suppliers
diving related incidents
These matters fall under the responsibility of the relevant operator.
21. Complaints
Any complaint must first be raised with the vessel crew or trip leader during the trip.
If unresolved, complaints must be submitted in writing within 14 days of the end of the trip.
22. Governing Law
These Terms and Conditions are governed by the laws of Thailand.
Any dispute shall be subject exclusively to the jurisdiction of the courts of Thailand.
