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Booking Terms and Cancellation Policy
Please read these Terms and Conditions carefully before booking. By confirming a booking with Ocean Eco Adventures, you acknowledge and accept the following terms.
1. General Booking Terms
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A non-refundable 20% deposit is required to confirm and secure your booking.
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Full payment is due no later than 14 days prior to departure, unless otherwise agreed in writing.
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Bookings made within 14 days of departure require full payment at the time of booking.
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Tour prices are confirmed at the time of booking. Promotional offers or discounts cannot be applied retrospectively.
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Bookings are subject to availability, weather, operational requirements, marine park access, and minimum passenger numbers.
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Bookings are not transferable to another person without prior written approval from Ocean Eco Adventures.
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Credit card processing fees and third-party merchant charges (paid prior to 1st October 2026) are non-refundable in the event of cancellation by either party.
2. Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend guests consider purchasing comprehensive travel insurance through a third party, covering cancellation, medical events, weather disruption, and unforeseen travel changes affecting guests ability to join their booked tour.
3. If You Cancel Your Booking
All guest cancellations/transfers must be provided in writing by email.
Standard Guest Cancellation Terms
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More than 14 days before departure: 20% deposit retained.
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14 days to 72 hours before departure: 50% of total booking value may be retained.
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Within 72 hours of departure or no-show: up to 100% of total booking value may be retained.
These amounts reflect reserved capacity on small-group tours, staffing commitments, vessel scheduling, administration, catering, permits, and the limited ability to refill cancelled spaces at short notice.
4. If We Cancel or Change a Tour
We may cancel, delay, shorten, substitute, or reschedule a tour where reasonably necessary for safety or operational reasons, including but not limited to:
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Unsafe weather or sea conditions
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Mechanical or vessel issues
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Crew illness or unavailability
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Port, ramp, or marine access restrictions
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Government directions or regulatory requirements
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Natural disasters or severe environmental events
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Public safety concerns
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Minimum numbers not being met
Where this occurs, we will offer one of the following remedies as appropriate:
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Reschedule to another available date
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Credit for future travel
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Full refund of applicable tour cost paid
5. Natural Disasters & Force Majeure Events
Events outside reasonable control may affect our tour operations. These include, but are not limited to:
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Cyclones, flooding, bushfires, earthquakes
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Pandemics or health emergencies
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Government closures or travel restrictions
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Port closures or infrastructure damage
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Other severe natural or emergency events
Where such events do not prevent operations, the 20% deposit remains non-refundable. However, Ocean Eco Adventures will work with guests in good faith to offer a rebooking or credit valid for three (3) years.
6. Nature of Marine Tours
Our tours operate in a remote marine environment where weather, sea state, wildlife movement, safety requirements, vessel operations, and government directives may affect schedules or delivery. Wildlife sightings cannot be guaranteed, unless specifically stated under an applicable no-sighting policy for that tour.
7. Third-Party Bookings
If you booked through a travel agent, online agency, or other third party, their cancellation and refund terms may also apply. No Ocean Eco Adventures promotions or discount can be applied to agent booking. Please contact your original booking provider for any booking amendments.
8. Australian Consumer Law
Nothing in these Terms and Conditions excludes, restricts, or modifies any rights or remedies you may have under Australian Consumer Law.
9. Gift Vouchers
All Gift Vouchers are non-refundable, non-transferable and are valid for three years from the purchase date.
Tour Specific Policies
Whale Shark Discovery No Sighting Policy Ocean Eco Adventures realises that many of its customers travel significant distances at considerable cost to participate in its tours. In recognition of this, we offer one complimentary repeat tour* on the next available day. Seats on repeat tours are allocated on a first in first served basis and as such it may take several days for a place to become available. If you can’t get a place on a repeat tour in the time you are in the location or if you prefer, we will issue you a repeat tour voucher that is valid for three years from the date of issue*. *Conditions Apply - No Sighting Policy only applies in peak season 1st April - 20th July - All tours are subject to availability, weather and minimum numbers - The repeat is offered to Whale Shark swimming seats only (not observers). - The repeat voucher is valid for one tour only and is non-transferable. - Government fees and charges apply after the first year. In-Water Safety Policy – Protective Swimwear To ensure the safety of all guests and crew during in-water activities on the Ningaloo Reef, it is company policy that all individuals must be fully covered while in the water. This is a precautionary measure to protect against jellyfish stings and is considered essential Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for our tours. All customers and crew will be provided with lycra suits and/or wetsuits, which must be worn during all in-water activities. Alternatively, individuals may choose to wear their own suits, provided they offer full coverage from wrist to ankle. Minor Supervision Policy An adult must accompany any passenger under the age of 12 at all times, this includes all in-water activities. Children under the age of 12 are not permitted to be left on the vessel unaccompanied, this includes when an in-water activity is taking place. This may mean it is necessary for adults to take turns in the water if a minor wishes to remain on-board.
Sunset Whale Watch No Sighting Policy Ocean Eco Adventures realises that many of its customers travel significant distances at considerable cost to participate in its tours. In recognition of this, we offer one complimentary repeat tour* on the next available day. Seats on repeat tours are allocated on a first in first served basis and as such it may take several days for a place to become available. If you can’t get a place on a repeat tour in the time you are in the location or if you prefer, we will issue you a repeat tour voucher that is valid for three years from the date of issue*. *Conditions Apply - All tours are subject to availability, weather and minimum numbers. - The repeat voucher is valid for one tour only and in non-transferable. - Government fees and charges apply after the first year. Minor Supervision Policy An adult must accompany any child under age 12, within arms reach, at all times. Children under 12 are not permitted to be left on the vessel unaccompanied.
Coral Bay Exclusive Ocean Eco Adventures offers a No Sighting Policy for our seasonal, dedicated wildlife interaction tours: For these tours, if the target wildlife is not sighted, our standard rebooking or repeat voucher policy applies. Please note that this policy does not apply to our Coral Bay Exclusive & Coral Bay Unplugged tours. On the Coral Bay Exclusive Tour, we do not offer a refund or repeat voucher if Manta Rays are not sighted or interacted with. While Coral Bay is home to a resident population of Manta Rays and encounters are highly likely, there are rare occasions where conditions prevent us from finding or swimming with them. We strongly believe the Coral Bay Exclusive & Coral Bay Unplugged tours offers the very best opportunity to see and interact with Manta Rays on the Ningaloo Reef. However, these tours do not focus solely on Manta Rays. They are designed as a “Best of Southern Ningaloo Reef” experience, with an emphasis on discovering and interacting with a wide variety of marine life. Manta Rays remain a highlight of the day whenever proximity and prevailing weather conditions allow. In-Water Safety Policy – Protective Swimwear To ensure the safety of all guests and crew during in-water activities on the Ningaloo Reef, it is company policy that all individuals must be fully covered while in the water. This is a precautionary measure to protect against jellyfish stings and is considered essential Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for our tours. All customers and crew will be provided with lycra suits and/or wetsuits, which must be worn during all in-water activities. Alternatively, individuals may choose to wear their own suits, provided they offer full coverage from wrist to ankle. Minor Supervision Policy An adult must accompany any passenger under the age of 12 at all times, this includes all in-water activities. Children under the age of 12 are not permitted to be left on the vessel unaccompanied, this includes when an in-water activity is taking place. This may mean it is necessary for adults to take turns in the water if a minor wishes to remain on-board.
Coral Bay Unplugged Ocean Eco Adventures offers a No Sighting Policy for our seasonal, dedicated wildlife interaction tours: For these tours, if the target wildlife is not sighted, our standard rebooking or repeat voucher policy applies. Please note that this policy does not apply to our Coral Bay Exclusive & Coral Bay Unplugged tours. On the Coral Bay Exclusive Tour, we do not offer a refund or repeat voucher if Manta Rays are not sighted or interacted with. While Coral Bay is home to a resident population of Manta Rays and encounters are highly likely, there are rare occasions where conditions prevent us from finding or swimming with them. We strongly believe the Coral Bay Exclusive & Coral Bay Unplugged tours offers the very best opportunity to see and interact with Manta Rays on the Ningaloo Reef. However, these tours do not focus solely on Manta Rays. They are designed as a “Best of Southern Ningaloo Reef” experience, with an emphasis on discovering and interacting with a wide variety of marine life. Manta Rays remain a highlight of the day whenever proximity and prevailing weather conditions allow. In-Water Safety Policy – Protective Swimwear To ensure the safety of all guests and crew during in-water activities on the Ningaloo Reef, it is company policy that all individuals must be fully covered while in the water. This is a precautionary measure to protect against jellyfish stings and is considered essential Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for our tours. All customers and crew will be provided with lycra suits and/or wetsuits, which must be worn during all in-water activities. Alternatively, individuals may choose to wear their own suits, provided they offer full coverage from wrist to ankle. Minor Supervision Policy An adult must accompany any passenger under the age of 12 at all times, this includes all in-water activities. Children under the age of 12 are not permitted to be left on the vessel unaccompanied, this includes when an in-water activity is taking place. This may mean it is necessary for adults to take turns in the water if a minor wishes to remain on-board.