Booking Policies

Kona Diving Company has a 48-hour cancellation policy for most bookings.

Cancellation requests communicated via phone or email at least 48 hours in advance of the charter will be refunded without penalty. Cancellations made within 48 hours of your scheduled charter are subject to the full cost of the booking. If the cancellation is made within our 48 hour window, but we are able to rebook your reservation, we are happy to refund you any recouped costs. If we are within 48 hours of your scheduled charter and are unable to rebook your reservation, you are still responsible for the full cost of the booking.

Full refunds or credits will be issued if a charter is canceled by the operator due to prohibitive conditions or other unforeseen circumstances.

**The following reservations are subject to additional cancellation requirements**

– Reservations for charters during high season (December 20 to January 5) require 72 hour cancellation notice
– Reservations for private charters require 7 days cancellation notice
– Reservations for 6 or more passengers require 7 days cancellation notice
– Reservations for classes with a private instructor require 7 days cancellation notice
– Reservations for a private guide require 7 days cancellation notice

We understand that things happen; plans change, people get sick, unforeseen circumstances arise. We try to be as compassionate as possible if you need to make a last-minute cancellation. However, as a small-business, enforcing our cancellation policy helps us honor professional commitments made to our employees as well as other guests.

For your safety and the safety of our other guests, all passengers must be able to converse in English. We must be able to communicate with all guests, especially in the event of an emergency, and cannot make exceptions.

Any snorkelers under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times.

Any divers under age 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times. For certified divers 14 and older wishing to dive, but unable to have a guardian present, please contact us directly. Divers aged 10 and 11, are required to have a private guide for their party due to their unique depth restriction (40 ft.); there may be an additional charge for this service.

WEATHER & OTHER CANCELLATIONS

In the unfortunate event that we cannot operate a charter due to unsafe conditions, we will completely refund any payments. On the rare occasions when we simply do not have enough interest to make our boat go for a particular charter, we will try to move your booking to a different day or night. If that is not an option we will try to find space for you on another operator’s boat and you can rebook with them.

While our night dives offer one of the best changes in the world of seeing manta rays, it’s important to remember that manta rays are wild animals and come and go as they please. It’s one of the things that makes the experience so magical! While we see them more often than not, there are nights where the mantas do not show up at all. If the mantas give the site a miss on the night you are diving or snorkeling with us, we will invite you to come back and try again for a discounted rate within a 12 month period.

MEDICAL FOR STUDENTS AND CERTIFIED DIVERS

All students completing a class are required to complete a PADI medical questionnaire prior to starting any in-water training. If the answer to any of the listed questions is YES, please check with your doctor prior to your dive trip to make sure that diving is safe for you. Any questions with a YES answer require written approval from your physician clearing you to scuba dive.

Scuba diving requires a minimum level of health and fitness and these questions should also be reviewed periodically by all certified divers. If any medical situations have occurred since your last dive course including but not limited to mobility issues, chronic health conditions, certain medications and/or recent surgery, please talk to your doctor to make sure that it is safe for you to scuba dive and or what accommodations can be made to make scuba diving safer for you.

WAIVER FOR ALL CHARTERS

Each passenger intending to join us on our boats is required to sign a waiver prior to boarding the vessel (minors must have a parent or guardian present to sign with them). For our repeat guests who join us often, a new waiver is required at the beginning of each month.

CREDENTIALS FOR DIVERS

If you are diving, please be prepared to provide your certification credentials, either a physical certification card or eCard record. If you are planning to dive nitrox, please bring your nitrox certification card or be prepared to show your eCard record. If you are taking a training course with a certification prerequisite, please be prepared to show prerequisite certification (example: PADI Rescue Course has an Advanced Open Water prerequisite).

Even if you’ve recorded your certification number on a completed waiver, we are still required to verify your certification status by checking a physical certification card or eCard. If you can’t provide proof of your certification, please provide as much advance notice as possible. With notice, we may be able to verify your certification credentials by contacting the appropriate training agency.

All charters are subject to a tax of 7.712% (GET and Harbor Tax).

Tipping is custom in the SCUBA diving industry and gratuities are greatly appreciated by the crew. It is generally recommended to tip at least 20% of the cost of your charter.