Booking a trip with Dive With Frank means joining an adventure built on shared responsibility. We want everyone to have a great experience, both above and below the water. That starts with clear expectations about safety, preparation, respect for fellow divers, and the realities of dive travel.
These policies explain what participants can expect from Dive With Frank, LLC (DWF), and what we expect from everyone joining our adventures.
Trip Requirements & Booking Terms
Each DWF trip is different. Some are relaxed recreational dive vacations, while others involve deeper dives, challenging conditions, specific certifications, or specialized equipment.
Participants are responsible for reviewing the published trip description, eligibility requirements, included services, and applicable booking terms before registering.
Some resorts, charter operators, liveaboards, and other providers impose additional conditions. Requirements and booking terms specifically disclosed for an individual trip take precedence over corresponding provisions of this general policy.
Our Cancellation & Refund Policy explains the general rules for cancellations, credits, deposits, and refunds.
Minimum Group Size / Trip Viability
Some trips require a minimum number of participants to operate. If DWF cancels a trip because that minimum is not reached, participants will receive a full refund of amounts paid to DWF for that trip or, at their choice, a credit toward another DWF trip.
We will notify affected participants as soon as reasonably possible if a trip cannot proceed because of insufficient enrollment.
Unless expressly included in the DWF booking, independently purchased airfare, accommodations, transportation, and other travel expenses remain the participant’s responsibility.
Health & Fitness to Dive
All participants must be medically fit for their planned activities and possess the training, certifications, experience, and skills required for the trip.
For dive activities, participants are responsible for:
- Certification: Holding a valid certification appropriate for the planned dives and acceptable to the dive operator.
- Experience: Meeting any published minimum experience, recent diving, or specialty training requirements.
- Medical Readiness: Completing any required medical questionnaires and obtaining physician approval when indicated or otherwise required.
- Current Skills: Maintaining the skills and confidence necessary to dive safely under the anticipated conditions.
- Personal Limitations: Recognizing and communicating any limitations that may affect safe participation.
Some activities may require a refresher, checkout dive, or additional training before participation. These requirements will be identified when applicable or may be imposed by the local dive operator based on an assessment of current conditions and individual readiness.
DWF and participating dive operators may decline or discontinue an individual’s participation in a dive when there are reasonable safety concerns, including inadequate qualifications, medical restrictions, insufficient skills, or conditions beyond the diver’s demonstrated abilities.
If a participant cannot dive because they do not meet previously disclosed requirements, any refund or credit is governed by the applicable booking terms and Cancellation & Refund Policy.
Documentation & Travel Requirements
Travelers are responsible for ensuring they have the documents and approvals required for their destination, transportation, and planned activities.
Depending on the trip, these may include:
- Valid passports and any required visas or entry authorizations.
- Required travel, immigration, or health documentation.
- Scuba certification cards and proof of any required specialty training.
- Completed medical questionnaires, physician clearances, and operator-required forms.
- Any insurance coverage specifically required by the destination or independent operator.
- Other documentation identified in the trip information.
Passport validity requirements, entry rules, health requirements, and local regulations vary by destination and may change. Participants should verify the requirements applicable to their citizenship, travel itinerary, and personal circumstances well before departure.
DWF does not impose a universal travel insurance requirement. However, a destination or individual service provider may require specific insurance coverage as a condition of participation.
Failure to obtain necessary documentation or meet applicable entry and participation requirements may result in denied travel or participation. Refund eligibility is determined by the applicable cancellation and supplier terms.
No-Shows, Late Arrivals & Missed Departures
Participants are responsible for arriving at designated meeting points, transportation departures, and scheduled activities on time.
Flights, ferries, dive boats, and other transportation may operate on schedules that cannot be delayed for individual travelers.
If you miss a scheduled departure or activity because of personal circumstances, transportation delays, or other issues outside DWF’s control, refunds and credits are subject to the applicable booking and supplier terms.
Additional transportation, accommodations, rebooking charges, or other expenses necessary to rejoin a trip are generally the participant’s responsibility.
If something goes wrong while traveling, contact DWF and the affected operator as soon as practical. We’ll do our best to help identify available options, although replacement services or accommodations cannot be guaranteed.
Operators, Accommodations & Itinerary Changes
DWF works with independent charter operators, resorts, dive centers, liveaboards, and other service providers to deliver many of our trips.
Weather, sea conditions, equipment issues, facility availability, local restrictions, and safety concerns can require changes to planned activities.
DWF may make reasonable changes to dive schedules, sites, operators, accommodations, or other arrangements when necessary for safety or operational reasons. Where practical, we’ll work to provide a comparable or better experience.
Individual dives may be modified, postponed, or canceled by the responsible dive operator based on local conditions. No particular dive site, marine life encounter, underwater visibility, or weather condition can be guaranteed.
Changes to an individual dive or activity do not automatically constitute cancellation of the entire trip. Any refund, credit, or adjustment for affected services will be determined by the applicable booking and supplier terms.
Independent suppliers are responsible for operating the services under their control. DWF remains responsible for its own contractual commitments and obligations under applicable law.
Events Beyond Our Control
Some circumstances are simply outside anyone’s reasonable control. These can include hurricanes, severe weather, natural disasters, government restrictions, public health emergencies, political unrest, transportation interruptions, and other extraordinary events.
If an event beyond DWF’s reasonable control disrupts a trip, we’ll work with affected participants and suppliers to determine whether rescheduling, replacement services, credits, or refunds are available.
Refunds and financial obligations remain subject to the applicable booking terms, supplier conditions, and law. DWF cannot guarantee reimbursement of amounts retained by independent suppliers unless a more favorable commitment has been expressly made.
Because unexpected events can create substantial expenses, appropriate travel insurance is strongly recommended.
Unused Services & Activities
Once a trip has begun, participants generally will not receive refunds for included services they voluntarily choose not to use. These may include scheduled dives, meals, transportation, excursions, accommodations, or other included activities.
Choosing not to participate in a dive because of personal comfort, fatigue, seasickness, or other individual circumstances does not automatically create an entitlement to a refund.
However, when a provider cancels an activity or fails to deliver a contracted service, any applicable refunds, credits, or other remedies will be determined under the booking terms and applicable law.
Participants should notify DWF or the local operator promptly if a contracted service is unavailable or substantially different from what was promised, so we have an opportunity to address the concern.
Conduct & Safety
Great dive trips depend on people looking out for one another. All participants are expected to behave respectfully, follow safe diving practices, and comply with applicable laws, operator instructions, and safety briefings.
Participants agree to:
- Follow reasonable instructions from dive professionals, boat crews, guides, and other authorized personnel.
- Dive within the limits of their certification, training, experience, and personal comfort.
- Respect fellow participants, staff, local communities, and service providers.
- Refrain from harassment, threatening behavior, and disruptive conduct.
- Avoid diving while impaired by alcohol, recreational drugs, or any substance or condition that compromises safe participation.
- Use appropriate equipment and follow established buddy, gas-management, and dive-planning procedures.
- Report safety concerns or relevant equipment problems promptly.
Safety comes first. DWF and participating operators may refuse or discontinue an individual’s participation in an activity when their conduct or condition creates a reasonable safety concern.
Serious or repeated unsafe, threatening, or disruptive behavior may result in removal from remaining trip activities.
When removal results from the participant’s own misconduct, refunds for unused services are generally unavailable, subject to applicable booking terms and law. Any additional costs associated with alternate transportation or accommodations are ordinarily the participant’s responsibility.
Equipment & Personal Responsibility
Participants are responsible for bringing the equipment required for their planned activities, unless the trip description specifically includes rental or supplied equipment.
Personal diving equipment should be properly maintained, appropriate for the conditions, and in suitable working order.
Participants must follow the instructions and requirements applicable to any rented or borrowed equipment and report problems promptly.
Each participant is responsible for safeguarding personal belongings, including cameras, computers, dive equipment, travel documents, and other valuables.
Lost, damaged, or stolen property may be subject to the terms of the responsible service provider and any applicable insurance coverage. DWF’s responsibility, if any, is determined by its own obligations and applicable law.
Environmental Responsibility
DWF is committed to protecting the underwater environments we enjoy. We expect participants to demonstrate responsible diving practices and respect local conservation requirements.
That includes:
- Maintaining good buoyancy and avoiding unnecessary contact with reefs, wrecks, and sensitive habitats.
- Never touching, chasing, feeding, or harassing marine life.
- Not collecting marine organisms, artifacts, or natural souvenirs unless specifically permitted by law and authorized as part of the activity.
- Following local marine park rules, protected-area restrictions, and applicable environmental regulations.
- Managing equipment, fins, and accessories to prevent damage to the underwater environment.
- Properly disposing of waste and avoiding practices that contribute to marine pollution.
Some DWF activities, such as authorized oyster harvesting or conservation dives, may involve collecting or handling marine organisms under specific rules. These activities must follow applicable permits, regulations, and instructor or operator guidance.
Our philosophy is simple: enjoy the underwater world while leaving it in good condition for the divers who come after us.
Photo & Media Use
Photography and video are a natural part of many DWF trips. Images captured during an adventure may be shared in trip reports, on the DWF website, through social media, or in promotional materials.
Participants who do not wish to appear in DWF promotional photography or video should notify DWF before the trip begins, preferably in writing.
We’ll make reasonable efforts to respect these preferences when selecting and publishing material controlled by DWF.
This policy does not grant DWF ownership of photographs or videos taken by individual participants, nor does it control media independently captured or published by other travelers or service providers.
Any separate photo or media release signed by a participant will govern the permissions granted under that release.
Insurance & Personal Risk
Scuba diving and travel involve inherent risks, including injury, illness, transportation disruption, equipment problems, unexpected expenses, and limited access to emergency services in remote locations.
Participants are strongly encouraged to consider both:
- Dive Accident Insurance: Coverage designed for eligible diving-related injuries and associated medical or emergency expenses, subject to the policy’s terms.
- Travel Insurance: Coverage that may protect against eligible trip cancellations, interruptions, travel delays, medical emergencies, lost baggage, and other covered travel expenses.
Insurance is optional unless specifically required by a destination or independent provider. DWF does not automatically provide participants with individual travel, dive accident, medical, or evacuation insurance.
Participants who decline insurance remain responsible for losses and expenses that would otherwise have been covered by an applicable policy, subject to their booking agreements and applicable law.
Coverage varies considerably, and participants should review exclusions, limitations, eligible activities, and claim requirements with their insurance provider.
Learn more on our Dive & Travel Insurance page.
Waivers & Required Forms
Participants may be required to complete DWF participation documents, medical questionnaires, and applicable liability acknowledgments before joining a trip or activity.
Independent dive operators, resorts, charter providers, and other suppliers may require their own forms or releases.
These documents must be completed accurately and within any applicable deadlines. Failure to complete required documentation may prevent participation.
Our Dive With Frank Trip Waiver provides additional information about activity-specific risks and participant acknowledgments.
Participation in a trip does not replace the requirement to complete any separately required waiver or training documentation.
Questions, Concerns & Communication
If you have questions about trip requirements, medical readiness, certifications, accommodations, or any other participation concerns, please contact DWF before booking whenever possible.
If an issue develops during a trip, let us or the appropriate local operator know promptly. Early communication gives us the best opportunity to address problems before they affect the rest of your adventure.
You can reach us through Ask Frank.
Final Word
We’re all in this together. Good diving requires preparation, sound judgment, respect for the people around us, and a shared appreciation for the underwater world.
These policies aren’t intended to make travel complicated. They’re here to establish clear expectations so we can spend less time dealing with preventable problems and more time enjoying the adventure.
Dive safely, respect the ocean, look out for one another, and let’s go make some great memories.
