To consider before booking
Special requests:
Please communicate any special requests when you make your reservation. This will help us accommodate you better.
Dive experience and certification:
When you book your dive tour, please let us know your level of dive experience and certification. This will help us group you with similar divers and visit appropriate dive sites.
Be prepared as a diver:
If you haven’t been diving for a while, let the shop know you’d like to do a refresher course — it is recommended after six months of diving inactivity.
It’s much safer to practice your skills in six feet of water rather than realizing you’ve forgotten them on an 80-foot dive.
Consider hiring a private dive trip if you have children or apprehensive beginners in the group.
Plan ahead:
Short notice cancellations and no-shows can impact everyone.
Bringing documentation:
Please bring your certification cards, reservation ticket, and/or confirmation emails with you when you dive. This will help us verify your information and avoid any delays.
Keep in mind:
Please keep a flexible mindset when booking a dive. The weather may not always cooperate but the dive shop will do our best to accommodate you.
Assessing Water Conditions:
Whether your experience is good or bad is often determined before you even enter the water.
Weather is the most important consideration in evaluating diving conditions because it impacts conditions both above and below the water.
In fact, few other leisure activities are as much at the mercy of the weather as diving. But to properly evaluate weather conditions and their suitability for diving.
Currents & Wind
• Most of the dive sites are well protected against oceanic currents, wind and rough seas.
• Mild to moderate currents are common in the Underwater Reserve during effect of the moon, but very strong in the Pacific Ocean, please listen and follow your guides instructions to avoid engaging in the areas where currents are common.
• Marietas Islands, Chimo, El Morro, Los Anegados, Las Iglesias and La Corbeteña may present strong currents and winds, the dive master will consider the weather conditions at all times and may detour to next dive site available if necessary, safety comes first and this issue is not open for discussions.
• The dive master will decide on the optional dive site, Chico's Dive Shop does not keep a weather warranty and the customer agrees on these safety procedures and any changes in the itinerary.
• Drift diving is available to advanced divers only.
• Weather conditions are unpredictable and weather reports are not accurate enough; Chico's Dive Shop offers no warranty and no refunds if weather conditions delay, interrupt, detour or prolong the tour in any way.
Tropical Season
• The rain season in Vallarta is the best time of the year for us… it feels refreshing to walk under the rain, we do not hide or run away from the rain in Vallarta, locals go for walks with the sole purpose to enjoy getting wet under the rain. The tropical jungle comes alive with different shades of greens and something happens while you are diving or snorkeling under the rain… it is different and unique!
• From June 15th to October 15th we experience our rain season.
• Most of the rain fall occurs during the late afternoons and/or over night, sometimes the rain will last until next morning and most of the times the sun will break trough the clouds around 9.30am.
• The rain will not stop us from going diving and/or snorkeling.
• Odd enough the rain season in Vallarta brings the best conditions for diving, the water is warm and visibility is best.
• Rain over the ocean does not affect visibility.
• Rain 15 miles inland will cause the rivers to discharge directly in the ocean and will affect visibility.
• We have several rivers flowing into the bay and they are located in different zones of the bay.
• The Ameca River will affect the Marietas islands
• The Cuale River does not affect any of the dive sites
• The Mismaloya River will affect Los Arcos
• The Tomatlan (Boca) River will affect Caletas
• The Quimixto River will affect Caletas
• The Yelapa River does not affect any of the dive sites
• Chico's Dive Shop will use its best judging criteria to modify extent or shorten the dive/snorkel tour due to rainfall conditions.
• Chico's Dive Shop offers no warranty and no refunds if weather conditions delay, interrupt, detour or prolong the tour in any way.
• In the unlikely case of a tropical storm involving heavy rain and/or lightning keeps us from starting the tour, Chico's Dive Shop will postpone the diving and/or snorkeling to a future day. In any case the customer is unavailable to reschedule, 75 % refund will apply every time.
Jelly Fish
• Shifting currents carry a number of jelly fish species during the 2 weeks between May and June and the 2 weeks between November and December.
• Most of the times we are able to find specific sites to avoid the jelly fish but sometimes we have no choice but to share the reef with these misunderstood sea creatures.
• We consider ourselves lucky enough because the species of jelly fish that visit our bay have mild toxin cells, some people will result on a light itch while others will cause minor rash on the skin… We carry vinegar on board to reduce some of the symptoms.
• Jelly fish are carried by oceanic currents; this may vary in strength and direction at any given moment.
• Jelly fish are slow swimmers and we just happen to swim in their path.
• Swim slowly and check your surroundings (2 to 3 feet ahead of you) the palm of your hand will not feel the stinging cells of the jelly fish, you may safely push them apart with the palm of your hand as you swim. Wearing a t-shirt is recommended in all cases.
• Chico's Dive Shop is not responsible for the presence of jelly fish we may encounter in the snorkeling and diving designated area(s).
• Jelly fish is part of the wildlife and are found in all the oceans and seas of the world… our insurance company does not cover jelly fish medic treatment or any other wild life misadventures.
Terms and Conditions
*These terms and conditions are subject to change without notice.
If you reserve space on our boat, we guarantee you will dive, provided the port is open.
A 25% deposit is required to book your diving reservation, which is due at the time the reservation is made. We accept cash, terminal & bank transfer.
The payment balance along with any additional charges are due before the day of diving, IN CASH either in USD or in Mexican pesos.
The 25% deposit is fully refundable with minnimum 96Hrs advanced cancellation notice. Cancellations made with less than that time's notice will not be refunded. Deposits are forfeited for all other no-shows.
We require 24-hour advance notice for cancellations and/or changes to your diving schedule. No show and/or failure to give sufficient notice will result in no refunds and you will be charged the full daily rate.
Sickness & no-shows: Unfortunately, it is not uncommon to become sick due to eating different foods, drinking non-bottled water, drinking too much alcohol, seasickness, and just getting too much sun. We want all our divers to enjoy themselves both below and above the water; however, if you become sick, we need 24 hours’ notice of any cancellation and/or changes to your dive schedule to avoid that you will be charged the full daily rate. All it takes is a phone call or a message.
Although diving is a very safe sport, diving accidents can happen. In the unlikely event that you suffer a dive-related injury that requires medical attention and the medical team consider you to be unable to dive, you will receive a full refund for any prepaid dive days that you have not used.
Missing the boat: If you are going to be late, please contact us on WhatsApp as soon as you realize you’re going to arrive late and we’ll either wait for you at the pier or tell you where to meet the boat if we have other divers waiting for their scheduled pick up. If we do not receive notice of your late arrival, we reserve the right to leave without you and you will be charged the full daily rate.
If the port is closed to boats and we are unable to make the trip, you will receive a full refund or, if your schedule permits, we will change pre-paid dive days for any days missed due to the port being closed.
If the weather is less than perfect but the port is open, you will be expected to respect your booking. In case you decide not to dive, we will not be able to refund you. We always carefully respect the port captain’s recommandations and put our customers’ safety first.
Hurricanes: The hurricane season runs from June through October in the Bay, with the summer months being the most active. Hurricanes are an act of nature and as such beyond our control. We will do whatever we can to minimize the financial impact on our divers by re-scheduling trips and missed dive days; however, we cannot guarantee any refunds in the event of a catastrophic weather event such as a hurricane.
If, for any reason, you decide not to make all the dives on any particular day we cannot provide a partial refund.
All training courses are to be paid in full prior to the start of the training to reserve the instructor. If, for any reason, you decide not to complete the training, no refund will be made. If you require additional training to meet the minimum requirements, we reserve the right to charge for these additional days.
EN
SP 
