Terms and Conditions

By booking, purchasing, or participating in any trip, charter, or experience offered by SoCal Ocean Adventures, you agree to the following Terms & Conditions.

A reservation is not confirmed until the required deposit or full payment has been received.

For shared public trips, a $100 deposit per person is required at the time of booking unless otherwise stated. The remaining balance will be charged or collected before departure or on the day of the trip, depending on the booking terms provided at checkout.

For private charters, custom trips, or special events, payment terms may vary and will be provided at the time of booking.

Prices, availability, trip details, departure times, and itineraries are subject to change without notice.

Some trips require a minimum number of booked guests to operate. If the minimum is not met, SoCal Ocean Adventures reserves the right to reschedule the trip, offer an alternative date or experience, or issue a refund of amounts paid.

Cancellations made by guests must follow the cancellation terms shown at the time of booking.

Unless otherwise stated for a specific trip, the following policy applies:

• Cancellations made 7 days or more before departure may receive a full refund. 
• Cancellations made within 7 days of departure are non-refundable. 
• No-shows, late arrivals, or missed departures are non-refundable. 

Trips are planned in advance and involve vessel scheduling, staffing, fuel, permits, and operational costs. For that reason, last-minute cancellations may not be eligible for refund or rescheduling.

Safety is our top priority. All trips are subject to weather, ocean conditions, mechanical issues, Coast Guard restrictions, harbor conditions, and other factors outside our control.

SoCal Ocean Adventures reserves the right to cancel, delay, shorten, reroute, or modify any trip at any time for safety or operational reasons.

If we cancel a trip before departure due to weather, unsafe conditions, or other operational reasons, guests may be offered one of the following:

• rescheduling to another available date, 
• credit toward a future trip, 
• or a refund, at our discretion and subject to the specific circumstances of the trip. 

Once a trip has departed, route changes, shortened trips, substituted stops, or modified activities do not automatically qualify for a refund.

All advertised routes, destinations, swim stops, snorkel stops, cave swims, wildlife sightings, and Catalina landing plans are subject to conditions.

Ocean conditions, visibility, swell, wind, harbor traffic, time constraints, guest safety, and vessel operations may require changes to the day’s plan.

Examples:

• Cave swims may only be offered on select trips such as Two Harbors, and only when conditions allow. 
• Secluded cove snorkel stops may replace other water activities depending on location and safety. 
• Wildlife sightings, including dolphins, whales, sea lions, and other marine life, are never guaranteed. 

By participating, guests understand that flexibility is part of an ocean adventure experience.

Guests are responsible for determining whether they are physically, mentally, and medically fit to participate.

Some activities may involve:

• boat travel in open ocean, 
• getting wet, 
• climbing ladders, 
• swimming or snorkeling, 
• walking on docks, beaches, or uneven surfaces, 
• and exposure to sun, wind, swell, and changing marine conditions. 

Guests should not participate if they have a medical condition, injury, mobility issue, or other concern that may make participation unsafe for themselves or others.

Guests are responsible for notifying the crew in advance of any relevant medical conditions, limitations, or special needs.

The captain and crew have full authority over vessel operations and onboard safety decisions at all times.

Guests must follow all instructions from the captain and crew. SoCal Ocean Adventures reserves the right to deny boarding or remove any guest without refund if they:

• appear intoxicated or impaired, 
• act recklessly or unsafely, 
• harass staff or other guests, 
• refuse crew instructions, 
• bring prohibited items onboard, 
• or create a safety issue of any kind. 

We encourage fun, but safety comes first.

Alcohol policies may vary by trip, but excessive intoxication, illegal drugs, and unsafe behavior are strictly prohibited. No glass containers are allowed onboard. We reserve the right to confiscate prohibited items or deny participation to any guest whose behavior may affect safety or the experience of others.

No weapons, illegal substances, or hazardous materials are permitted onboard.

Guests are responsible for arriving on time and ready to board.

Recommended check-in and boarding times will be provided in advance. Boats operate on schedule and cannot always wait for late arrivals due to harbor rules, weather windows, and operational timing.

No refunds will be issued for missed departures caused by late arrival.

Ocean travel and marine recreation involve inherent risks, including but not limited to:

• slips, trips, and falls, 
• rough water and motion sickness, 
• changes in weather and sea state, 
• swimming-related risks, 
• contact with marine life, 
• equipment malfunction, 
• vessel movement, 
• and injury or illness arising from participation. 

By booking and participating, guests acknowledge and voluntarily assume these risks.

To the fullest extent permitted by law, guests agree that participation is at their own risk and release SoCal Ocean Adventures, its owners, operators, captains, crew, contractors, affiliates, and partners from claims arising out of or related to participation, except where caused by gross negligence or willful misconduct as prohibited by law.

Guests may also be required to sign a separate liability waiver before departure.

Guests are responsible for their own personal items, including phones, cameras, bags, clothing, valuables, and equipment.

SoCal Ocean Adventures is not responsible for lost, stolen, wet, or damaged property.

By participating, guests grant SoCal Ocean Adventures permission to capture and use photos or videos taken during the trip for marketing, social media, website, and promotional purposes unless the guest notifies us in writing before departure.

If you want, this can also be changed to opt-in only instead of automatic permission.

Some trips may include recommendations, stops, or optional activities operated by third parties, including island vendors, restaurants, snorkel rentals, tours, or attractions.

SoCal Ocean Adventures is not responsible for the acts, services, cancellations, pricing, policies, or safety practices of third-party operators.

We reserve the right to substitute vessels, modify schedules, update pricing, change departure locations, or revise trip details when necessary for operational, safety, or business reasons.

SoCal Ocean Adventures reserves the right to refuse service to anyone for safety, legal, operational, or behavioral reasons.

By making a booking, you agree not to initiate a chargeback for services properly described and made available under these terms. Any billing issue should be brought directly to SoCal Ocean Adventures first so we can attempt to resolve it. We will ask For photo ID for all Cards payments  at check-in

These Terms & Conditions shall be governed by the laws of the State of California. Any disputes arising from these terms or participation in our trips shall be handled in the appropriate courts of Los Angeles County, California, unless otherwise required by law.

By booking or participating in any SoCal Ocean Adventures trip or service, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agreed to these Terms & Conditions.