Legal notice & Terms and Conditions

1. General Provisions & Scope

These Terms and Conditions apply to all bookings, diving services, website usage, and contracts concluded between the guest/user and Shamar Guesthouse & Dive (“we”, “us”, or “the Guesthouse”).

2. Booking, Payment, and Taxes

1. Confirmation: A reservation is officially confirmed only when the guest receives a written confirmation from Shamar Guesthouse & Dive via email or direct message.
2. Taxes: All rates are subject to local Maldivian taxes, including the Tourism Goods and Services Tax (TGST) and the mandatory Maldivian Green Tax, unless explicitly stated as included in your quote.
3. Settlement of Bills: All outstanding invoice amounts (e.g., balance of accommodation, meals, drinks, additional dives) must be paid on-site prior to or on the day of departure.
4. Currency & Method: We accept major currencies and credit cards as communicated during the booking process. Cash payments may be required for certain on-site services.

3. Cancellation Policy

We strongly advise all guests to purchase comprehensive travel insurance that covers trip cancellations, including third-party flight disruptions and geopolitical events. Unless otherwise agreed upon in writing, our standard cancellation policy is as follows:

• Up to 60 days before check-in: 80% refund of the total booking value.
• 59 to 31 days before check-in: 20% refund of the total booking value.
• 30 days or less before check-in: 0% refund (100% cancellation fee).
• Early Departure / No-Show: If the guest arrives and decides to leave early, or fails to arrive, 100% of the accommodation and diving fees for the unused nights/dives must be paid.

Tour Operator Bookings: If you have booked via a tour operator, its cancellation conditions apply. If you have any questions, please contact your tour operator directly.

Note: If we successfully re-let the canceled room, we will take this into account for a partial refund, minus a reasonable administrative handling fee. You also have the right to provide a replacement guest for your exact travel period at no extra cancellation charge.

4. Check-in and Check-out

• Check-in: Rooms are available from 2:00 PM on the day of arrival.
• Check-out: Rooms must be vacated no later than 11:00 AM on the day of departure. Extensions may be requested on-site subject to availability, and we reserve the right to charge an extended stay/late check-out fee.

5. Diving Regulations, Health, and Liability

1. Health Requirements: Scuba diving involves inherent risks. All divers must be in good health. Upon arrival at the dive centre, guests will be required to fill out a standard medical questionnaire and sign a liability release form.
2. Right to Refuse: Shamar Guesthouse & Dive reserves the right to prohibit guests from diving if they lack the required certification, experience, or present a health/safety risk to themselves or others.
3. Dive Packages & Cancellations: We always try to offer our divers the most attractive package prices. Here you benefit from a favorable price per dive as well as discounted conditions for diving equipment. Should you wish to make a partial cancellation after booking one of our dive packages, we reserve the right to adjust the prices of the individual services. Dives which have been booked in advance and cannot be carried out on-site due to illness will be refunded less handling charges.
4. Insurance: We highly recommend that all divers carry specific scuba diving insurance (such as aqua med or DAN – Divers Alert Network) alongside their standard medical travel insurance, as medical evacuation in the Maldives can be highly expensive.

6. Force Majeure & Flight Cancellations

If your stay is hindered by unexpectedly occurring, extraordinary, and unavoidable events (Force Majeure) within the Maldives such as natural disasters, extreme weather, or government-mandated island closures (e.g., due to a pandemic), the standard cancellation terms apply. However, at our sole discretion, we may issue a travel voucher for the value of the paid funds, valid for a maximum of 24 months.

Important – Travel Risk and Flights: The guest bears the sole responsibility and risk for their travel arrangements to and from the Maldives. The following circumstances do not constitute Force Majeure for Shamar Guesthouse & Dive, and standard cancellation fees will strictly apply:

• Flight cancellations, delays, or route modifications by airlines for any reason.
• General reluctance, fear of traveling, or personal decisions not to travel due to geopolitical conflicts, wars, or crises outside the Republic of Maldives.
• Entry restrictions specific to your personal circumstances (e.g., lack of vaccination, missing documents).

We are not responsible for third-party transport failures or international political events that do not directly affect the operation of our guesthouse. We strongly reiterate the necessity of purchasing travel cancellation insurance to protect against these specific risks.

7. Meal Times (Full Board)

For guests, meals are served at the following times:

• Breakfast: 07:00 AM – 09:30 AM (a small early breakfast from 05:00 AM for early boats and departures)
• Lunch: 12:00 PM – 02:00 PM
• Dinner: 06:00 PM – 08:00 PM

Food and beverages ordered outside these times are not included in the full board package and will be billed separately according to our current menu prices.

8. Intellectual Property and Website Use

The information, text, graphics, images, logos, and software on this website are owned by or licensed to Shamar Guesthouse & Dive. The trademarks and related proprietary property are protected under national and international laws. They may not be reproduced, copied, or transmitted in any form without the express prior written permission of Shamoon Abdullah.

9. Privacy and Communications

1. Feedback: We may use feedback and suggestions you send us to improve our services. Personal data in your messages is handled as described in our privacy notice; we never publish your name or messages without your permission.
2. Data Transmission: Please use email only for standard communication. Do not transmit sensitive financial information (such as credit card numbers) via unencrypted email. Guests communicating sensitive information via email do so entirely at their own risk.

10. Limitation of Liability

While we strive to provide a safe and secure environment, Shamar Guesthouse & Dive is not liable for the loss, theft, or damage of personal belongings, valuables, or diving equipment left in the rooms or on the premises, except in cases of gross negligence or willful misconduct by our staff.

11. Governing Law and Jurisdiction

These Terms and Conditions and any disputes arising out of or in connection with your booking or stay shall be governed exclusively by the laws of the Republic of Maldives. The courts of the Maldives shall have exclusive jurisdiction over any claims or disputes.