Terms & Conditions

Terms & Conditions

Please make sure that the following information is read carefully and that the booking form has been filled in correctly. For multiple bookings, the lead person is responsible for ensuring that all persons listed have understood the terms and conditions as outlined below.

1.Payment & Booking

Trips are available to all swimmers over 16 years of age. Young people of 16 – 18 years are accepted on the trips, but only under the supervision of an adult participant.

The total cost of the trip is £690.00 (GBP) per person.

Our trips consist of 12 places. Each trip is supported by 2 swim guides who are NBLQ Beach Lifeguard qualified with First Aid and 1 Greek boat captain and assistant captain.

A deposit of 20% is payable upon booking – we will reply to your booking form with ways to pay the deposit. Your place on the trip is reserved once the deposit is received. The outstanding balance is due 6 weeks prior to the start of the trip. We will notify you via email when the remainder is due and ways to pay.

In the event that the balance is not received within 6 weeks of departure, we reserve the right to re-allocate your place. If a booking is made within the 6 weeks prior to the start of a trip, then the whole balance is due on the day of booking.

Once a booking is made you will receive an email confirmation as well as the following:

• A detailed open-water training program designed by a professional coach
• A suggested kit list
• Insurance details form (to return to us)
• Prior to departure you will also receive an email with trip itinerary and a contact phone number for any required transfers (See ‘Getting There’ below).

2.Cancellation

In the event of a participant cancelling, any 20% deposit already received is not refundable. Furthermore, if you cancel between 6 and 4 weeks before the start of your trip, The Big Blue Swim reserves the right to retain 60% of the total cost of the trip. If you cancel within the 4 week period prior to the start of your trip, then the full amount will be retained.

Cancellations are made via email and are effective from the date of receipt. A return email confirming this will be sent by return. If no email is received by you, please telephone for confirmation.

We reserve the right to cancel any trip due to circumstances beyond our control.

We reserve the right to cancel a trip due to failure to reach the absolute minimum number of participants. In the unlikely event that we are forced to cancel a trip, you will be offered a choice of either a full refund for the trip or an alternative trip within the same calendar year.

Any change of booking within the permissible time frame carries an administration fee of £10.

3.Insurance

It is a requirement and the responsibility of the participant that he/she has taken out Comprehensive Travel Insurance. We will ask for a copy of insurance details/certificate (Insurance provider, policy number and 24 hr contact details) prior to the trip departing and also that these details are brought on the trip to give to swim guides during the introductory briefing.

Insurance must cover the usual loss of luggage and failure to travel but, most importantly, needs to have adequate health cover, medical and accident expenses and cover for repatriation, including air ambulance rescue costs should you become ill during the trip. You must check with your insurance provider that you are covered for ‘escorted open water swimming’.

Where applicable, swimmers should possess the European Health Insurance Card.

You should search the Internet for best possible quotes but do not forget to try your existing holiday insurance company for an extended insurance. Request cover for “escorted open water swimming”.

Suggestion of Insurance providers:

Suggestion of Insurance providers:

• EndsleighInsurance – https://travel1.endsleigh.co.uk/ (10% online discount)
• Sports Abroad http://www.cover2travel.co.uk/ (Underwritten by AXA Insurance)
• Dog Tag Insurance http://www.dogtag.co.uk/

UK and Non-UK Residents

HCC Medical Insurance http://www.mnui.com/products.asp?prod=atlas (Select Optional Sports Rider)

4.Acceptance of risk

The trips are designed for people of all ages and abilities, who are fit and healthy and have at least some basic swimming background. We have made our trips as safe as possible and the swimming guides supervising the daily swims are qualified professionals in the field, with relevant life saving/first aid qualifications.

There is, however, a small element of risk involved with trips of this nature and participants are expected to acknowledge and accept the risks. Adequate insurance against adverse events beyond our control is essential to cover all parties involved.

5. Weather

We reserve the right to alter swim routes and itineraries in light of weather conditions for safety reasons. Open water swimming relies on good sea conditions and in liaison with our boat captain swimmers will be notified each day of any relevant changes to our specified programme.

6.Medical

The nature of our holidays necessitate that all participants are in a good state of physical and mental health. We will assume this when you sign the booking form. Any participants with any medical condition, however minor, which may affect them or other participants, should notify The Big Blue team on booking, please state this in the relevant section on the booking form.

We reserve the right to refuse individuals from participating in our trips if we consider them to be at risk.

7.Getting there

It is the responsibility of participants to get themselves to the start of the trip, either directly to George Studios, Geni or to Nidri, Lefkada, Greece.

If you arrive at Nidri, we are able to arrange transport to George Studios for the 10 minute ride round the bay. A contact phone number will be provided prior to your departure.

Extensive information as to how to get there is given in the Travel section of the website and you are advised to read it carefully. It is the responsibility of the individual participant to have a valid passport.