1. About these Terms
These Terms and Conditions (“Terms”) apply to all bookings for courses, retreats, charters, day trips and international trips (“Events”) offered by Noob Spearo (ABN 68 600 172 352) (“we”, “us”, “our”) through spearfishingcourses.com.au or directly. By making a booking, you agree to these Terms on behalf of yourself and anyone you book for.
Nothing in these Terms excludes, restricts or modifies any consumer guarantee, right or remedy you have under the Australian Consumer Law (“ACL”) or other applicable law that cannot lawfully be excluded.
Merchandise and physical goods returns policy is below.
2. Bookings and Payment
- A booking is confirmed when we receive your deposit. The deposit amount is set for each Event (typically 30% of the total price) and is stated at the time of booking.
- The remaining balance is due 30 days prior to the Event start date. If the balance is not paid by the due date and we have been unable to resolve payment with you, your booking may be cancelled and your deposit forfeited.
- Bookings made within 30 days of an Event require payment in full at the time of booking.
- Prices are in Australian dollars and include GST where applicable. Prices may change at any time, but confirmed bookings are honoured at the price paid.
- We reserve the right to refuse any booking, or to decline any person or people, at our discretion.
3. Deposits
Deposits are non-refundable, except where these Terms provide otherwise (for example, if we cancel the Event — see Section 6) or where a refund is required by the Australian Consumer Law. Deposits secure your place and cover fixed costs we commit to in advance for facilitating courses, retreats and charters (accommodation, vessels, instructors, permits and provisioning).
4. Rescheduling Your Booking
- If you can no longer attend, you may reschedule to a later Event by giving us at least 60 days’ written notice before the Event start date (email shrek@noobspearo.com).
- Each booking may be rescheduled once, subject to availability. Your rescheduled Event must take place within 12 months of your original Event date, or your booking is forfeited. Where we do not run an equivalent Event within that period, we may extend the 12-month window at our discretion.
- Any price difference between your original Event and the rescheduled Event is payable by you (or credited toward your balance where the new Event costs less).
- Requests made with less than 60 days’ notice are not eligible for rescheduling and are treated as cancellations under Section 5, except in exceptional circumstances at our discretion.
- With our prior written approval, you may transfer your booking to another person who meets the participation requirements for the Event (Section 8).
5. Cancellations by You & Refunds
- We do not provide refunds for change of mind, work commitments, or personal circumstances preventing attendance, except where required by the Australian Consumer Law. If sufficient notice is provided, you may reschedule under Section 4.
- Exceptional circumstances: in cases of genuine exceptional circumstances (for example, serious illness or injury supported by a medical certificate, or bereavement), we may at our discretion provide a refund less an administration fee of $100, which will be deducted from the refund. Our Events are only sustainable when fully subscribed, so in exercising this discretion we must also consider the needs of our ongoing operation.
- No-shows and early departures: if you fail to attend an Event, or leave an Event early by choice, all amounts paid are forfeited and no refund or credit is provided, except where required by the ACL.
- We recommend travel insurance with cancellation cover for all bookings (see Section 11).
6. Cancellations by Us
We may cancel an Event if minimum participant numbers are not met, an instructor is unavailable due to illness or emergency, or for other operational reasons. If we cancel an Event (other than for weather or force majeure — see Sections 7 and 13), you may choose either:
- a transfer of your booking to another Event date at no cost; or
- a full refund of all amounts paid, including your deposit.
We are not responsible for other costs you incur in connection with a cancelled Event (such as flights, accommodation or gear purchases), and we recommend insurance that covers these.
7. Weather and Conditions
- Spearfishing is weather-dependent. We try our best to make every Event work, including adjusting locations, timing and itineraries.
- If conditions are deemed unsafe by us or the vessel operator, the Event (or part of it) will be rescheduled or postponed. Safety decisions are final.
- If an Event cannot proceed at all due to weather, you may choose a transfer to another date or a refund of amounts paid.
- Once an Event has commenced, no refund or credit is provided for days or activities lost to weather, except where required by the Australian Consumer Law. We will make reasonable efforts to substitute alternative activities where practical.
8. Participation Requirements
Every Event is different, and specific requirements are advised in the description of each trip or charter. Broadly, these include:
- Freediving ability, training and certifications;
- Hunting and spearfishing experience; and
- A safety-first, buddy-diving attitude.
Conditions of participation
- Medical declaration: you must complete our medical declaration truthfully before the Event, and disclose any condition that may affect your ability to safely freedive or spearfish (including asthma, heart or ear conditions, recent surgery, or medications). Notify us of any change before the Event.
- Watermanship: you must be able to swim at least 200 metres unassisted and be comfortable in open water.
- Age: minimum ages are subject to the specific Event and stated in its description. As broad guidance, participants aged 12–17 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian; participants 18+ have no age restrictions.
If you do not meet the stated requirements for an Event, or your medical declaration is found to be false or incomplete, we may refuse or withdraw your participation without refund, except where the ACL requires otherwise.
9. Safety and Conduct
- You must follow all reasonable safety directions given by our instructors, guides and vessel operators.
- Our instructors may stand a participant down from diving or any activity, without refund, if the participant is or appears to be affected by alcohol or drugs, refuses to follow safety directions, or behaves in a way that endangers themselves or others.
- You must comply with all applicable fisheries regulations, size and bag limits, and marine park rules. Any fines or penalties arising from your conduct are your responsibility.
10. Assumption of Risk and Liability
- Before participating, you (and any accompanying parent/guardian for participants under 18) will be required to sign our liability waiver and medical declaration. Refusal to sign will result in exclusion from the Event without refund.
- To the extent permitted by law — including section 139A of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth) as it applies to recreational services — we exclude liability for death, physical or mental injury, contraction or aggravation of a disease or condition arising from your participation, except where caused by our reckless conduct.
- Nothing in this section excludes liability that cannot lawfully be excluded, including consumer guarantees under the ACL to the extent they cannot be excluded.
11. Insurance *more info on insurance found here
- International trips: comprehensive travel insurance is mandatory and a condition of participation. Your policy must cover freediving and spearfishing activities, emergency medical treatment and evacuation, and trip cancellation. We may ask for proof of cover before departure.
- Domestic Events: travel insurance with cancellation cover is strongly recommended, particularly given our no-refund cancellation policy.
12. Equipment
- Where we supply hire or loaner equipment (including float boats, spearguns, wetsuits and dive gear), you are responsible for its care and return.
- You are liable for loss of, or damage to, supplied equipment beyond fair wear and tear, charged at the reasonable cost of repair or replacement.
- Where an Event requires you to bring your own equipment, it must meet the specifications listed in the Event description and be in safe working order. We may exclude unsafe equipment from use.
13. Third-Party Operators and Force Majeure
- Some elements of our Events — including accommodation, vessels and charters, transport, and in-country services — are provided by third-party operators. Those operators’ own terms and conditions may also apply to you, and we will make them available where practical.
- We choose our partners carefully: we only work with highly reliable operators and prioritise best-practice operators over lowest-cost providers. However, to the extent permitted by law, we are not liable for the acts or omissions of third-party operators, though nothing limits your ACL rights against us in respect of services we supply.
- Force majeure: we are not liable for delay or failure to deliver an Event caused by events beyond our reasonable control, including severe weather, natural disasters, pandemics, government restrictions, border closures or third-party operator failures. In these cases we will work with you in good faith to reschedule, provide a credit, or refund recoverable amounts, consistent with your rights under the ACL.
14. International Trips — Additional Terms
- You are responsible for holding a valid passport (with at least 6 months’ validity from the return date), any required visas, and meeting all entry, health and vaccination requirements of the destination country.
- International flights are not included in the trip price unless expressly stated in the Event description.
- Itineraries in remote locations are indicative and may change due to weather, sea conditions, or local operational factors. Changes to the itinerary do not entitle you to a refund where the core Event is still delivered.
- Mandatory travel insurance applies (Section 11).
15. Photos and Media
Photos and video are taken during our Events. By booking, you consent to us using images and footage that include you for Noob Spearo marketing across our websites, social media, email and promotional materials. You may opt out at any time by emailing shrek@noobspearo.com, and we will take reasonable steps not to use identifiable footage of you going forward.
16. Australian Consumer Law
Our services come with guarantees that cannot be excluded under the Australian Consumer Law. For major failures with a service, you are entitled to cancel your booking with us and obtain a refund for the unused portion, or to compensation for its reduced value. You are also entitled to be compensated for any other reasonably foreseeable loss or damage. If the failure does not amount to a major failure, you are entitled to have problems with the service rectified in a reasonable time.
17. General
- These Terms are governed by the laws of Queensland, Australia, and you submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Queensland.
- If any part of these Terms is found to be invalid or unenforceable, the remainder continues in effect.
- We may update these Terms from time to time. The version in force at the time of your booking applies to that booking.
18. Contact
All cancellation, reschedule and refund requests, and any questions about these Terms, should be sent in writing to shrek@noobspearo.com.
Returns Policy
Last updated: July 2026
The Short Version
We want you to be stoked with your Noob Spearo gear. If something arrives damaged, wrong, or just isn’t right — we’ll sort it out. No drama.
What This Policy Covers
This Returns Policy applies to physical products purchased through spearfishingcourses.com.au — things like clothing, hats, and printed books.
It does not apply to courses, retreats, charters, or adventures. Those are covered by separate booking terms agreed to at the time of purchase. If you have a question about a booking, email us at shrek@noobspearo.com or call 0420 631 981.
Eligibility for a Return
You can return a physical product within 30 days of receiving your order if:
- The item arrived damaged or faulty
- You received the wrong item
- The item is unused, unworn, and in its original condition with tags attached
We can’t accept returns on items that have been worn, washed, or used — or if the 30-day window has passed.
How to Start a Return
- Email shrek@noobspearo.com with your order number and a quick description of the issue (photos help if the item is damaged)
- We’ll reply within 2 business days with next steps
- Once your return is approved, we’ll give you a return address and any relevant instructions
Please don’t send anything back without contacting us first — we want to make sure it goes to the right place.
Refunds
Once we receive and inspect your return, we’ll let you know if it’s approved. If approved, your refund will be processed to your original payment method within 5–10 business days, depending on your bank or card provider.
If you haven’t seen your refund after 10 business days, check with your bank first — then reach out to us and we’ll follow it up.
Exchanges
If you need a different size or colour, the easiest path is to return the original item and place a new order. Get in touch and we’ll walk you through it.
Return Shipping
- If the item is faulty or we sent the wrong thing — we cover return shipping
- If you’re returning for any other reason — return shipping is at your cost
We recommend using a trackable shipping method. We can’t be responsible for returns lost in the mail.
Australian Consumer Law
Nothing in this policy limits your rights under the Australian Consumer Law. If a product has a major fault, you’re entitled to a replacement, repair, or refund — and you don’t need to return it in the original packaging to be covered. For more info visit accc.gov.au.
Quick Reference — Refunds & Cancellations
| Situation | Outcome |
|---|---|
| You cancel (change of mind, any notice period) | No refund. Reschedule available with 60+ days’ notice (once, within 12 months). |
| You reschedule with 60+ days’ notice | Free transfer to a later Event (one reschedule, valid 12 months — extendable at our discretion if no equivalent Event runs in that time). |
| Exceptional circumstances (e.g. medical, with evidence) | Refund at our discretion, less $100 administration fee. |
| You don’t show up or leave early | Amounts paid are forfeited. |
| We cancel (min. numbers, instructor unavailable) | Your choice: free transfer or full refund including deposit. |
| Weather stops the whole Event before it starts | Your choice: transfer or refund. |
| Weather cuts short an Event already underway | No refund for lost days, except where the ACL requires. |
| Any situation covered by ACL consumer guarantees | Your ACL rights apply and are not excluded by these Terms. |