Terms & Conditions

These Terms & Conditions apply to all courses, equipment servicing, and product sales provided by Abyss Scuba Ltd (trading as Abyss Scuba School), based at Littlehampton Marina, West Sussex.

Dive Courses

Medical Requirements

  • All participants must complete a PADI Diving Medical Statement, provided as part of the eLearning registration.

  • Every question must be answered ‘Yes’ or ‘No’.

  • If any question is answered ‘Yes’, the participant must obtain a signed medical clearance from a physician prior to diving.

  • Failure to provide a signed medical where required will prevent participation.

  • If a course cannot proceed due to an incomplete medical, a rescheduling fee will apply:

    • 50% of the course cost for confined water sessions

    • 100% of the course cost for open water sessions

Kit Rental

  • By renting kit from Abyss Scuba School, you confirm you are medically and legally fit to dive using the equipment.

  • All equipment must be returned in the same condition it was issued, including cylinders filled.

  • Any cylinders returned empty will incur a refill charge at the current website rate.

  • Equipment is maintained to a high standard, but all use is at the customer’s own risk. Abyss Scuba School accepts no liability for injury or harm during use.

  • Wetsuit hire: we will provide the best fit available, but hired suits will not match the fit of personally owned equipment.

Bookings & Cancellations

  • Full payment is required at the time of booking unless otherwise agreed in writing.

  • Bookings are refundable within 14 days of purchase, provided eLearning has not been accessed.

  • Once accessed, PADI eLearning costs cannot be refunded under any circumstances (as these are charged directly by PADI).

  • Practical session dates may be rearranged with at least 7 business days’ notice, subject to availability and must be completed within 12 months of the original course date.

  • Business days are Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays).

Cancellation Charges

Pool Sessions:

  • 7+ working days: No charge

  • 3–6 working days: £25

  • <2 working days: £50

  • No-show: full cost of confined water element

Discover Scuba Diving / Children’s Pool Sessions:

  • 7+ working days: No charge

  • 3–6 working days: £10

  • <2 working days: £25

  • No-show: full cost of session

Open Water Sessions:

  • 7+ working days: No charge

  • 3–6 working days: £75

  • <2 working days: £150

  • No-show: full cost of open water element

Medical Cancellations:

  • If illness prevents attendance, we will refund the course cost less a £25 admin fee and the non-refundable PADI eLearning fee, provided at least 2 working days’ notice is given and the course cannot be completed within 6 months.

Course Participation

  • Arriving more than 15 minutes late may result in course cancellation.

  • To pass a PADI course, participants must meet all PADI training standards.

  • Instructors may require additional training sessions if standards are not met; additional sessions may incur extra charges.

  • Minimum ages and prerequisites for each course are listed on our website under “PADI Courses”. It is the participant’s responsibility to ensure eligibility.

Equipment Servicing

Role of Abyss Scuba School

  • Abyss Scuba School acts as a booking and drop-off service for equipment servicing.

  • All regulator, BCD, and cylinder servicing is carried out by Southern Cylinders, an IDEST-approved test centre.

  • Abyss Scuba School staff do not perform the servicing work directly.

Responsibility & Liability

  • All workmanship, testing, and repairs are the responsibility of Southern Cylinders.

  • Any servicing faults or warranty claims must be directed to them.

  • Abyss Scuba School will assist in liaising but cannot accept liability or provide compensation.

Regulator Servicing

  • Full strip-down, ultrasonic clean, reassembly using manufacturer-approved service kits, and functional testing (in and out of water).

  • Prices assume equipment is serviced regularly; neglected/damaged equipment may incur extra charges.

BCD Servicing

  • Disassembly and cleaning of inflator and dump valves, antibacterial bladder clean, reassembly, and inflation testing.

  • Additional charges may apply for neglected or damaged equipment.

Cylinder Servicing (Legal Requirements)

  • In line with UK law (PSSR 2000) and IDEST standards:

    • Visual Inspection: every 2.5 years

    • Hydrostatic Test: every 5 years

  • Cylinders failing testing cannot be returned to service unless repaired and retested.

  • Additional services (O₂ cleaning, shot blasting, valve work) may be required.

  • All testing is carried out by Southern Cylinders, an IDEST-approved centre.

Service Process

  • Equipment is stripped, cleaned, serviced, and tested according to manufacturer and industry standards.

  • Additional parts or labour will be quoted and agreed prior to work being carried out.

  • Only authorised parts and service kits are used.

Turnaround Time

  • Standard turnaround: 10–14 working days

  • May take up to 4 weeks in busy periods or if parts are delayed.

  • Abyss Scuba School cannot guarantee completion times.

Costs & Payments

  • Prices are published on our website.

  • All fees must be paid in full before collection.

  • Items not collected within 90 days of completion may be disposed of.

Customer Responsibilities

  • Customers must disclose full service history and any known issues.

  • Equipment must be dropped off/collected at Abyss Scuba School or sent via courier at the customer’s expense.

Product Sales

Delivery

  • Many products are dispatched directly from suppliers.

  • Standard delivery time is up to 14 working days, depending on stock availability.

  • Customers will be notified of significant delays.

Returns & Refunds

  • Returns accepted only for damaged or faulty items.

  • Faults must be reported within 48 hours of delivery with photographic evidence.

  • Refunds or replacements are issued once the item is returned and assessed.

  • Return postage is the customer’s responsibility unless the error is ours.

  • Returns are not accepted for unwanted items, incorrect sizing, or change of mind — please check product details carefully before purchasing.

Warranty

  • Warranties are provided by the manufacturer.

  • Abyss Scuba School will assist with claims but is not responsible for warranty cover.

Trading Name

Abyss Scuba School is the trading name of Abyss Scuba Ltd, a company registered in England & Wales. All contracts, payments, and legal responsibilities are with Abyss Scuba Ltd. References to “Abyss Scuba School” in our website, marketing, or communications should be understood as referring to Abyss Scuba Ltd.

For any questions regarding these Terms & Conditions, please contact Abyss Scuba Ltd (trading as Abyss Scuba School) before booking or purchasing.