Terms and Conditions – STM-Diving / STM-Travel Ltd

1. Purpose and scope

These General Terms and Conditions of Sale and Use (GTCSU) define the rights and obligations applicable to STM-Diving cruise bookings, the use of the STM application and the STM Loyalty Program. STM-Travel Ltd is the sole contractual provider of all STM-Diving services. STM-Diving services do not include air transport and do not constitute a package tour within the meaning of Directive (EU) 2015/2302. Any reservation or account activation in the application implies full acceptance of these GTCU.

2. Legal information

STM-TRAVEL LTD
Company number : 15575068
Registered office address : 207 Regent Street, Suite 8, Third Floor, London, England, W1B 3HH
Contact email : info@stm-diving.com

STM-Travel Ltd acts as a dive cruise organizer and publisher of the STM application.

3. Scope of application

These GCU apply to all bookings made via the website, the STM application, by e-mail or any other commercial channel operated by STM-Travel Ltd.

4. Booking and conclusion of contract

The reservation constitutes a firm commitment on the part of the customer. The contract is deemed to have been formed when STM-Travel Ltd confirms availability in writing and payment is made in accordance with article 5.

5. Payment

Payments are accepted by credit card (immediate and secure payment) or by bank transfer: 20% of the total amount when the order is placed, 30% no later than 60 days before departure, and the balance 7 days before departure or upon embarkation with prior written agreement. Failure to meet these deadlines will result in cancellation at the customer’s expense, in accordance with article 6. Local, port and environmental taxes remain payable under all circumstances.

6. Cancellation and force majeure

All cancellations must be made in writing. The following cancellation charges apply:

Time to departure	Customer charges
>150 days	10 %
100 to 150 days	20 %
50 to 100 days	50 %
<50 days	100 %

In the event of force majeure (weather conditions, administrative decisions, epidemics, war, natural disasters, etc.), STM-Travel Ltd may cancel or postpone the cruise. Deposits may be refunded or transferred to another date without further compensation.

7. Sailing conditions and vessel replacement

Itineraries may be adapted due to weather conditions, coastguard decisions or safety reasons. No compensation will be paid for such changes. In the event of technical unavailability, STM-Travel Ltd reserves the right to replace the vessel with another of similar characteristics without any change in price.

8. Liability and diving safety

Diving involves inherent risks. The customer must hold a recognized certification, comply with safety guidelines and present a medical certificate if required. STM-Travel Ltd cannot be held responsible for injury, loss, theft or damage caused by carelessness or failure to follow instructions. Diving insurance with hyperbaric coverage is compulsory.

9. Diving level and requirements

Participants must present their certification and logbook before departure. STM-Travel Ltd reserves the right to prohibit a dive in the event of physical unfitness, intoxication, dangerous behavior or failure to comply with instructions. Any exclusion on these grounds does not entitle the participant to any compensation.

10. In the event of an accident

In the event of an accident, STM-Travel Ltd or its crew is authorized to provide the emergency services and medical personnel with relevant information concerning the victim. Any diving equipment used may be handed over to the competent authorities for analysis. STM-Travel Ltd is not responsible for equipment entrusted to the rescue services. In the absence of insurance, it is explicitly agreed that STM-Diving is not obliged to advance funds for medical evacuation or treatment. If, exceptionally, STM-Diving incurs expenses to assist or evacuate the passenger, the latter undertakes to reimburse STM-Diving in full upon presentation of the corresponding receipts.

11. STM Loyalty Program

The STM Loyalty Program enables you to benefit from advantages described in the STM application. Annual subscription: €49 incl. VAT, automatically renewed on the anniversary date, unless cancelled 30 days before. In the event of non-renewal, immediate loss of loyalty status and associated benefits. Membership fee non-refundable, except for right of withdrawal.

12. STM Coins

STM Coins are promotional points valid for 2 years, non-transferable and non-cashable. They can be redeemed for up to 30% of the total value of the shopping basket, including VAT, and are cancelled if the loyalty status is inactive.

13. Right of withdrawal – fixed-date service

In accordance with Directive (EU) 2011/83/EU and its transposition into UK law, the right of withdrawal does not apply to services relating to leisure activities where the contract provides for a specific date or period of performance. STM-Diving cruises are fixed-date services. Consequently, no cancellation or refund can be invoked under the right of withdrawal once the booking has been confirmed. Customers expressly acknowledge that booking a STM-Diving cruise waives any right of withdrawal.

14. Data protection (RGPD / UK GDPR)

Personal data is collected for contract execution, legal compliance and loyalty program management. They are kept for a maximum of 6 months after the cruise unless otherwise required by law. RGPD rights (access, rectification, deletion, portability) can be exercised by e-mailing info@stm-diving.com.

15. Image rights

Unless previously refused in writing, the customer authorizes STM-Diving to use the images taken during the cruise for promotional purposes. The customer may withdraw this consent in writing at any time, in which case STM-Diving will cease all future use of the images.

16. Delays and air travel

STM-Travel Ltd accepts no responsibility for delays, cancellations or strikes affecting air or land transport before or after the cruise. It is the customer’s responsibility to arrange arrival in time for boarding.

STM-Travel Ltd organizes, as a complementary service, transfers from the airport or from a hotel in the departure area on the day of embarkation, according to the information provided by the customer prior to the trip. In the event of the customer’s absence at the agreed time or error in the information provided (flight times, pick-up location, etc.), STM-Travel Ltd declines all responsibility for failure to show up for boarding or for the loss of the holiday, without any refund or postponement being due. Unused or missed transfers will not give rise to any refund, even partial.

17. Applicable law and jurisdiction

These GTCU are governed by British law. Any dispute shall fall within the exclusive jurisdiction of the London courts, after an attempt at amicable resolution.

18. Acceptance of conditions

Any reservation or activation of an account implies full acceptance of these terms and conditions.

In case of discrepancies, the English version shall prevail under UK law / En cas de divergence d’interprétation, la version anglaise prévaut conformément au droit britannique.