Terms and Conditions

Blue Reef Okinawa is first and foremost an ocean education program and water safety program. It is through teaching our favorite ocean activities that we reinforce the water safety learning that is at the core of the BRO program.

We conduct risk assessments for ocean activities at the beginning of each day and our instructors will make decisions about ocean entry with the children’s safety being our first priority.

Determining Ocean Conditions for Safety

• As your child advances in his/her ocean skills, we will encourage them to challenge themselves in a range of conditions. Surfing, for example, is best enjoyed during elevated sea conditions (higher waves) and so we will be entering the ocean in rough conditions when children are ready to do so, and once they have built the necessary swim skills for higher level activities.
• Children move at their own pace at Blue Reef; it is a student led program. Instructors are always present and within a safe distance for supervision. We are here to coach, and to encourage, as the children build their skills in the water.
• Children wear lifejackets for certain activities, and for those who have the swim abilities to be able to remove their lifejackets, they will be able to do so for suring, free diving, etc., but this decision will be made by the Lead Instructor and based on each activity’s risk assessment and individual child’s abilities/needs.
• All necessary safety controls are put in place for each of our activities, and a safety plan is created around each activity which accounts for ocean conditions, difficulty of the specific activity, number of children, and the need for additional protective equipment.
• During any given activity we may utilize a combination of lifesaving resources including rescue tubes, rescue boards, ropes and buoys, radios for communication, jet-ski, etc.
• Blue Reef Okinawa instructors are certified ILA Surf Lifesavers and members of the Japan Water Patrol, certified in PWC high surf rescue.
• With all of this in mind, by agreeing to our terms and conditions you acknowledge that our instructors are qualified to make decisions regarding ocean entry and suitable conditions for water activities.

Make-up Days

• We believe there are very few days that do not afford us opportunities to learn about the ocean.
• We try our best to always have a back up plan for inclement weather, such as educational opportunities at local aquariums, universities, and ocean related research facilities on Okinawa.
• We also have a variety of land based activities such as building and assembling our equipment, ocean related arts and crafts projects, etc.
• Much of our program is centered on learning to use our 5 senses to evaluate ocean conditions and to use the information we find to make responsible decisions when planning our activities.
• We never enter the ocean in a manner or location where it is unsafe to do so. Okinawa is an island that occasionally has severe weather. During typhoon conditions or extremely heavy rainfall, we may have to cancel a program day. If conditions are unsafe for driving, for example, Blue Reef will close for the day.
• If we cancel a program day, you will be given a make-up date for your child to attend. If a make-up date is not possible (for example if you are PCSing and can not complete your make-up day), a refund will be given for that date.
• We do not guarantee make up days or refunds for missed days, or for days that you decide to keep your child home from the program.
• If you have a situation that requires your child to miss program days, please let us know and we will do our best to accommodate you to make up for the missed time. We call these rain check days. In most cases we are able to adjust schedules so that each child can attend a rain check day for time missed, but please be aware that make-up days and refunds are only guaranteed for days cancelled by Blue Reef.

Holding your Seat

• Once you have joined the BRO program, your child’s seat in the program belongs to you until you decide to leave the program. Once you have joined the program, you will be able to make your payment for the upcoming month starting on the first day of each month.
• You will have 10 days to make your payment before the program is opened to new students on the 11th of each month. There is a maximum attendance of 16 students on regular program days, and once those seats are filled for the month we will not be able to enroll new students.
• If your child is already enrolled in the BRO program and you have an issue with payment, if you do not want to lose your seat and if you need to request to pay your monthly fee later than the 10th, please contact us directly to make arrangements to hold your seat. We will always work to accommodate BRO parents to the best of our ability. However, if you do not contact us to make arrangements for late payment, or simply forget to pay your program fee, our system will automatically open your child’s seat in the program on the 10th of the month.
• You will be reminded by email to make your payment at the beginning of each month, and you will also be notified by email before registration opens for new students so please watch for those email updates!

Cancellation Policy

• If you have made a payment for the regular, weekly Rays or Sharks program and need to cancel for the upcoming month you should email us immediately to notify us of your cancellation.
• Cancellations up until the 15th day of the month will be subject to a 10% service charge. (You will receive a 90% refund).
• For cancellations after the 15th of the month, up until the 25th of each month, you will receive a 50% refund.
• And for cancellations after the 25th (ie. from the 26th day onward) you will not receive a refund for fees paid for the upcoming month.
• For our week-long camps you will receive a 100% refund minus a 5% admin charge (including credit card fees) if you cancel more than 28 days before the start of camp.
• You will receive a 90% refund if you cancel15-28 days before the start of camp.
• You will receive a 50% refund if you cancel 7-14 days before the start of camp.
• And you will receive no refund if you cancel with less than 7 days remaining before the start of camp.

Lost and Found

• Our Lost & Found box sees a lot of action. We understand that children forget things and we are here to teach them to manage their belongings and maintain their equipment.
• We provide new students with checklists and we work together to use our checklists so that all of our equipment goes home with us each week.
• When items are left behind, we place them in the lost and found and, if we know who owns what, we do our best to notify you that your child’s items have been left behind.
• However, we are not responsible for lost items, nor for damaged equipment. We will continually teach BRO kids how to properly maintain their equipment and remind them to check thoroughly that they have all of their belongings, but in the end the child’s equipment is the responsibility of each child and parent.
• Also our Lost & Found box, although being quite large, tends to fill up quickly. About once each month we will remove the items that have been in there the longest and either donate or dispose of them. We do not have the resources to handle storage of 1000 lunchboxes and water bottles. So please be sure to check the Lost & Found from time to time.
• Safety Colors
• BRO instructors wear very obvious, brightly colored uniforms so that children can easily identify us. We want the children to feel secure and also we enjoy the bright colors which reflect our sunny personalities.
• All children are issued a BRO t-shirt when they first join the program, and at the start of each day they are given a brightly colored rash guard to tie around their waist until it is time to begin water activities.
• Aside from the camaraderie this creates, these clothing items have been designed with safety in mind. In bright colors children are easy for instructors to locate.
• BRO t-shirts must be worn when out of the water at all times, and BRO rash guards must be worn at all times when in the water.
• When we are on land, BRO instructors are trained to perform a student headcount at least once every 5 minutes, and in the water a headcount is done every 30-60 seconds. This is manageable for our instructors because we are all wearing the same brightly colored clothing.
• There is no cost for your child’s BRO t-shirt, however if you lose your t-shirt you will be required to purchase a new one as children may not attend the program without their BRO t-shirt.

Ocean Sports are Dangerous

• Although our staff is highly trained in all aspects of ocean rescue, water safety, and risk management, the ocean is a dangerous place with changing conditions. Surfboards, dive equipment, rafts and kayaks and paddles all have hard pieces and sharp edges and while we are learning about this equipment, an injury is quite possible.
• Also, children are not always predictable, and despite taking all possible precautions, it is a fact that accidents can and may occur.
• By accepting our Terms and Conditions you release Blue Reef Okinawa from all liabilit