Swim Max Terms & Conditions

General Rules & Conduct

You are responsible for your child throughout all lessons.
You or a nominated guardian must promote the safety and comfort of all attendees.
We reserve the right to ask any guardian or swimmer to vacate the premises immediately if their behaviour is deemed inappropriate or disruptive.
In such cases, no refund will be issued.
Any abusive or inappropriate behaviour directed toward Swim Max staff, venue staff, or other participants will result in removal from lessons with no refund.
Children must wear a Swim Max or Diana’s Swim Academy swim cap during all sessions.
No other caps are permitted.
Parents/guardians must remain on the premises for the duration of each session.
Only one adult per family is allowed in the changing rooms. Others must remain in the viewing area.
We prefer only one guardian attend per child for space and comfort.
Photography is strictly prohibited unless part of an organised session.
Notification and opt-out options will be provided.
All rubbish, including nappies, must be disposed of properly.
Complaints must be submitted in writing to: swim@swimmax.ie

Cooling-Off Period Exemption

Under Article 16(m) of the EU Consumer Rights Directive and Irish law, Swim Max is not required to offer a 14-day cancellation period for leisure services (like swimming lessons) booked for specific dates.

Cooling-off period: A legal right to cancel a service within 14 days of booking without penalty.
This does not apply to time-specific leisure services like swimming lessons.

By booking with us, you acknowledge that:

No cooling-off period applies.
No refund is due once a booking is confirmed.
Credit may be offered at Swim Max’s discretion in limited cases.

Booking & Payment
All bookings are for a specific day and time.
Once confirmed, that slot is reserved and cannot be changed or transferred.
A booking is confirmed once payment and a completed booking form are submitted.
No 14-day cooling-off period applies under consumer law.
Refunds are not provided for customer cancellations.
Credit may be considered case-by-case at Swim Max’s discretion.

Customer Cancellations – Group & Private Lessons.

Private Lesson Cancellations:
Swim Max operates a strict 48-hour cancellation policy for all private lessons.
If you cancel a private session within 48 hours of the scheduled lesson time, no refund or credit will be issued.
If you cancel more than 48 hours in advance, we will offer to reschedule the session once at no extra cost.
Any additional changes or rescheduling requests (beyond one courtesy change) will be subject to a €10 administration fee per change.
All rescheduling or cancellation requests must be submitted in writing by email to swim@swimmax.ie
Verbal, text, or social media messages will not be accepted for cancellation or rescheduling purposes.

Group Lesson Cancellations
Group lessons are booked as a fixed-term program.
By securing your place, you are committing to the full term.
If you cancel your booking — whether before or during the term — no refund or credit will be provided, regardless of the reason.
Swim Max does not offer credit or make-up for missed group classes (unless a valid make-up token is available as per our make-up token policy).
Exceptions will not be made for missed classes due to illness, travel, personal plans, or scheduling conflicts unless a doctor’s certificate is provided and a valid make-up token is available.

If Swim Max Cancels a Course:
If no suitable alternative is available (time/day/venue), a credit will be issued.
If no comparable service is available within a reasonable timeframe (typically same or next term), a refund may be offered.
"Comparable service":
A class of the same type, level, and structure offered at another time or venue.
"Reasonable timeframe": Usually within the same or following term.

If a suitable alternative is offered by Swim Max (such as a different time, day, venue, or instructor) and the customer declines it due to personal preference or scheduling limitations, no refund or credit will be issued.
Swim Max is not responsible for accommodating individual availability beyond what is reasonably offered within our operational capacity.

Venue-Specific Clarifications:
Applies to all venues including single-day venues like Cork.
Swim Max does not guarantee relocation to other venues or regions.
Limerick sessions may be relocated within 20km. No refund if a comparable alternative is offered.
If your first or second class choice is unavailable, Swim Max will contact you to arrange an alternative.
All cancellations or rescheduling must be submitted by email to swim@swimmax.ie.
Timestamp of the email will apply.
Instructor preference is not guaranteed.
Swim Max reserves the right to adjust class sizes as needed.

Refund Policy
Swim Max maintains a strict no-refund policy for all group and private lessons once a booking is confirmed.
In exceptional cases, where a refund is granted at Swim Max’s discretion, a €50 administration fee per child will apply.

This policy exists for the following operational reasons:
Limited Space & Demand
Our classes operate with a capped number of participants. When a customer cancels, it is often difficult to fill the space at short notice, especially after scheduling has been finalised.
This results in direct revenue loss and disruption to other families.

Prepaid Costs & Resource Allocation
Planning each term requires significant upfront investment in staffing, pool hire, equipment, instructor scheduling, and materials. Customer cancellations do not reduce these overheads and often leave resources underutilised.

Administrative Costs
Processing refunds requires time and incurs transaction charges from our payment providers.
The €50 admin fee covers these direct costs, as well as staff time, communications, and reconciliation of backend systems.

Payment Transparency
Admin fees, failed payment fees, or other charges will only be applied when justified.
All fees are kept proportionate and fair.


Gift Cards / Vouchers
Valid for 5 years from date of issue (per Irish law).
Non-refundable, non-exchangeable, and not redeemable for cash.
Balances remain valid until expiry and can be used over multiple bookings.
Swim Max is not responsible for lost/stolen cards.
Gift cards are transferable.
No admin or inactivity fees apply.

Data Protection and Photography
We store your data securely and comply with GDPR.
We do not retain or process payment card details directly.
Card data is handled securely by third-party providers.
We do not share your data without consent.
Marketing photos/videos will only be taken and used with explicit, written opt-in consent.
You may withdraw consent at any time, and Swim Max will stop using your image in future materials.
Previously captured, validly consented content may still be used.

Withdrawal of consent: Applies only going forward.
Previously used or created content is not subject to deletion, recall, or editing.
Internal staff training use may continue.
By enrolling, you consent to essential service-related communications.
You may opt out of non-essential marketing.

Class Footage
Swim Max does not provide or release any video footage or recordings of swim lessons to parents or guardians.
Classes often include multiple children and adults.

For privacy, child protection, and GDPR compliance, no footage will be released under any circumstances.

While footage may occasionally be used for marketing or internal training, this is only done with prior, explicit written consent and is never publicly distributed.

Under no circumstances will Swim Max release class footage to any customer or third party.
Live viewing of lessons may be permitted from a designated viewing area.
This is the only form of access allowed.

Venue-Specific Hygiene
At Avista: Flip-flops or shoes not worn outside must be worn. Shoe covers are not provided.
At all other venues: Shoe covers are provided and must be used.
If you don’t have flip-flops or clean shoes, you must go barefoot.
Outdoor shoes are strictly prohibited inside the pool area.

All swimmers must shower for at least 2 minutes before entering the pool.
Why this matters: Showering removes sweat, cosmetics, and skin products that compromise pool water quality and increase chlorine demand.

If a swimmer arrives without showering, they will be asked to return and do so.
Refusal to shower will mean no participation and no refund.

Health & Safety
Children must be supervised at all times by their parent/guardian.
Babies/toddlers must wear swim nappies with proper swimwear over them unless toilet trained.
Please inform instructors of any medical issues before sessions.
Swim Max may exclude any child who appears unwell — no refund will be issued.
Non-participating children must remain in the viewing area and are not permitted in changing rooms or poolside areas.

Swim Max Changing Room Policy
At Swim Max, we are committed to maintaining a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment for all swimmers and families. Please review the following changing room guidelines, which apply across all venues:

Pool-Ready Arrival:
Swimmers are encouraged to arrive pool-ready, with swimsuits already on, to reduce congestion in changing rooms.
All swimmers must shower a minimum of 2mins before entering the pool area.

After Your Session
Post-swim showering is optional, but if you do shower, please do so with your swimsuit on and change discreetly, as you would at a public beach.
Changing rooms may be used at your discretion for brief, respectful use.

Parental Assistance
The assisting adult must use the changing room that matches their own gender.
For example, a mother assisting her son must use the female changing room, and a father assisting his daughter must use the male changing room.
If you require additional accommodations or privacy, please speak with a Swim Max staff member in advance and we will do our best to help.

One Parent per Child
For safety, privacy, and space reasons, only one parent or guardian per child may enter the changing room at any time.
Additional family members or siblings must wait in the designated viewing area unless otherwise authorised.

Respectful Conduct
Please be considerate and use the changing rooms promptly, allowing fair access to all swimmers.
Respect the privacy of others: keep conversations and activity in changing areas quiet, respectful, and limited to essential use.
Photography or video recording is strictly prohibited in all changing areas.

Cleanliness Policy
At Swim Max, we are committed to maintaining a clean, hygienic, and respectful environment for all swimmers, families, and staff. To ensure comfort and safety for everyone, we ask all customers to follow these guidelines:

General Cleanliness Guidelines (All Venues)
Please dispose of all waste in the bins provided, including nappies, wipes, tissues, and general rubbish.
Ensure that changing cubicles, benches, and shared areas are left tidy for the next user.
Do not bring glass containers or other breakable items into any Swim Max facility.
If you spill anything, please inform a staff member immediately so it can be cleaned up promptly.

Avista-Specific Cleanliness Notice: Strict No Food Policy
Absolutely no food or eating is permitted inside the Avista venue at any time.
This is a strict venue requirement enforced by Avista for hygiene and allergy safety reasons.
This includes snacks for children, even in bags or viewing areas.
Any customer found violating this policy may be asked to leave the premises.
Repeated non-compliance may result in cancellation of bookings without refund.

Buggy & Equipment Policy
For safety, space, and hygiene reasons, buggies, prams, or large wheeled items are not permitted beyond the reception area at any Swim Max venue.
Parents/guardians must leave buggies in the designated reception space or buggy zone where provided.
Exceptions are not granted due to narrow access routes, emergency evacuation requirements, and shared facility usage.
If you require assistance managing multiple children or personal items, we recommend bringing a second adult to assist.
Staff are not responsible for handling buggies or carrying children into changing or pool areas.
Failure to comply may result in restricted access to facilities. Refunds will not be provided in such cases.

Personal Property Policy
Swim Max accepts no responsibility for the loss, theft, or damage of any personal belongings brought onto the premises.

Customers are advised to keep valuables with them at all times or leave them securely stored.
Items left in changing rooms, poolside, viewing areas, or buggy zones are left entirely at the owner's risk.
Swim Max staff are not authorised to store or safeguard personal items for customers.
Lost property will be held for a limited period. Items not claimed within 14 days may be disposed of or donated.
By attending Swim Max facilities, you accept full responsibility for your own belongings.

Recommend a Friend
Refer a new customer and receive €10 credit once they book and pay.
The referred customer must be new.
The referring customer must be actively enrolled.
Credit is non-transferable and not redeemable for cash.
Swim Max reserves the right to suspend, change or cancel this offer at any time.

Make-Up Tokens
Provided as a courtesy and bonus for early bookings made before a specified deadline, or in the case of certified illness (doctor’s note required).
Not guaranteed.
If no suitable class is available, tokens will not be refunded, transferred, or carried forward.
Must be used within the same term.
Non-transferable, non-refundable, not redeemable for cash.
Swim Max reserves the right to issue, deny, or limit tokens at its sole discretion.

Payment Plans
By entering a plan, you agree to pay full term fees.
No refund is given for withdrawals after the plan starts.
Missed payments may result in forfeiture of the place, with no refund for any amount already paid.
A €50 admin fee applies to refunds granted in exceptional cases (e.g., sudden hospitalisation or serious illness with certification). Refunds are strictly at Swim Max’s discretion.
Plan change requests must be emailed to swim@swimmax.ie.
Admin fees may apply.

Recurring Payments
By enabling recurring payments, you authorise Swim Max to charge your card per the agreed schedule.
You may cancel in writing before your next billing cycle.
Refunds are subject to Swim Max’s standard refund and cancellation policy.
€10 charge applies to failed or returned payments.

Right to Refuse Admission
Swim Max reserves the absolute right to refuse admission to any of our swimming classes or venues.
A safe, respectful, and secure environment is essential for both our staff and customers.
As such, Swim Max staff are instructed not to accept or tolerate any form of violent, abusive, aggressive, or threatening behaviour, whether in person, over the phone, via email, text, or any other means of communication.

Any behaviour deemed inappropriate may result in:

Immediate removal from the premises,
Termination of the bookings without refund,
A permanent ban from Swim Max services.

Terms & Conditions Updates: Please be aware that Swim Max Terms & Conditions may be updated from time to time to reflect changes in our operations or legal obligations.

We advise all customers to regularly review the latest version on our website and ensure they remain familiar with our policies.