Ocean Walker Academy – Open Water Swimming WITH YOUR DOG Sessions
General Information and Venue Rules

Swimming with your dog, or just a bit of a play and a paddle. Please read the below so that everyone can enjoy their visit safely.

HUMANS / DOG PARENTS
The booking option applies whether you swim, paddle or just bring your dog to swim with you on the side.
Max 2 dogs per Human (18 years and over).
If you have your own wetsuit and buoyancy aids - we recommend you bring them.
Life jackets are available to hire on the day (£5 per person).
We will not be hiring our wetsuits for dog swim sessions.
It is your responsibility to keep your dog(s) under control during your time on site.
Dogs must be on a lead at all times out of the water.
You may bring a suitable floating toy for your dog, which must return home with you (please don't bring sinkable items).
BRING YOUR OWN POO BAGS! Please clean up after your dog and take away with you to dispose of at home - do not use our general waste bins for your dog mess.

SIGNING IN
Your start time is as detailed on your booking. Please arrive no earlier than 15 minutes prior to your start time as we have other activities running prior to this session.
We will sign you in and out of your session from the metal gate entrance directly from the car park. This avoids lots of wet doggies having to go through our reception and shop.
The dog swim sessions is 1 hour on site. Our venue will close shortly after the session.

ENTERING AND EXITING THE WATER
You will only be able to enter the water at your exact start time.
Keep your dog under control at all times.
You can complete your session and exit the water anytime within your 1 hour swim slot.
Our OWA team will call you in when the 1 hour time slot is over.
Your 1 hour slot is fixed, we cannot allow additional time if you are late due to traffic/other reasons.

AGE & ABILITY FOR SWIM WITH YOUR DOG SESSIONS
Dogs must be accompanied by an adult (18 years or over).
Humans must be competent swimmers to enter the water.
Dogs tire quickly when swimming, so a dog lifejacket is highly recommended.
Dogs should be under control both in and out of the water.

FACILITIES AVAILABLE
Please note that at this time changing rooms and showers are not available for use.
Toilets are available for use and can be used to change.
If you are coming on your own with your dog, you will need to secure your dog in your car if you need to use the toilet or while you change. Dogs are not allowed in the toilet and changing area with you.
Free onsite car parking for those who have booked - please note that your cars and any valuables are left at your own risk.
Please arrive swim ready (swimming costume/trunks on under clothes, any additional wear can be put on lakeside).
Please ensure you have suitable equipment to allow you to change following your swim.
Bring your usual open water swim kit.

FOOD & DRINK
Hot drinks and freshly baked cakes served on Saturdays from our patio cafe.
We have a tap and dog bowl near the patio should your dog not have drank their fill from our lake.
You are not permitted to bring your own picnics/throw away food/drink items to Ocean Walker Academy.
For the health and enjoyment of everyone, do not litter in or around our lake. Please ensure that any food items you consume that creates litter goes in the bins provided (bins found at reception or toilet area) or goes home with you.
You are not permitted to bring and/or consume alcohol or drugs at Ocean Walker Academy.

NON-PARTICIPANTS
Participants may be accompanied by up to 3 non-participating friends/partners/family arriving together in the same car/vehicle.
Non-participants must pay their admission in cash on arrival at the gate.
Non-participants fee is £3 per person (of any age/size).
Non-participants can enjoy a walk around the lake or sit and enjoy a hot drink and slice of cake on our patio (sorry we don’t allow food to be brought onto site) while you swim.
Non-participants are not permitted to enter/swim/paddle in the lake and must arrive with the participant.
Children must be kept under close supervision at all times.
Non-swimmers must abide by our rules during their time on site.

ISLANDS, TREES AND GENERAL AREAS
Swimmers are not permitted to climb onto the islands (except in an emergency).
Visitors are not permitted to pick plants.
Visitors must not throw grass, sticks, stones or any other item into the lake at any time – anyone caught throwing anything other than a floatable dog toy) will be immediately removed from the site.
Visitors may not climb, hang from or carve any tree, rock or item at the venue.
Visitors are not permitted to lift or remove any display items from their position.

NO SMOKING
We are a no smoking/vaping venue, this includes the car park.

EVERYONE is required to abide by our venue rules this is for your safety and your enjoyment. If we feel that someone is not following our guidance during their visit, they will be asked to leave the venue. If this is a non-swimmer, the swimmer will be required to finish their swim so that they can leave site.

BOOKINGS/RESCHEDULING/CANCELLATIONS
All bookings to be made online.
You can book up to 2hrs in advance of a swim slot.
You can reschedule up to 24hrs before your swim slot.
PLEASE NOTE: We cannot make last minute changes to your booking over the phone, if something comes up on the day or you are late for example.
If you arrive late but within your swim slot, you can use the remainder of the time of your booked slot to swim, sorry we cannot extend your session to another time slot.
If you wish to swim for more than 1 hour, you can book one slot after another – where available.
You can manage your bookings from the confirmation email you receive upon booking.
Missed slots are non-transferable.
You cannot transfer your booked slots into the following year.
We cannot transfer bookings for alternative courses.
Refunds for cancelled bookings are not automatic. They will be administered once a month, via the original payment method with the payment processing fee deducted.