Privacy Policy & Data Protection Notice
Last updated: 2026
SwimmingWithTurtles.com (“we”, “our”, or “the Website”) is committed to safeguarding your privacy and protecting any personal data collected during your visit. This Privacy Policy outlines how we collect, use, store, and disclose information in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) (EU 2016/679), the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), and applicable global data privacy statutes.
OUR CORE PRIVACY PRINCIPLES
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ • Data Minimization: We collect only essential technical info│
│ • Zero Data Brokering: We never sell or rent user details │
│ • User Autonomy: You maintain full rights to access & delete │
│ • Secure Protocols: All traffic is encrypted via HTTPS / SSL│
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
1. Information We Collect
A. Non-Personally Identifiable Information (Analytics)
When you browse SwimmingWithTurtles.com, our servers and privacy-focused analytics tools automatically collect standard non-identifying technical data, including:
- Browser type, language preference, and operating system.
- Referring URL, pages visited, time spent per guide, and exit pages.
- General geographic region (country or city level; exact IP addresses are anonymized).
This data is aggregated solely to analyze website traffic patterns, optimize server response times, and improve guide readability.
B. Personally Identifiable Information
We only collect personal information that you voluntarily provide to us, such as:
- Your email address and name when sending an inquiry to our editorial desk.
- Details submitted when reporting sanctuary updates or operator licensing info.
We use this information exclusively to respond to your specific inquiry. We will never sell, lease, or distribute your email address to commercial marketing firms.
2. Cookies and Tracking Technologies
A cookie is a small text file placed on your device to help websites function smoothly.
COOKIE CATEGORIES USED ON THIS WEBSITE
┌────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Cookie Type │ Purpose & Functionality │
├────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Essential / Functional │ Core navigation, UI rendering, layout caching │
│ Performance Analytics │ Aggregated, anonymous traffic telemetry │
│ Third-Party Affiliates │ Attribution tracking on outbound booking clicks │
└────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Outbound Partner Cookies
When you click on an external link to view tours or purchase gear on third-party platforms (such as Viator or GetYourGuide), those third parties may place their own tracking cookies on your browser to record transaction attribution. These third-party cookies are governed by the respective privacy policies of those external platforms.
You can manage, restrict, or disable cookies at any time through your individual web browser settings.
3. Data Retention and Security
We employ industry-standard 256-bit SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) encryption across all pages. We retain collected technical logs for the minimum duration necessary to maintain server performance and fulfill security audit requirements.
4. Your Rights Under GDPR and CCPA
Under applicable data protection laws, you possess the following rights regarding your personal data:
- Right of Access: You may request a copy of any personal data we hold about you.
- Right to Rectification: You have the right to request correction of inaccurate data.
- Right to Erasure (“Right to be Forgotten”): You may request that we delete your email communications and personal information.
- Right to Opt-Out: You have the right to opt out of non-essential analytics tracking.