1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing and using MysticSwell ("the Service"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms"). If you do not agree, please do not use the Service. These Terms apply to all users, whether browsing as a visitor or using a registered account.

2. Description of Service

MysticSwell is a UK surf forecasting platform that provides wave height, wind, swell, tide, and weather predictions for surf spots across the United Kingdom. The Service includes:

  • AI-powered surf quality ratings and forecasts using NOAA GFS wave model data.
  • Tidal predictions from the UK Hydrographic Office (Admiralty).
  • Live sea surface temperature data.
  • User accounts with saved favourites, surf alerts, and preferences.
  • Community features including photo uploads, local knowledge posts, and likes.
  • Interactive swell charts and spot comparison tools.

3. User Accounts

Registration

Some features require a free account. You may register using your email address. We use passwordless authentication — sign-in codes are sent to your email. You are responsible for maintaining access to the email address associated with your account.

Account responsibilities

  • You must provide a valid email address.
  • You must not create multiple accounts for the purpose of circumventing bans, rate limits, or content moderation.
  • You are responsible for all activity under your account.
  • You must be at least 13 years old to create an account.

Account termination

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate accounts that violate these Terms, at our sole discretion. You may delete your account at any time by contacting us at [email protected].

4. User-Generated Content

What you can upload

Registered users may upload surf photos and post local knowledge (text) to specific surf spots.

Content standards

All user-generated content must:

  • Be your own original work, or you must have permission to share it.
  • Be relevant to surfing, the ocean, or the specific surf spot.
  • Not contain nudity, violence, hate speech, harassment, or illegal content.
  • Not contain spam, advertising, or promotional material.
  • Not include personal information of other individuals without their consent.
  • Not infringe any copyright, trademark, or other intellectual property rights.

Moderation

All uploaded photos and posts are subject to review before publication. We may approve, reject, or remove content at our sole discretion. We may also edit captions for clarity or appropriateness. Content that has been reported by other users will be reviewed promptly.

Licence grant

By uploading content to MysticSwell, you grant us a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide licence to use, display, reproduce, and distribute your content on the Service and in promotional materials (such as social media posts about MysticSwell). This licence continues for as long as your content remains on the Service and terminates when you delete it, except where your content has been shared by other users or incorporated into aggregate displays.

You retain ownership of your content. We will credit your first name when displaying your photos or posts.

Removal

You may delete your own photos and posts at any time. We may remove content that violates these Terms, is reported by other users, or for any other reason at our discretion. We will endeavour to notify you if we remove your content, but are not obligated to do so.

Reporting

If you believe content on MysticSwell infringes your copyright or violates these Terms, please contact us at [email protected] with details.

5. Forecast Accuracy Disclaimer

Surf forecasts are predictions, not guarantees. While we strive for accuracy using the best available data sources, ocean conditions are inherently variable and can change rapidly. MysticSwell forecasts should be used as a guide only and should not replace your own judgement, local knowledge, or in-person assessment of conditions.

AI-generated content (surf overviews, quality ratings, spot rankings) is produced by automated systems and may contain inaccuracies. Quality ratings (Poor to Epic) are algorithmic assessments based on wave height, wind direction, swell period, and other factors — they do not account for all variables that affect surf quality.

Always verify conditions before entering the water.

6. Safety Warning

Surfing is an inherently dangerous activity. You are solely responsible for your own safety in the water. MysticSwell does not assess hazards such as rip currents, submerged rocks, marine life, water quality, pollution, or crowding. Our spot guides provide general information only and may not be up to date.

Always surf within your ability, check local conditions in person, and follow advice from lifeguards, the RNLI, and local authorities. In an emergency, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.

7. Acceptable Use

You agree not to:

  • Scrape, crawl, or automatically extract data from the Service at excessive rates or for commercial purposes without permission.
  • Attempt to interfere with, disrupt, or overload the Service's infrastructure.
  • Attempt to access other users' accounts or private data.
  • Use the Service for any unlawful purpose.
  • Redistribute forecast data, AI-generated content, or tidal data commercially without permission.
  • Upload malicious files, viruses, or any content designed to harm the Service or its users.
  • Circumvent rate limiting, content moderation, or account restrictions.
  • Impersonate another person or misrepresent your affiliation.

8. Intellectual Property

The MysticSwell name, logo, design, code, and original content are the property of MysticSwell and are protected by copyright and other intellectual property laws. You may not reproduce, modify, or distribute our content without permission.

GFS forecast data is sourced from NOAA and is in the public domain. Tidal predictions are sourced from the UK Hydrographic Office under licence. Sea surface temperature data is sourced from NOAA. User-generated content remains the property of its respective creators, subject to the licence granted in Section 4.

9. Limitation of Liability

The Service is provided "as is" and "as available" without warranties of any kind, either express or implied, including but not limited to implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement.

To the fullest extent permitted by law, MysticSwell shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages arising from:

  • Your use of or inability to use the Service.
  • Any inaccuracy in forecasts, quality ratings, or AI-generated content.
  • Personal injury, property damage, or any harm resulting from surfing or ocean activities.
  • Unauthorised access to or alteration of your data.
  • User-generated content posted by other users.
  • Service interruptions, downtime, or data loss.

10. Free and Premium Features

MysticSwell currently offers both free and account-based features. Free users can access 3-day forecasts and basic spot information. Registered users receive extended 7-day forecasts, AI surf overviews, saved favourites, surf alerts, and community features.

We reserve the right to change which features are available to free and registered users at any time. We may introduce paid features in the future and will provide notice before any changes affect existing functionality.

11. Availability

We aim to keep the Service available at all times but do not guarantee uninterrupted access. The Service may be temporarily unavailable due to maintenance, updates, or circumstances beyond our control. Forecast data depends on upstream GFS model runs managed by NOAA, and tidal data depends on the UK Hydrographic Office API.

12. Third-Party Content and Links

The Service may contain links to third-party websites or services. We are not responsible for the content, accuracy, or practices of third-party sites. User-generated content (photos, posts) represents the views of the individual user, not MysticSwell.

13. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless MysticSwell, its operators, and contributors from any claims, damages, losses, or expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising from your use of the Service, your violation of these Terms, or your user-generated content.

14. Changes to Terms

We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated date. If we make material changes, we will notify registered users by email. Continued use of the Service after changes constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.

15. Governing Law

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales. Any disputes arising from these Terms or your use of the Service shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.

16. Contact

If you have questions about these Terms, please email [email protected].