Cookie Policy
Effective date: May 2026 · Last updated:
This document is a template and should be reviewed by a qualified legal professional.
1. What Are Cookies
Cookies are small text files that are stored on your device (computer, tablet, or mobile phone) when you visit a website. They are widely used to make websites work more efficiently, provide a better browsing experience, and supply information to the site owners.
Cookies can be "persistent" (stored until they expire or you delete them) or "session" cookies (deleted when you close your browser). This policy covers both cookies and similar technologies such as local storage.
2. How We Use Cookies
We use cookies for the following purposes, organised into four categories:
Essential Cookies
These cookies are strictly necessary for the Service to function. They cannot be disabled as the Service would not work without them.
| Cookie | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Session Token | Maintains your authenticated session (JWT) | Session / 7 days |
| CSRF Token | Protects against cross-site request forgery attacks | Session |
| CAPTCHA Verification | Records proof-of-work CAPTCHA completion status | Session |
| Cookie Consent | Stores your cookie consent preferences | 1 year |
Analytics Cookies
These cookies help us understand how visitors interact with our Service. All analytics data is anonymised — we use SHA-256 hashing for user agents and session identifiers to prevent tracking of individual users.
| Cookie | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Page Visit Tracker | Records anonymised page path, referrer, and session hash | Session |
| Session Identifier | Hashed session identifier for aggregate analytics | Session |
Functional Cookies
These cookies enable enhanced functionality and personalisation, such as remembering your preferences and location settings.
| Cookie | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Location Preference | Remembers your preferred snorkeling spot or region | 1 year |
| UI Preferences | Stores display preferences and settings | 1 year |
Marketing Cookies
We currently do not use any marketing cookies. This category is included for transparency and in case marketing cookies are introduced in the future. If we add marketing cookies, we will update this policy and seek your consent before enabling them.
3. Managing Your Cookie Preferences
You have several options for managing cookies:
3.1 Cookie Consent Banner
When you first visit our Service, a cookie consent banner will appear allowing you to accept or reject non-essential cookies. You can change your preferences at any time by visiting our Privacy Preferences page.
Prefer the consent banner? to review or change your choices — your current preferences stay in effect until you decide again.
3.2 Browser Settings
Most web browsers allow you to control cookies through their settings. You can typically find these settings in the "Options", "Preferences", or "Settings" menu of your browser. The following links provide instructions for managing cookies in popular browsers:
- Google Chrome (opens in a new tab)
- Mozilla Firefox (opens in a new tab)
- Apple Safari (opens in a new tab)
- Microsoft Edge (opens in a new tab)
3.3 Effect of Disabling Cookies
Please note that disabling cookies may affect the functionality of the Service. Essential cookies cannot be disabled as they are required for the Service to operate. If you disable analytics or functional cookies, some features may not work as expected.
4. Changes to This Cookie Policy
We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect changes in the cookies we use or for other operational, legal, or regulatory reasons. When we make changes, we will update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page. We encourage you to review this Cookie Policy periodically.
5. Contact Us
If you have any questions about our use of cookies, please contact us at:
How's the Spot
Email: [email protected]
You can also manage your cookie preferences at any time via our Privacy Preferences page.