Privacy Policy

1. Overview

CoralCoe ("we," "us," "our," or "the Site") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains our practices regarding the collection and use of information when you visit coralcoe.org.au (the "Site") and use our services.

We are a reef science and education website. We do not sell your personal information to third parties. We do not use invasive tracking or behavioural advertising. Our approach to privacy is simple: collect only what we need, protect what we collect, and be transparent about our practices.

2. Information We Collect

Information You Provide Directly

When you interact with the Site, we may collect information you voluntarily provide:

• Contact Form Submissions: When you use our contact form, we collect your name, email address, topic, and message.
• Newsletter Signup: If you subscribe to our mailing list, we collect your email address and name (optional).
• Comments or Feedback: If you leave comments or feedback on articles, we collect the information you provide.

Information Collected Automatically

When you visit the Site, we automatically collect certain information about your visit:

• Server Logs: IP address, browser type, operating system, referring URL, pages visited, time spent on pages, and access times.
• Website Analytics: We use analytics tools (see Section 6) to understand how visitors use the Site. This includes traffic patterns, popular content, and user behavior.
• Cookies: Small files stored on your device to remember preferences and track activity (see Section 5).

Information We Do NOT Collect

• We do not use behavioural tracking or pixel-based advertising trackers.
• We do not collect precise location data (only general geographic location from IP addresses).
• We do not require login credentials for accessing site content.
• We do not collect payment information (our site is free to access).

3. How We Use Information

Operational Purposes

We use the information we collect to:

• Respond to your contact form inquiries and messages
• Send you newsletters or updates you've subscribed to
• Improve and optimize the Site's functionality and user experience
• Monitor Site security and prevent fraud or abuse
• Analyze usage patterns to understand what content resonates with visitors

Communication

We only send you emails or communications when:

• You submit a contact form—we respond to your inquiry
• You subscribe to our newsletter—we send updates you've opted into
• You request password reset or account information (if applicable)

We never send unsolicited marketing emails. You can unsubscribe from our newsletter at any time using the link in any email we send.

Legal Obligations

We may disclose information when required by law, such as in response to government requests, court orders, or to protect the rights, safety, and security of our Site, users, and the public.

What We Do NOT Use Your Information For

• We do not sell your information to advertisers or third parties.
• We do not use your data for behavioural advertising or targeted marketing.
• We do not share contact information with other websites or services.
• We do not create detailed profiles about your interests or behavior for resale.

4. Data Protection

Security Measures

We implement reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. These include:

• HTTPS encryption for all data in transit
• Secure server infrastructure with firewalls and intrusion detection
• Regular security audits and updates
• Limited access to personal information—only authorized staff can access user data
• Secure deletion of data when it is no longer needed

Data Retention

We retain personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected:

• Contact Form Submissions: Retained for 12 months to track inquiries and follow-up communications, then deleted.
• Newsletter Subscribers: Retained until you unsubscribe, then deleted within 30 days.
• Server Logs and Analytics: Retained for 12 months, then automatically purged.

No Guarantee of Absolute Security

While we take security seriously, no system is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute protection of your information. If you have concerns about your data security, please contact us immediately.

5. Cookies and Tracking

What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files stored on your device that help websites remember your preferences and track activity. CoralCoe uses cookies minimally and only for legitimate purposes.

Types of Cookies We Use

• Essential Cookies: Required for basic site functionality, such as maintaining your session or processing form submissions.
• Preferences Cookies: Remember your language preferences, theme settings, or other customizations.
• Analytics Cookies: Used by our analytics service to track traffic, page views, and user behavior (see Section 6).

Cookies We Do NOT Use

• We do not use advertising or behavioral tracking cookies.
• We do not use third-party cookies from social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter, etc.) for tracking.
• We do not use cookies to build detailed profiles for targeted advertising.

Managing Cookies

You can control cookies through your browser settings. Most browsers allow you to refuse cookies or alert you when they're being set. You can also clear cookies from your device at any time. Note that disabling cookies may affect some Site functionality.

Do Not Track (DNT)

Some browsers include a "Do Not Track" feature. While we respect these signals, we do not track users for advertising purposes regardless, so DNT signals do not change our data practices.

6. Third-Party Services

Website Analytics

We use analytics services to understand how visitors use the Site. These services collect data about page views, traffic sources, user demographics, and behavior. This information helps us improve content and user experience.

Content Delivery and Hosting

Our Site is hosted on secure servers and may use content delivery networks (CDNs) for optimal performance. These service providers may log access information and IP addresses as part of normal server operations.

Third-Party Links

Our Site contains links to external websites and resources (GetYourGuide booking widget, external article links, etc.). We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these external sites. We recommend reviewing their privacy policies before providing personal information.

Data Sharing with Third Parties

We do not share your personal information with third parties except:

• Service Providers: Companies that provide services on our behalf (hosting, analytics, email delivery) and are bound by confidentiality agreements.
• Legal Requirements: When required by law or in response to legal process.
• Safety and Security: To protect the rights, privacy, safety, and property of our Site, users, and the public.

7. Your Rights

Access Your Information

You have the right to know what personal information we hold about you. Contact us to request a copy of your data.

Correct Your Information

If you believe your information is inaccurate, you can request corrections by contacting us.

Delete Your Information

You can request deletion of your personal information. We will delete your data from our active systems within 30 days, except where we have a legal obligation to retain it.

Opt-Out of Communications

You can unsubscribe from our newsletter at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link in any email or by contacting us directly.

Withdraw Consent

If you've provided consent for us to use your information, you can withdraw that consent at any time.

Data Portability

You can request your personal data in a portable format (such as CSV) that you can transfer to another service.

Right Not to Be Profiled

We do not engage in automated decision-making, profiling for marketing purposes, or behavioral targeting. You will not be subject to these practices on our Site.

Exercising Your Rights

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at [email protected]. Include your name and request details. We will respond within 30 days.

8. Contact Us

Privacy Questions or Concerns

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, how we handle your data, or want to exercise your rights, please contact us:

We will respond to all privacy inquiries within 30 days. If you are not satisfied with our response, you may have the right to lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority.

Policy Updates

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors. We will notify you of significant changes by updating the "Last Updated" date at the top of this policy or by sending you an email notification.

Your continued use of the Site after updates constitute your acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy. We encourage you to review this policy periodically to stay informed about how we protect your privacy.

Thank You

Thank you for visiting CoralCoe and trusting us with your information. We are committed to maintaining your privacy and ensuring you have a positive, secure experience on our Site. If you have any questions or concerns, don't hesitate to reach out.

CoralCoe Privacy Policy
Effective as of March 30, 2026