How do I charter a whole liveaboard for my group?

Full charters need 12–26 divers depending on the vessel, book 12–18 months ahead, and typically earn a 5–15% discount plus one free place for the organiser.

Chartering the whole boat gives you control that no individual booking can: your dates, your itinerary within the operator's permitted range, your dive schedule, your group, and no strangers.

How it works commercially: you commit to the full guest capacity, typically 12 to 26 divers depending on the vessel. Operators generally offer a 5 to 15 percent discount against the sum of individual bookings, and most give the organiser one free berth for every 10 to 16 paying guests. A deposit of 20 to 30 percent secures the dates, with the balance due 60 to 90 days out.

Timing: book 12 to 18 months in advance for peak-season dates on popular vessels, longer for Galápagos and Socorro. Shoulder-season charters can sometimes be arranged inside six months.

What is negotiable on a full charter: the itinerary and site order within the operator's licence, the dive schedule and number of night dives, meal times, and sometimes the inclusion of Nitrox or transfers in the package price. What is not negotiable: safety rules, park regulations and crew working-time limits.

We handle charter enquiries end to end, including collecting payments from individual group members if you would rather not act as the bank. Tell us your group size, dates and target destination and we will come back with vessel options and pricing.