What if the itinerary changes or sites are swapped?

Captains can change sites for weather, safety or park restrictions. Published itineraries are indicative, not contractual, and changes do not normally entitle you to a refund.

Every liveaboard itinerary you see published is a plan, not a guarantee, and every operator's terms say so. Weather, sea state, current, marine-park permits, port closures and mechanical issues all give the captain the right and the duty to change the route.

In practice this usually means swapping one site for a sheltered alternative, reordering the week, or shortening a crossing. Good captains explain the reason at the briefing, and the substituted diving is often excellent — local knowledge of where the conditions are working is exactly what you are paying for. A captain who runs an exposed site in marginal conditions to keep the brochure promise is a red flag, not a good one.

What is not acceptable: material changes made for commercial convenience, such as skipping a marine park to save fees, or repeatedly diving house reefs instead of the advertised sites. If that happens, document it — dates, sites, briefings — and raise it with us. We take it up with the operator on your behalf.

Refunds for weather-driven changes are rare and are not usually payable under the operator's terms. Where a whole trip is cancelled or cut short by the operator, the terms normally provide a pro-rata refund or a credit, and we will make sure the right one is applied.