If you call a paid dive, are you out all funds?

[DougK]

The thread below about thumbing a dive is a great read. I got through about 1/2 the 8 pages before wanting to know this detail.

If you thumb a paid dive trip, such as on a dive boat, are you simply out all the money or are you entitled to any type of refund?

I am not about to let the pressure of loosing money change my mind. I just want to know what to expect from the dive operator. And how much pressure to put on if the dive ops does not do what is customary.

Tell me what to expect in this situation?

 

[H2Andy]

generally, if you call the dive, the dive is over just as though you had finished it

the only times (at least here in Florida) that rain-checks or refunds are given
is when the dive is not done due to weather or the operator calling the dive
(such as, once, the boat breaking on the way to the dive)

 

[Diver Dennis]

Hmmmmm. I wonder if I can go to a sporting event and ask for some of my money back if my team is losing at half-time or I'm not enjoying the game? No, you will get no refund.

 

[The Chairman]

Like Andy's underwear: It "depends".

I have had captains give me a free dive when things outside of their control occured. I was given a bad fill once. The Captain of the Loggerhead told me to come back next week and he would cut me a deal. The deal? When I got there, he just let me dive for free!

I have had Captains lie and then refuse to make good. SS Minnow out of West Palm was one. The Captain told me that they had 3 ft seas or less. When we went out, the seas were in excess of 6ft and during the extraction things got worse! One of my students fractured a finger and so I called the second dive. Not only was she rude about not offering and refund/discount but she fueled up on the way in. Those who were not already pucking really lost it. Since then, I have said "Goodbye" to the vomit comet!

 

[vkalia]

As the good Doc already told you, it depends.

We dont charge our divers if they dont dive - whatever the reason may be. If they abort the dive after 10-15 min, we charge them a nominal amount (may 25% or so). My rationale is that I'd rather people thumb dives, rather than do a dive and hurt themselves. Any external pressure that I can reduce makes it easier for them to make the right decision.

Quite a few times when this does hurt us financially - for example, if we have a full boat, and have turned away people, and then someone doesnt dive. I see it as a necessary cost of running a safe dive operation in the middle of nowhere.

However, if a dive operator does charge me for thumbing a dive, I can empathize with their point of view. You are paying for the use of the equipment and space on the boat - and you are using those items, regardless of whether you get in the water or no.

Cheers,
Vandit

 

[LSDeep]

our policy used to be, if the dive is called at any point by our staff (may it be boat or dm's / instr's) there is no charge to you at all. if you go out and decide for any reason not to go in the water - no charge to you (no money back either but a raincheck), if you call the dive at any point due to materials supplied by us or probs with a serious buddy issue when we set you up with him / her - no charge and raincheck. if you have to call the dive for personal reasons or probs with your own gear / material you pay. generally our policy was to keep the client happy, because it will come back to us 10fold in the end by repeating guests and happy clients recommending us. every shop has it own rules, i would expect nothing less as a client. if not i will not whine and argue but surely find a new dc for my next dive.

 

[BarryNL]

The thread below about thumbing a dive is a great read. I got through about 1/2 the 8 pages before wanting to know this detail.

If you thumb a paid dive trip, such as on a dive boat, are you simply out all the money or are you entitled to any type of refund?

I am not about to let the pressure of loosing money change my mind. I just want to know what to expect from the dive operator. And how much pressure to put on if the dive ops does not do what is customary.

Tell me what to expect in this situation?

Well, if you call the dive due to problems with equipment you rented from the company you'd have a good case for asking for a refund or new dive. Otherwise though, if you thumb the dive you're probably out of luck.

Morally, at least, I think it comes down to the question of: did you need to thumb the dive because of a mistake or problem caused by the operator.

 

[The Kraken]

Barring any action, or lack thereof, on the part of the charter, if YOU call the dive, for whatever reason, then you're just out of luck.

One good example would be sea conditions.

While you may think the conditions are too severe, but others on the dive may not. You call the dive, it's your choice.

the K

 

[wreckchick]

I will offer a refund only if there is a problem with equipment (boat or scuba) that I am responsible for or if I call the dive for some reason such as unexpected weather or other safety concerns. Buddy issues are generally not a problem since often I can step in and dive with a customer who's lost a buddy either due to sea-sickness or incompetence.

If YOU call the dive for some reason, there is no refund offered.

Once we leave the dock, all my expenses have already been incurred. I have to pay the captain, pay for the fuel, pay for misc. supplies, etc. I provide a service, I deliver you to the dive site and give you an orientation and I'm on stand-by in case someone needs assistance. What you choose to do with the time on the water is up to you.

The only exception I've made to the above policies is when I took a trip out and the visibility was atrocious. I mean 0-5' on a tropical reef. The boat voted and decided to abort the 2nd dive and come in. I offered everyone a 50% refund, some took it and some didn't.

I don't expect a refund if I choose to sit out a dive, nor do I let money dictate whether or not I do a dive. The money is already spent, in my opinion.

Rachel

 

[Tom Smedley]

Most operators will not charge if the crew calls the dive but if an individual does then they will be charged. I have had Captains give me a choice when we did clear the rocks and the water was rougher than expected. "If we turn around now it's on me but if we continue it will be so much an hour."

The worst situation we encounter is those folks who book a dive and others are depending on them as a minimum number for a trip to go. Then during the night they leave a message on the answering machine that they have backed out. If that person were number four on a minimum four-to-go trip the rest are out of luck.