Questions and answers about our liveaboards and diving holidays

No, Scubatours shows the sales prices of the providers, we must adhere to the official price list and cannot offer more expensive or cheaper prices. As an authorised dealer, we are obliged to comply with this. It is also important to know that all payments are made directly to the provider, Scubatours only invoices for extraordinary services that arise as part of an additional service.

The dollar is the reference currency of every foreign company in most countries, and the trip is converted at the current exchange rate on the due date. This is determined by the provider.

Yes, we can recommend optimised flights and transfers to the destination on request, this is a free service, but the customer must make the booking themselves. We can also create complete itineraries on request, for which a flat rate will be charged.

Yes, after you have confirmed your offer, you will receive a payment link from us to the provider of your trip, when the trip is fully paid, you will receive a voucher from Scubatours, in which the services you have booked are listed.

This is decided by the cruise director of the respective provider, e.g. if 30 TG are required and the customer only has 27, he will probably let this pass, but if it is only 20 and 30 is the absolute minimum, he will probably reject it.

We always recommend diving with your own equipment, as you are used to it and everything fits, which is a great advantage, especially for divers who are not yet very experienced.

This is a very important point that we check regularly, and the providers are aware of this. As a rule, only very new equipment is still in use, so understandably we cannot offer any guarantees in this respect. However, the safari boat operators know that this is an important point in the customer's evaluation, so it is in their own interest not to produce any negative headlines here.

Yes, this is possible by arrangement with the organiser for an additional charge, but this request must be made early enough for the provider to be able to organise this, the cost is usually around $150 p/day.

No, but it is a great advantage, and the organisers simply offer this certification at a preferential price during the week, although there are operators who only dive with nitrox (oxygen-enriched air) in safari mode.

On a diving safari with up to 20 dives, it is clear that the nitrogen saturation in our tissue increases dramatically and our diving time becomes shorter and shorter. Diving with Nitrox therefore reduces this enormous saturation and allows us to stay at the same depth for longer than with air. Another pleasant side effect is that you don't get tired so quickly.

This can only be decided by the organiser, but there are certainly a few liveaboards where this may be possible. Safety aspects are the most important factor in the decision. This is also the reason why a minimum number of dives is required for certain liveaboards.

Certification as a diver (at least OWD), state of health, fulfilment of the required dives for this tour.

In many countries it is forbidden by religion to drink alcohol, hotels such as liveaboards are granted an exemption for a fee, these goods are also subject to very high import duties, which means that a beer can cost as much as $7-10. Bringing your own alcohol is not a good idea, as many of these countries have an import ban on alcohol. As alcohol and diving don't go particularly well together, it's a good idea to go without or limit yourself to one deco beer a day.

This cannot be guaranteed, you can make the organiser aware of this, but you cannot demand that they find a guide who speaks this language. As a rule, the main language on all safari boats is English; if the organiser works a lot for a particular country, e.g. Spain, then there are usually always a few Spanish-speaking guides on board.

This is decided by the captain in consultation with a doctor, who is informed of the symptoms and then the necessary steps are taken. A liveaboard normally has a generous first-aid kit containing the most important medication for nausea, stomach ache, ear infection, diarrhoea, flu or headaches

Every organiser has an emergency plan for this, which the captain must initiate as the person responsible. In the worst case scenario, the trip must be cancelled.

No, everyone is responsible for their own diving insurance with the corresponding insurance benefits. We recommend DAN as an all-round protection service provider that operates worldwide.

The organisers offer little leeway in terms of cancellation conditions, so the customer has to pay well in advance. However, this also gives the organiser a certain degree of planning security. This is another important reason to take out cancellation insurance if you are unable to travel due to illness or other important reasons. It should be noted that this should be taken out as soon as the booking is made or at the same time as the booking is made.

There are a few organisers who offer this, but it is very expensive and limited to a few days of the safari. We recommend taking out your own annual insurance for a few euros, which makes much more sense and you don't have to think about it.

Unfortunately, this is quite possible, and various scenarios now open up. You can wait a day, as the boat usually doesn't leave on the day you check in. The liveaboard can provide all the equipment for a fee (which is certainly possible). The costs will initially fall on the participant, who will report his claims to his insurer after the trip if this is shown as a benefit, if not, he will be left with his costs. Experience has shown that airlines are not liable in this case.

In any case, there are more individual travellers than you might think.

Yes, provided that one cabin is completely free. As a rule, 80% of the 2nd bed is charged as an extra.

This requirement must be requested from the organiser, vegetarianism is no longer a problem at all and other intolerances can also be catered for. However, everything must be requested separately and the organiser can also refuse.

Yes, this should not really be a problem, but must be ordered with the booking, the organiser charges a fee for this, which will be announced at the time of booking

Yes, simply request this when booking, a fee will be charged for this.

No, everyone decides for themselves when and how many times they want to dive, there is no obligation to dive.

We are not medical professionals, so this question should be consulted with a doctor. We have had very good experiences with the active ingredient meclozine (Postafen, Trust Meclozine, Antivert), an antihistamine. Many diving organisations, including PADI, consider this medication to be acceptable. However, it should be tested at least 24 hours before the start of the diving safari to see if there is an intolerance.

Depending on the organiser, this is possible for a fee, but is not generally available; you can check the provider's services to see which services are offered on this topic.

As already discussed elsewhere, a clear yes, because only this covers any costs for not starting the trip - so a must have!

This depends on the organiser, if all questions on the health questionnaire are answered with NO, none is required, but if there are health problems such as asthma, heart, circulation, a doctor on site must certify fitness to dive. The organiser has the final say, this decision cannot be contested.

Yes, this is part of the basic equipment of every safari boat

No, every route description of a diving tour is only an example, the route and the dive site are determined by the captain. This is done after a thorough examination of the weather conditions and currents; the safety of the divers is always the first priority.

These fees must be paid locally to the local authorities, the organiser collects them in cash, the customer is informed which currency is accepted and how much this amount will be.

Most safari boats have a satellite telephone connection, whether this is possible must be requested from the organiser.

Basically NO, depending on the country this is not possible at all, there are certainly possibilities at an easy dive site, but it is not the rule. The safety of the guests comes first and the organiser is liable for this.

This is very different, there are providers who do this, but more often you do your VISA by arrival or can apply and pay for it online, if necessary.

This varies greatly, but all services that are included are listed in the offer

This is ultimately decided by the insurance company, which must cover the costs. If the applicant is not covered, the captain and organiser will look for a solution and charge the necessary costs in advance. The organiser will not cancel the trip for this reason, but will cooperate.

No, Scubatours is only an intermediary. In this case the organiser is responsible, Scubatours can only offer to mediate. From experience, however, we can say that this rarely happens, but it cannot be ruled out completely. The fact is that all our offers in this price range are top-maintained safari boats, so failures of this kind should not occur.