How Has Current Events Affected Consumer Dive Travel?
William Cline, Publisher, Scuba Diving Industry Magazine and President, Cline Group
THIS SURVEY is ongoing and will continue to run for the next few months. A similar parallel consumer survey is being conducted to judge how consumer diversity is reacting. Early results show very similar thought processes in canceling, postponing, or switching destinations – almost split evenly between all three by actions by dive consumers. Here are the results of our dive retailer and industry survey as of March 27, 2026.
Read the March Issue Article Here.
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Q7. What changes are you making to compensate for these travel disruptions? 77 responses
None
none
Rerouting air travel.
Partnering with dive travel businesses who’s entire business is to understand these changes and how they affect me (and my customers). As a dive retailer travel is just one part of everything I do. Therefore, having the right dive travel partner to work with is key. I no longer have to be the expert on all these changes and I can rely on an expert to work with me to communicate these changes to my customers. I am educating myself on travel insurance options, and partnering with a dive travel agency who can speak to options at a high level to my customers. Educating myself on the US embassy’s in each of our destination countries. Enrolling in STEP (Smart Traveler Enrollment Program) so the US embassy knows where my group will be and I receive real-time alerts, if something happens they can reach me, and it’s free to enroll.
Few to No options for Maldives travel. Middle East transit (including via Europe) cancelled. Via Pacific routes: Ticket costs are not affordable.
Waiting it out–hoping it will change sooner than later, trying to reassure those already booked
Trying to find flight hubs that are not affected by the current geopolitical situation in order to get to our destination safely or switching destinations all together.
Looking elsewhere
looking at other destinations
Choosing destinations with minimal conflict. Highly recommending travel insurance
Positive PR about destinations
None
Issuing constant warnings and updating not only the middle east situation but extreme weather conditions in the Far North of Australia.
Discounts (same as lots of our partners)
Staying in Canada and diving coast to coast
Seeking alternate travel routes or alternate destinations.
N/A
Have to absorb the punch
Booking air travel around affected areas
Offers and incentives
None at this time
choosing flights that avoid transits in the middle east
Waiting for the TACO
n/a
Having to re-schedule or cancel trips. Under U.K. law customer’s money has to be ring fenced for return if trip is cancelled.
we are waiting for change the President
Invest on marketing
Assisting customers finding new airline routes to their destnations
it is understood, by accepting cancelation we hope to keep good relationship
Internal discussions ongoing
Let them change to another trip
We have lowered prices and offered discounts on fuel at our dock to try to keep customers coming but it has had very little effect.
nill
changing destinations if asked to
Education
Free cancellation option policy if travel is not possible.
new/other trips
None. We always require travel Insurance.
Lower prices to keep a float
Current plans are being left in place, however there are no new bookings being made currently.
Unfortunately we cant change our trip destinations, so all we can do is try to keep customers informed and try to be transparent on how or if the situation occuring is affecting travel to the destination or the destination itself.
so far nothing, waiting and will see
Give credit for future bookings
other destinations
increased communication with customers and mandatory travel insurance
revising destinationa
Explaining no problems in Egypt, being honest about Cuba
Current trips went and all successful with some delays but all got through. Summer trips asking those who have not bought air to hold off and look at different routes that I assist with. Spring trips no cancellations and people paid higher prices on air.
Increased communication and information updates
quit doing dive travel
working twice
Trips closer to home – waiting and watching on far eas
Reaching out to clients to answer questions, trying to save what bookings we have
Offer assurances to travel
Focus more on regions that are more stable / viewed as safer.
using different destinations
Change destination
Not booking any more trips for the time being
We are a manufacturer and we do not book travel.
Booking as much as 5 years out. Keeping deposits to resorts low. Setting up escrow accounts for client deposits. Requiring customer trip contracts and encouraging trip insurance
I am not, let the travel insurance and destination resorts do their job and deal with it
cancelations
less offerings
Trying to find alternates
It’s still too early to tell, I think I’ll have a better picture in 6 months
Requesting customers take travel insurance
Local Australian marketing
Only travel to friendly countries
We require everyone to have full Travel insurance now
Offering varied insurance options.
none at this stage
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