Those Damn Fuel Surcharges

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With oil prices high, attributed in good part to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, divers are affected not only by the increased cost of airfares but also by the fuel cost for dive operators. Day boat operators may just increase the cost of their dives, cancel trips when they have few divers (which is always annoying), or maybe not travel to better sites to conserve fuel.

Liveaboards can't increase current prices because they have already sold bunks and collected money as many as two years in advance. So, as many have in other years of increased fuel charges, customers get slapped with a fuel surcharge to keep their same fuel-eating itinerary. (Of course, when fuel prices drop, some stick with their surcharge.)

Randy Kettering, who headed off to Raja Ampat on November 3, got notified of a surcharge by his boat, La Galigo, but with it came a detailed and believable explanation....

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