In this Mouthpiece Monday episode, I’m talking about refund and cancellation policies for scuba charters and scuba courses—because I recently had to do the thing I hate most: cancel a student’s course at very short notice for sudden, unexpected personal reasons. It was the first time it’s ever happened to me, and because my students usually book 6–9 months out for technical training, I know how much planning goes into taking time off work, booking travel, and getting mentally ready. I refunded the deposit in full without delay and helped get the student rescheduled with a trusted colleague. Then I zoom out and cover how this works across the industry from both sides: the guest/student and the operator/instructor. I explain why clear cancellation policies should be easy to find (and why it’s a red flag if they aren’t), what typical 24–48 hour cutoffs look like, and why no-shows or last-minute cancellations usually mean forfeiting deposits. We also talk about “after departure” situations—seasickness, opting out once the boat’s left the dock, course failures/quitting—and when you should (and shouldn’t) expect money back. Bottom line: safety first, then customer service, and if you’re out of pocket for a legitimate reason, that’s exactly what trip insurance is for.