Our Privacy Policy

At Master Liveaboards we are committed to ensuring and protecting your privacy at any time you are on our website or communicate electronically with our personnel.

This policy sets out how Worldwide Dive and Sail International Limited, company registration number 06187840, with registered office at 30 Gay Street, Bath, Somerset, United Kingdom, BA1 2PA, trading as Master Liveaboards (“we”, “us”, “our”, “Master Liveaboards”) and its group companies uses and protects any information that you provide when you use either our websites or book services through us, but ONLY when you have granted us explicit permission to do so.

Here you can read further information about how we use your data, or explore in more detail how and why, and when we use cookies to enhance your browsing experience. By using our website, you are agreeing to the terms set out, and consenting to the use of data described in this policy and for which you have given explicit permission for us to do so.

Master Liveaboards trades with various partners with whom we may be required to pass along personal data to process so that they can provide you with the arrangements you require.

Usage of a Cookie Banner

To manage the cookies and similar technologies used (tracking pixels, web beacons, etc.) and related consents, we use the consent tool “Real Cookie Banner”. Details on how “Real Cookie Banner” works can be found at https://devowl.io/rcb/data-processing/. The legal basis for the processing of personal data in this context are Art. 6 (1) lit. c GDPR and Art. 6 (1) lit. f GDPR. Our legitimate interest is the management of the cookies and similar technologies used and the related consents. The provision of personal data is neither contractually required nor necessary for the conclusion of a contract. You are not obliged to provide the personal data. If you do not provide the personal data, we will not be able to manage your consents.

Personal information

In order to enable to benefit from our services, Master Liveaboards will process and manage your personal information. If you do not consent to our using certain personal data then we may not be able to provide travel services to you.

Personal information is information you provide to us about yourself from which you can be identified, such as your name and contact details. Depending on which services you receive from us, this may include personal information such as travel document details and medical information.

By providing your data and/or information, and by using this website, or other online or digital platforms, you consent to the use of your data and information in the manner described herein or referred to in this privacy notice and the cookie policy.

The provisions of Master Liveaboards’ social media terms and conditions will also apply where you give your explicit consent to it being used in this manner, for instance for group cruise photographs which are then shared on social media platforms. If we make a change to any of the ways in which we process personal information, we will update this web page with an updated date displayed at the top, so please check back regularly for updates. Where significant and substantial changes to the notices reference above are made with will write and notify you by email.

Confidential and Medical information

The confidentiality of your personal information is of paramount concern to WWDAS and we aim to comply with the provisions of the GDPR and UK data protection law.

Your confidential information will only be disclosed to those involved with the organising, and providing, your travel services. This may include third party suppliers that will require it for providing your travel needs, or bodies that require it for legal reason such as government marine agencies or national park services. We require our Partners to guard your personal data to the same standard as ourselves. If you receive services from Master Liveaboards and that service transfers to a new provider, we may share your personal and confidential information with the new provider as required.

Securing information

We are committed to keeping your personal information secure. We have put in place physical, electronic, and operational procedures intended to safeguard and secure the information we collect. All Master Liveaboards staff worldwide have a legal duty to respect the confidentiality of your information. Access to your confidential information is restricted only to those who have a reasonable need to access it.

When using the Master Liveaboards website, if the URL of a web page starts with HTTPS, or you see a locked/green padlock symbol, your data should be encrypted when it is sent from your computer to our server. However, we cannot ensure the security of your data when it is being transmitted to our website or other digital sites from other pages. All transmission of personal information and other data is done at your own risk.

Information submitted through a Master Liveaboards website is normally protected until it reaches us, however, for data transmitted from other websites and in other formats this may not be the case. As such, users are also requested not to send confidential details or credit card numbers, for example, by email.

Information we hold about you

The information we hold about you will only be that which you provide or which our partners acquire from you and may include the following:

  • Basic details such as name, address, contact details and next of kin
  • More detailed information based on your specific requirements or medical needs when travelling
  • Details of contact we have had with you
  • Details of services you have received through us
  • Customer feedback information you provide directly
  • Information about complaints and incidents
  • Notes and reports about holidays you have booked through us
  • Information from competitions and marketing activities
  • Recordings of calls we receive or make
  • Recordings of CCTV footage made in public or working areas of our vessels (note, we do not have CCTV in any cabins)
  • Other information we receive from other sources, including from your use of websites and other digital platforms we (or our group companies) operate or the other services we provide.

Some of the information above may also be information from business partners, advertising networks, analytics providers, or information provided by other companies who have obtained your permission to share information about you. This information is obtained with the use of internet cookies. You can read more on our cookie policy .

When we collect your information

Information about you is collected when:

  • You use our services
  • You submit an enquiry to us, for example by email, telephone or social media, including where you reference the Master Liveaboards group of companies in a public social media post
  • You participate in any marketing activity involving Master Liveaboards.


We may also collect personal information about you from other people when:

  • We liaise with other providers booking services for yourself with us, or in dealing with group leaders when dealing directly. We will only share information in this way where you have provided your explicit consent or in circumstances where you are incapable of providing that consent (for example, during a medical emergency), or we are unable or it is not reasonable to seek your permission, or we are required to by law or in accordance with guidance from professional bodies
  • You use a third party application to provide information to our websites.

Using your information

We use your personal information to provide you with only our products and services, and to improve and extend these offerings. They may include:

  • Responding to your queries
  • Supporting your travel activities
  • Internal record keeping and administration
  • Responding to requests where we have a legal or regulatory obligation to do so
  • Checking the accuracy of information about you, including for billing and external ticket purchasing in your name
  • Supporting our staff on the ground in your travel destination/s
  • Assessing the quality service provided to you by both ourselves and outside suppliers as well as and any concerns or complaints you raise, so that these can be properly investigated
  • Using your contact information to send you information related to services booked
  • Using your contact information to send promotional material about new products, special offers or other information we think you may find interesting (see ‘Keeping you informed’ below for more information), provided you have given us your explicit consent to do so.
  • Using your contact information to conduct and analyse market research

Sharing information

Information about you may be shared by the companies within the Master Liveaboards group for all the purposes identified under “Using your information” to enable us to manage our relationship with you as a Master Liveaboards customer, to provide efficient service, and to update and improve our records. We may also share information in aggregated form with the companies in the Master Liveaboards group.

Master Liveaboards works with other individuals and organisations to provide our products and services to you and this may involve them handling your personal information. Any of this may be done outside of the European Economic Area, in countries with different data protection laws. In that case we ensure that the confidentiality and security of your personal information is protected by contractual restrictions and service monitoring.

We do not share your personal information with anyone outside of the Master Liveaboards group to use for their own purposes, except:

  • When we have your explicit permission. We do not regard your consent, at any stage, as ‘open ended’ and therefor may ask you to reconfirm that you are happy for us to maintain and use your data as required.
  • When we are permitted or obliged to do so by law. For example we are required to provide information to governmental organisations, such as relevant harbour masters and coastguards in order for our vessels to leave port, or to national park authorities in order to operate and allow guests to enter certain areas.
  • If we are under a duty to disclose or share personal data in order to enforce or apply our terms of use (of our website or any part of it) or terms and conditions of supply of any relevant products or services and other agreements.
  • If you complete one of our online customer feedback surveys. The information you provide will be processed for us by ScubaTribe who manage these surveys on our behalf.
  • To protect the rights, property, or safety of Master Liveaboards, our customers, or others
  • In order to detect, prevent, and help with the prosecution of financial crime. For example we may share information with fraud prevention or law enforcement agencies, and other organisations if requested.
  • If there are other exceptional circumstances, and we are unable or it is not appropriate to seek your permission.
  • In the event that we (or any member(s) of our group) sell or buy any business or assets, we may disclose your personal data to the prospective seller or buyer of such business or assets in order to continue operating effectively.

Keeping information

We will only keep your personal information for as long as is necessary in order to carry out or lawful business, but always for the minimum term possible. However, for legal and professional reasons some of your data will be held for 7 years from the date of your last consent to use / process your data.

In order to provide best service throughout your travels you may supply Us with medical information. For both yours and Our protection, we will keep this information for a maximum of 2 years post travel in the event that issues related to this information arise.

We record via CCTV communal areas on our own vessels for guest safety and security. This footage will be kept for only 2 months and will then be deleted, unless there is an on-going dispute or incident under investigation.

Keeping you informed

Whilst we have your explicit consent to do so Master Liveaboards would like to keep you informed of the group’s products and services in the categories you have elected subscribe to and any we consider may be of interest to you (via mail, email, or phone). Whenever we collect your information, we will ask you if you would like us to keep you updated in this way.

We may use your personal information to:

  • Decide which services we think are relevant to you
  • Decide which media, including social media platforms, would best be utilised to reach the customers who wish to receive marketing materials
  • Contact you with details of our products and services, including displaying interest-based adverts via social media
  • If you do not wish to receive marketing information about our products and services, or at any time you change your mind about receiving these messages, please contact Master Liveaboards on the details shown below

A note on CCTV

Master Liveaboards maintains CCTV systems onboard vessels for the safety and security of both staff and crew. These systems are sometimes monitored in real time (such as the dive deck and engine rooms) as well as being recorded in the event that incidents need to be reviewed. We only maintain CCTV in public areas and in working areas such as:

  • Engine rooms
  • Dive platforms
  • Dive decks
  • Galleys
  • Salon areas
  • Guest corridors


We do not install CCTV inside customer cabins and our standard overwrite time of data is 48 hours. Should an incident occur that requires review it will be saved on the onboard system and will be either reviewed in place, or will be sent securely to head office. Unless there is a legal reason to do so, CCTV footage will never be shared externally.

Accessing information

If you have any subject access queries, please contact Master Liveaboards:

Email: datahandler@masterliveaboards.com
Write:
The Data Handler
Master Liveaboards
10/512 Moo 3
Tambon Vichit
Phuket 83000
Thailand

You should also contact the same team to request a copy of the personal information we hold about you and to ask us to correct or remove (where justified) any inaccurate information. We may also ask you to provide additional documentation to confirm your identity or, if you are seeking to access personal information of another individual, proof of their consent or your legal right to receive their personal information.

If you are unhappy with the way that your data has been used then you can contact us at the above address or you can also contact the Information Commissioners Office directly via their website https://ico.org.uk/

Updating this privacy policy

We review and update this notice regularly. The latest copy of this notice will always be posted on this page along with the date of the last update.

Last update: 18 September 2024

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