Originally Posted by
Aero1900
I don't think so. I've diverted many a time to airports that weren't listed alternate
Likewise. The ALT is just for dispatch legality... you're not obligated to go there if there's a better option. "Better" could be safer, or just more convenient as long as it's still safe.
Often the company doesn't actually want you to go to the filed ALT... they often select the filed ALT to minimize the extra fuel you have to carry to fly to the ALT, not because it's a convenient ALT.
You don't have to amend the release... the release ALT has to be legal to
1) Depart and;
2) Continue to the DEST
If you bug out somewhere else the ALT requirement for the original DEST is null and void. You might possibly under some circumstances need a new ALT for the DIVERT field (declaring an emergency would avoid that).