In Reply to: Why the high costs of dive boats? posted by Mark on May 22, 2008 at 19:10:20:

As Charter Master you assume responsibility for filling all slots you've committed to. So if you plan for 20 people at $100 each and only sell 15, guess who takes the hit (that is, loss of $500)? So you set the price at $133 to cover those contingencies of having fewer people actually book and pay.

Also, dive shops and other bookers have costs of booking, advertising, etc. to cover. The mark-up on what a boat charges is reasonable compensation for those costs.

We nearly sunk our dive club on a Truth charter a number of years ago - everyone wanted to go, but a few never paid or went. So we had to absorb costs of those who bailed out (or we would have had to charge more for those who ended up going). So the club took a hit for non-paid spots.

If you want reasonable dive costs, make your reservations well in advance and pay and show up to dive. That reduces risk to the operators, which is only fair. Ultimately it will lower all diver's costs. But (like in scuba diving) I wouldn't hold my breath.

We have very reasonably pricing diving in So Cal. Enjoy it.