Cost of diving in the Pacific?

PHXAZCRAIG wrote:

I look at all kinds of stories about Lembeh and Aniloa, and they seem wonderful. I look at joining a 1-week photographic workshop and I get sticker shock! I see places I'd like to be, but with costs of $5000-7000 for a week, NOT including airfare.

Huh?

I know Blue Water is one place you check - their 1 week photo workshop is ~1800.   10 day is 24xx.   That is for two people - but the add on for keeping the room to yourself still doesn't put it at 3.    And there are cheaper places to go in Anilao besides CBR, esp if you don't care about the workshop bit.    So who is quoting you 7k, or even 5k?

Lembeh seems slightly higher, with the average luxury level of the hotels being slightly higher.  Airfare is probably a bigger jump though.

Other places near Cebu, PH are in the ~1500/week.

Now a liveaboard like the Nai'a or the Arenui, or staying at Wakatobi - yes, pretty expensive stuff, and the single cabin on a boat will run too much.   Even the mid tier liveabords (Aggressor, Siren) are going to get over that 5k rate for a regular priced, with single supplement for the week.     But with all the discounting to fill cabins, some potential if you're patient.   I did Solomon Masters on a 1 for 1 with my wife, and used that same deal to get Bahama Masters single cabin for price of normal 1.

But from value standpoint, Philipines land based is probably best bet.

Red Sea boats are markedly cheaper operations, in part because most Americans aren't comfortable going there these days.