Cost of diving in the Pacific?

Architeuthis wrote:

Hi Craig,

Travelling as a single diver and photographer is not so good. I go with my wife, who also is a UW pohotographer, (and sometimes additional friends join us) and this is the best for photographers:

Yes, it is not so good.  I had 10 good years diving with my wife, also an underwater photographer, but she died of cancer 3 years ago.   I have a girlfriend now who doesn't even snorkel.   I never used to travel alone, but not it is necessary.  I've stayed in easy locations for me so far, places I've been before.   The place I usually go to caters well to me, and I go at a time of year when I am very often the only diver on the boat.

on the housereefs, after a first checkdive (in case they do not know us yet), we can dive and photograph just like we want - any time, as long as we want and wherever we want. And if it is just half an hour spending in the sand for a goby to look out of his hole. On the liveaboards we two dive independently from the guided groups (unless there are harsh conditions that demand a guided dive) and just have to stick to the time scedule as the Safari boat has to move at certain times...

That sounds like Bonaire.  I would definitely need a dive buddy for that sort of diving.  I have some dive friends, but they are only able to afford to go diving once every few years.

Just because of diving and photographing, it is highly advisable that you look for a buddy with similar interests, either in your local scuba club or via internet (e.g. here or in Wetpixel - there may well be single UW photographers that also need a buddy). Nothing is worse for a photographer (and the poor divers in the group) than beeing forced to dive in a guided group...

I've been on those.  Just adds some more challenges and gives less keepers / dive.   In Jamaica I had free diving at a resort, but limited to 20 minutes on the 'deep' dive, 30 otherwise.  That's 1/3rd of a dive.

Regarding pricing, the Safari boats do not chrge extra for Singles, they just put ypu together with somebody else in a cabin. In the resorts it depends on the resort: they either charge something in addition or in worst case you have to pay for two persons (what in Egypt is still not really much)...

Yes, I already turned down one dive boat trip because I would have had to share with someone I had never met (and female to boot).

Honestly, I don't want to inflict my snoring on a roommate.