Why is it my LDS owner and his wife get to go on all the Dive trips to exotic and local dive sites? So when I pay to go on a Dive trip with the LDS ...is part of my cost paying for the LDS Dive master to go? I mean he is like a tour guide? Some people told me its cheaper to go on trips on your own... So how does it work? like the Aggressor liveaboard, they seem to go twice a year ...and it costs like 3-5 grand a person? is it just a benefit ? to be a Divemaster owner? Thanks?
Just like Saspotato said, most of the time when a shop goes on a trip, they will get a free space for every 7 to 10 that pay. (It varies with the resort/destination) In addition, they are probably getting a 10% commission from the resort on each persons cost. So when you add all that up, many times the shop owner/trip leader can go for free. I will add that many resorts won't pay out the 10% commission to an individual, only to a dive shop or travel agent. So that is not always an area you can save by booking direct. I have seen more recently however, especially in todays economy, resorts offering to lower the cost of the trip by 10% if you book directly with them but I don't know how long that practice will continue. But for now it's certainly a good deal.
Speaking for myself, I don't mind going on "shop trips" as long as the shop price is as good or better than I can book myself. What I do have a problem with is when a shop raises the cost of a trip by a few hundred dollars to pay for some shop staff to go or for extra profit for that shop. I've never seen the value added (for me) in that.
Most people just don't need a "group leader" to hold their hand along the way or plan things out for them. Unless of course you are brand new to diving AND new to traveling. Other than that, I can't imagine paying any extra to have a group leader. I've been on many shop trips and usually the group leader is really nothing more than just one of the group but may collect all the tips in the end or something minor like that.
In addition to free spaces and commissions, the shop owner may very well be able to deduct his/her costs on their taxes as part of doing business. So it all adds up as a nice perk for the shop owners and I say good for them because no doubt there are many dive shops that are struggling in todays economy.
One way we as individuals can take advantage of some of the perks offered is to get a group together independent of a shop, and then spread the cost of the "free space" over the entire group so all will benefit.