CAPTAIN SINBAD
Contributor
I see your point of view on pricing and agree with the theory. I just question your pricing.
Like you, I am from the east cost too. How does Belize cost the same as Thailand ?
For 30,000 Baht you can do a 7 day liveaboard in Thailand. Here:
Cheap Diving Khao Lak :: Similan Islands Diving with MV Andaman Liveaboard
This is less than 1000 USD for diving boarding and lodging. Flight to Thailand is 1400 so a ball-park figure of 2400 is what can get you to thailand and back. If you wanted a liveaboard experience in Belize then just the liveaboard is 2195. Airfare is 700 so Belize comes out to be 2895 for a liveaboard experience. Even if you wanted to do land based diving in Belize then you are still looking at more or less the same price.
Belize Diving | Underwater Odyssey Package - Robert's Grove
My understanding is that Belize charges "US-dollar rates" to all visitors. This is not because the diving in Belize is better than Asia Pacific, but more because of its proximity to millions of American tourists who think in dollars and don't want to fly too far. A lot of places outside the flying range of "the American tourist" offer equal or better diving but still have prices that reflect developing nations. That is where our dollar becomes gold.