ss Yongala and Navy Pier? Why are the operators charging so much!!!!

[MA]

"

Quibble with regard to dive prices?? I'll say it again...dive prices in Australia are 2-5 times what they are anywhere else. If you really believe the brand of safety and worker's compensation that apparently only Australia can provide justifies these prices and, more importantly, excluded large parts of the dive community from being able to afford to dive, I think you are out of touch with the mainstream diver. Love Australia but the system is broken there.

Hey ocdiver,

what exchange rate are you using to calculate the 2-5 times? I suspect this is a major reason for the cost.

 

[Kevster]

If you cannot afford to dive the Navy pier , just go snorkling with the Whale sharks instead!!! It a bargin !!Only $390 !!!

 

[ocdiver1]

Hey ocdiver,

what exchange rate are you using to calculate the 2-5 times? I suspect this is a major reason for the cost.

I'm generously figuring 1 to 1..even though it's more like 1.05 USD to 1 AUD. The cheapest boat dive I can remember seeing was around 75 AUD...so more than 2 times what I would consider to be an average boat dive price of $35 USD. 4x+ would be in the Yongala range. And I base Australian prices being that much higher than anyone else's by having dove in 30 countries. And I'm not even bringing in the relation of guided shore dive or liveaboard cost compared to anywhere internationally which is also exponentially higher than anywhere else. Yes, the Austalian Dollar is incredibly strong right now, and has been for 4 years. But is someone really going to justify prices today by saying, "well if you consider what the rate used to be 5-10 years ago it's not that bad?" You've got Aussies in this string saying diving for them is unaffordable..those are the same people being paid in the same strong currency. I don't think it can be argued that dive prices are extremely high. I guess what I question in this thread is those who are saying prices are justified and "ok" because diving is safe and people need to get paid a fair wage. I can't imagine the only way to do this is to charge these kind of prices and that the rest of the world, who charges so much less, somehow has it "all wrong."

 

[Heg]

Hey ocdiver,

what exchange rate are you using to calculate the 2-5 times? I suspect this is a major reason for the cost.

I live in Oz and earn AUD , so exchange rate doesn't come into it for me. I find the diving very expensive. We were going to book on a Mike Ball live aboard out of Cairns to the Coral sea. It is $3800 AUD per person for 7 days . By comparison a 7 day trip on the Bilikiki in PNG is $2900 USD (so $2800 in AUD). That's one hell of a difference in price for the same length of trip.

 

[bowlofpetunias]

I don't disagree that prices here are high! Mike Ball is top of the line operation. There are cheaper options that are very good as well. It all depends on where and when you are diving I must say my most expensive diving has not been in OZ. I would love to see things cheaper of course but I guess it is a matter of priorities

Like everything else it is a matter of taking your time to research to either get what you want at a price you are prepared/able to pay or rethink what your priorities are.

Frogdive in Sydney offer boat dives for $45 single or $90 double. I don't tend to do boat dives here as there are so many great shore dive sites. There ARE some very nice Boat dive sites for that price. I didn't research other providers. It seems to me so many people miss out on the excellent diving Australia has to offer to focus on the Tourist Hot spots. Those are the places you pay through the nose for no matter what country you go to!

 

[MA]

I'm the same as petunias - it is expensive - but it is absolutely exacerbated by the exchange rate. And it is fair to say 3-4 years ago it wasn't like this. In fact it only hit parity about 2 years ago for the first time in history. So if i was from the US i wouldn't dive the luxury liveaboards here at the moment. Absolutely go elsewhere - just like I am But aside from the exchange rate, unfortunately australia is incredibly expensive - food, drink, staff costs, rent, interest on loans, etc. etc. I'm an accountant specialising in dealing with struggling companies here in oz- if you can't cut costs you have to put prices up to survive. you're talking about being able to do some boat dives - try buying a house here

But if you are here, like Petunia's and I have both suggested - get into the local diving. So long as you have your own gear it is great value for money. There's plenty of locals on here that can advise where to go and probably show off their local sites in person too!

Heg - that PNG boat sounds like a fantastic deal! But again the AUD is strong which what makes it such a good deal - think that will have to go on my list. And thats why i said earlier i'm diving the asian boats whilst the AUD is so strong! It won't last. Once the US recovers it will correct. So if its back to the pretty normal 70c, PNG not so cheap anymore. Dive USD boats now i say!!!

 

[bowlofpetunias]

We made a trip to Melbourne a couple years ago. Some of the best diving I have done. Your pier dives and life are amazing. If people want to do the premier dive sites that have been made famous around the world.. it will be expensive. Too many people miss phenomenal diving by not diving in Sydney and Melbourne. They seem to consider them an interesting way point en-route to diving Australia's more publicized dive destinations!

I remember my first dive back in Sydney after a dive trip to the GBR a few years back. I spent the entire dive marveling at the colour, growth and creatures they rivaled and in some cases exceeded what we saw on the reef!

 

[MA]

We made a trip to Melbourne a couple years ago. Some of the best diving I have done. Your pier dives and life are amazing. If people want to do the premier dive sites that have been made famous around the world.. it will be expensive. Too many people miss phenomenal diving by not diving in Sydney and Melbourne. They seem to consider them an interesting way point en-route to diving Australia's more publicized dive destinations!



I remember my first dive back in Sydney after a dive trip to the GBR a few years back. I spent the entire dive marveling at the colour, growth and creatures they rivaled and in some cases exceeded what we saw on the reef!

ssshhh Petunia's - maybe we should keep it secret! Nothing like a nice quiet dive site on a saturday afternoon just watching the weedy seadragons, often just you and your buddy....

---------- Post added February 4th, 2013 at 09:48 PM ----------

And this might help set the scene for the costly Aussie experience. Just saw it now in the paper:

Sydney world's third most costly city

 

[bowlofpetunias]

Surprised not to see any US cities on the list! Not even London:doh: Oh... are we on a hijack here Let's loop it back on topic. The cost of living and the strong Australian dollar are definitely putting upward pressure on all products. I can't believe how cheap dive gear was when I was in the US last! They also have less requirements for Hydro's. What is the cost of a hydro in Melbourne? I think most dive operators can hydro their own tanks so that shouldn't be driving the prices up...

 

[ocdiver1]

Lol i just knew someone was going to say, "wait I paid x amount for a dive." But whether it's 1.82 or 2.98 times more expensive, I'm glad to hear at least agreement that prices are high! Some of the prior comments seemed to indicate blind payment of what was being charged in the name of fair wages or whatever--certainly nothing would ever change if people continued doing that. Whatever the reason (or lack thereof) for these prices, I hope something does change so all can afford to take in Australia's incredible diving.