Why are Red Sea liveaboards so cheap?

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ppatin

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Messages
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Location
Baltimore, MD
# of dives
200 - 499
I've been doing a bit of research into liveaboard operators in the Red Sea and I'm wondering how it is that prices seem to low. Granted "cheap" is a relative term when it comes to diving but prices around a thousand Euros for a week long trip are pretty common. Is there something I'm missing out on here such as lots of hidden fees that drive the cost up?
 
Crew costs on many boats in the red sea and Asia are far less than in more developed places. Boat maintenance costs for safety related materials can be much lower, too. Fuel is a biggie. I pay $4.00 a gallon in Key West. It's less than half that in Egypt.
 
Crew costs on many boats in the red sea and Asia are far less than in more developed places. Boat maintenance costs for safety related materials can be much lower, too. Fuel is a biggie. I pay $4.00 a gallon in Key West. It's less than half that in Egypt.

Aviation fuels in the keys are $6-$7 a gallon. Your getting a deal.
 
The biggest reason for the recent plunge in prices is due to the unrest in Egypt. Groups have been canceling so they are offering deals to get people to come back. I am looking to take advantage of the low prices and head over in April or May.
 
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Fuel is a biggie.

I have always flown in at night and bussed to the liveaboard at night.

I am firmly convinced that there are no "off" positions on the light switches anywhere in Egypt.

443e.jpg
 
Best time: mid July through mid August. Ras Mohamed is awesome at that time. Right now it is low season there, which may explain cheaper prices.

I would imagine many boats are operating at around cost, trying to ride throug another year of hard times. Last week's hot air baloon crash puts another ding in the armour of Egyptian tourism safety.
 
There's also the fact that there are a ton of LOBs in Red Sea, competition = lower prices. We did Emperor Fleet a few years ago on their Superior and Infinity boats. I liked them.
 

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