When I had my own boat it was more work overall than shore or kayak diving.
For me to tow anywhere was at least two hours, plus waiting in line at the ramp (sometimes) plus engine/pump checks the night before, then making sure the wheel bearings and other things were OK. It seemed like the lights always needed to be screwed to get working and bulbs replaced from corrosion.
Then we get up there, finally get out, sometimes the report looked good but it was still too bumpy to go far so we would stay in a cove that we easily could have easily reached from shore.
Then after diving I would have to retrieve the boat. That could take up to an hour if there was a line (sometimes not).
Then tow the boat back home, clean it up, the other guys would bail of course, the rinse down of the boat and trailer to do a thorough job plus flush the motor is an hour. The wife is all pissed off because the day is shot and she didn't get to do anything.
And every time I towed out to the coast my mileage would drop in half, down to 10 MPG. It was never less that a $100 bill minimum in gas alone. If something broke then more money + time to fix it.
All this for two dives.
Shore diving. Get gear ready the night before and load in truck. 5 am hit the road. Get there about 7'ish.
Park in the lot right at the beach. get dressed, walk about 200-500 feet to the water and wade in (depending on the spot).
Another place I can park right on the beach and the water is less than 50 feet away.
Do 2-3 dives easy with lunch in between.
Load stuff, drive home.
Get home early afternoon.
Clean game and gear, have a beer.
Wife's happy, I'm happy.
Kayak: add about 1/2 hour to above with no extra money. More range, better offshore sites, but not as good as I could reach with my boat.
Southern California Dive Boats:
Drive south, about 7 hours on freeway. Get there in afternoon.
Load gear from parking lot to boat with cart.
Go eat dinner and have a beer on the wharf somewhere.
Crash out on boat.
Wake up to breakfast as we are going out to islands. Do three to four dives in a day with meals in between.
Basically dive however you want, they don't care if they know who you are.
Just fall off the boat and enjoy great diving.
Divemasters are there to take your fins off on boarding platform and are filling your tank as soon as you hang the fill tag on it.
Get back to port in evening.
Hit In & Out Burger before hitting freeway.
Hit freeway and get home about 1:00 am.
The boat costs $130 (bunk, air and food included) + $30 tip in jar.
Gas costs me about $150 there and back.
Two day trips are even better.
