From around $1,200 (budget tier, 7 nights) to $7,500+ (remote expedition trips, 10 nights). Average mid-range trip: $2,500–$4,500 for 7 nights all-inclusive.
Liveaboard pricing spans a huge range — from $150 per night on a budget Red Sea boat to over $1,000 per night on a luxury Antarctic expedition vessel. The single biggest factor is destination, followed by vessel category, cabin type, and season.
Budget tier ($150–$300 per night)
The Egyptian Red Sea is the world's most affordable serious dive destination. A 7-night charter from Hurghada in a budget twin cabin starts around $1,200 per person all-in (excluding flights and park fees). Indonesia's Komodo and Bali region also has budget options in the $1,500–$2,000 per week range.
Mid-range tier ($300–$600 per night)
The Maldives, mainstream Indonesia, the Caribbean, mainland Mexico, the Philippines and Thailand sit in this band. A 7-night Maldives central-atolls trip in a deluxe cabin runs $2,500–$4,500 per person. This is the sweet spot for most divers — modern boats, good food, professional service, world-class diving, and a price that justifies a big dive trip every 1–2 years.
Premium tier ($600–$1,000 per night)
Raja Ampat, Komodo on a luxury yacht, the Bahamas tiger-shark trips, French Polynesia, and luxury Maldives operators occupy this band. You're paying for newer vessels, larger cabins, gourmet food, included Nitrox, and tighter dive group ratios.
Expedition tier ($1,000+ per night)
Galápagos ($5,500–$8,500 for 10 nights), Cocos ($5,500–$8,000 for 10 nights), Socorro ($4,500–$6,500 for 8–10 nights), and Antarctica ($15,000+ for 14 nights). The price reflects the cost of running a vessel in extremely remote waters, fuel for long crossings, expert expedition crew, and the simple fact that demand far exceeds supply.
What's included in the published price varies by operator but typically covers: cabin, all meals, snacks, soft drinks, all dives (tanks, weights, guide), use of dive deck, freshwater showers, transfers from a designated meeting point. What's almost always extra: flights, marine park fees ($60–$400 depending on destination), Nitrox surcharge ($100–$250/week), gear rental, alcohol, and crew tips (8–12% of trip price). Build a 25–35% buffer over the published price to cover real total cost.
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