How to price a half-day fishing or snorkel trip (a worksheet)

2026-10-14 · 4 min read

Many operators set a price by copying the boat next door. A better start is your own cost per trip.

Step 1: fuel

Litres used on a typical trip, times the price per litre. Log fuel for each trip and you will have this number within a week.

Step 2: crew

The captain and any deckhand for the trip. If they are on a monthly salary, divide by the trips they run in a month.

Step 3: what is included

Bait, drinks, snacks, ice, snorkel gear and life jackets. Add them up for a typical group.

Step 4: wear and servicing

Engines and hulls wear out. Add a small amount for each trip, based on your service costs and the hours the boat runs.

Step 5: overhead

Insurance, licences, mooring, marketing. Spread them across the trips you expect in a year.

Step 6: your margin

Add the profit you want. If the total is higher than what guests will pay, change the trip: fewer inclusions, a shorter route, or a smaller crew. Do not just lower the price.

Show prices clearly

Show the price in MVR, in USD, or both. Guests who see a clear price with a clear list of what is included are far more likely to ask for the date.

Check the price again when fuel moves. A price that worked last season may not leave you a margin today.