Glass-bottom boats in price war

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Glass bottom boat tour operators are in the throes of a price war in Dockyard — with customers able to view the bottom of the ocean for rock bottom prices.

Tickets usually ranging between $45 and $50 have been slashed by more than half with trips going for $23 and even lower at $20.

With signs a few feet away from each other saying “compare the prices” and “sightseeing with the real glass bottom boat” — customers are cashing in the deal for an hour and half of fun at sea.

There are currently three boats, two docked in Dockyard and one moored out of Hamilton, that are looking to attract walk-on customers, those customers that did not previously book a trip through their cruise ship.

But will the slash in price for customers to view underwater life, keep tour boat operators’ heads above water?

According to the Government’s fuel prices report, in May a litre of diesel cost $1.91 ($7.21 per gallon). The average 400-gallon tour boat would cost approximately $2,888 to fill.

Onlookers tell us that while busy, the tour boats are not attracting full boatloads.

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