The 13 Best Dives with Turtles

1.Beginner Scuba Diving with Turtles and Videos, San Juan

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,743 reviews · from $109Our pick

Walk into the Caribbean from Escambrón Beach for a beginner scuba session with no certification required. Your instructor explains the gear, practices skills in shallow water, then guides you toward fish, turtles, and an underwater park. Guides may include Jordan, Matt, Andrew, Scott, David, or Daniel. Videos are included.

“They cancelled.on us at the last minute. We were able to book a snorkeling session with another group thankfully. They told us this group did not have the right licenses or permits so that is why they cancelled.”

Dates and spaces →The full review

2.Tenerife: Your First Scuba Diving Experience in Turtle Area

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 1,679 reviews · 3 hours · from $84

Meet your PADI instructor at Costa Adeje, learn the basics, then ride a speedboat to a calm Atlantic site. You’ll spend about 25 minutes on a first scuba session to 12 meters, followed by guided snorkeling for turtles, rays, fish, and perhaps dolphins from the boat. Max, Ramona, Elena, and Toby are among the instructors praised for patient support.

“A brilliant experience, quite scary for a 9 year old but Chenay our instructor was so kind and helpful I loved it, bit anxious at start but was encouraged and supported I thought the activity was amazing xx”

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3.Tenerife: Beginner’s Dive at a Spot with Turtle Sightings

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 627 reviews · 2 hours · from $82

Meet Zero Gravity Tenerife at Puerto Colón for a beginner scuba session capped at 10 meters. After a 30-minute briefing, ride by speedboat to a sheltered bay, where one instructor handles every two clients. Look for rays, octopus, moray eels, and turtles, then snorkel if time allows.

“I had never been in the ocean before, so diving was a first time experience. I was so nervous however one of the professional divers stayed with me the entire time and allowed me to do the activity within my comfort zone. They were all very reassuring and so kind to me. If you are a first timer like me I would 100% recommend this, you get to see so many different fish under the sea in their natural habitat. Literally my only negative comment would be that it is misleading regarding the turtles, this is more of a general dive with the possibility of seeing a sea turtle, other…”

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4.Tenerife First Time Scuba Dive – Turtle Habitat, Small Groups

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 456 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $90

Start at Puerto Colon with a safety lesson, gear fitting, and a short boat ride. A PADI instructor guides your 25 to 30 minute scuba session to a maximum of 7 meters, followed by 30 minutes of snorkeling. Turtles are possible but never guaranteed.

“Absolutely phenomenal! Our booking had 6 people, which equalled out to 2 people to an instructor. Each instructor was so accommodating to the different languages, needs and skill sets of each individual, in a friendly and approachable manner. They take photos under the water using their cameras but available to buy then after you’ve viewed them (after you’re back at the meeting point). Overall can’t fault this experience at all. Thank you so much for having us and showing us a good experience! Lucy and Kate”

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5.Incredibly Fun Coral Reef Giant Sea Turtles 4hour Boat Scuba Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 300 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $299

Spend four hours aboard a large Oahu dive boat with instructors such as Josh, Chad, Olga, or Red. Beginners receive hands-on training before two shallow open-ocean scuba sessions, where you may see turtles, octopus, rays, eels, reef fish, and sometimes sharks.

“Great experience for my 3 older kids. Complete beginners, but felt very safe. All want to become certified now!”

Dates and spaces →The full review

6.Small-Group Shark and Turtle Dive for Certified Divers

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 219 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $135

Start at 7:30 a.m. in Lahaina for a small-group scuba outing at Mala Wharf. Follow guides such as Joe, Abbi, or Matt through the sunken pier, where turtles gather at cleaning stations and white-tip reef sharks rest nearby. Gear is provided, but you must carry it over the rocky shore entry.

“I did a two tank dive with Dive Maui and they were great. I chose to rent their equipment versus bring my own gear and their equipment was very good quality, nice wetsuits and good BCD’s and reg sets. I did bring my own mask and would remind people to bring their own torch. We had Abby as our Divemaster and she was excellent. She really let us know what to expect insofar as entry and exit of the dives as well as the marine life we would expect to see. On the dive we saw tons of mantas up close as well as lots of turtles. One turtle I…”

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7.Diving with Turtles in Floripa

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 53 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $97

Meet at 8:00 am at Barra Náutica for a beginner-friendly scuba session or snorkeling outing to Xavier Island. Instructors supervise the 30-minute underwater visit, with turtles, fish, crabs, eels, and coral possible. Eduardo and captain Sérgio have earned special praise for calm, careful instruction.

“Considero que este es el tipo de experiencias que no se olvidan, hice este tour con mi hija, y ambos quedamos fascinados. Los ayudantes son muy amables y profesionales, si no entiendes algo lo explican hasta que entiendas. Totalmente recomendado.”

Dates and spaces →The full review

8.6Hr Cruise or Hotels City Tour, Divers, Baby Turtles Peace Chapel

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 34 reviews · 6 hours (approx.) · from $74Best value

Spend about six hours with guides such as Rudy, Mario, or Arturo seeing Acapulco beyond the beach resorts. Watch La Quebrada cliff jumpers, release baby turtles at Barra Vieja, visit the Chapel of Peace, and hear local stories with hotel or cruise pickup.

“Excellent guide, very knowledgeable, small group of 8 was nice, covered all the highlights, good driver and nice comfortable van”

Dates and spaces →The full review

9.Maui: Small Group Shark & Turtle Scuba Dive from Shore

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 15 reviews · 2h 30m · from $128

Meet PADI-certified guide Joe at the Lahaina scuba shop, walk five minutes to Mala Wharf, and spend up to an hour underwater with turtles, white tip reef sharks, octopuses, eels, and Hawaiian fish. Groups are limited to four certified participants.

“Small group, fair price, we did get to see a lot ! joe was a great guide !”

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10.Cebu: Moalboal Scuba Diving with Sardines and Turtle Snorkel

★★★★★★★★★★3.9 · 11 reviews · 11 hours · from $115

Spend 11 hours traveling from Cebu to Moalboal for a guided scuba session with millions of sardines, turtle snorkeling, and reef viewing. Certified instructors welcome first-time and licensed divers. Pickup, equipment, transport, and fees are included, but meals are not.

“The sardines dive was such a magical experience! The crew was great, very helpful and intuitive. It was a little windy when we went to the coral reefs in Pescador Island but the drift dive with the sardines I’d say for me was fulfilling enough lol Moalboal looked like a fun little island too, lots of cute little coffee shops and dive shops. Definitely a must see when in Cebu.”

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11.Diving course for beginners in turtle area Tenerife

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 7 reviews · 3 hours · from $100

At Abades beach, an instructor in English, German, or Spanish teaches you the basics, fits your full equipment, and guides you into shallow Atlantic water. Expect colorful fish, possible turtles and rays, free photos and videos, and a certification card. Private groups keep the pace calm.

“Una experiencia maravillosa. El instructor nos hizo sentir como de la familia. Lo recomendamos a todo el mundo que se plantee realizar este tipo de experiencia.”

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12.6 Hr City Tour Divers Turtles, All Attractions Only Hotels

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 5 reviews · 6 hours · from $78

Spend six hours exploring Acapulco with a Spanish, English, or French-speaking guide. Visit a turtle camp, the Chapel of Peace, working-class neighborhoods, Central Market, La Quebrada, Diego Rivera’s mural, and the Del Monte Hotel. Pickup is included from central Acapulco hotels.

“La atención y el acompañamiento del guía Excelente las explicaciones y la dedicación”

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13.Try diving for the first time in turtle area

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 5 reviews · 2.5 hours · from $100

Meet Natalie and Andres at Café Magilu for a 2.5-hour first scuba session in Tenerife. After shore-based practice, you enter calm water with your private group, learn basic skills, and look for turtles, fish, starfish, reefs, and octopus. Photos and videos are included.

“La mejor experiencia de mi vida, un trato tan cercano que parece que estás buceando con un amigo. Sienten pasión por el mar y saben transmitirla. No había hecho buceo nunca y desde que nos sumergimos me sentí segura.”

Dates and spaces →The full review