BEST OF · SCUBA DIVING IN THE PHILIPPINES
The 15 best scuba diving in the Philippines you can book right now, with the price per head, how long you are actually in the water and who each one suits. Number one is first for a reason.
Join Nalu Dive for one or two guided underwater sessions from its Mactan Island beachside shop. Instructors such as Kenji, Oniel, and Romeo teach each skill patiently, then lead you among sardines, tropical fish, coral, and possible sea turtles. Equipment, transport, showers, and GoPro photos are included.
“Had such a great time. Thank you guys for clear instructions and awesome experience.”
Start at WaterColors near Willy’s Rock for a PADI-led introduction, shallow-water practice, and a second open-water session reached by boat. Jimmy and Ronald may lead the lesson, with gear supplied and groups capped at six. It is an experience program, not a certification course.
“Excellent instructor, Jimmy was great very calm and easy going would love to come back and dive more. I'm already certified but my son wanted to try it was outstanding.”
Meet at Astoria Station 1, learn the basics with a PADI instructor, practice in shallow water, then take a boat to a beginner-friendly reef. Your guide stays close at up to 6 meters, with photos, videos, and a certificate included.
“Such an amazing experience. Worth every dollar! Super helpful and nice guides!”
Meet Submariner Diving Center in El Nido at 7:30 am for three scuba sessions around Bacuit Bay. Certified divers get equipment, lunch, fruit, drinks, and a small-group ratio of four divers per dive-master. You can skip the final session and snorkel or rest aboard.
“A most qualified team that works together easily to make your tour an unforgettable one.”
Meet Kenji and the Nalu Dive team near Mactan’s beach, learn basic scuba skills, practice in shallow water, then head underwater from shore with an instructor. Look for sardines, colorful fish, starfish, and sometimes sea turtles. Equipment, transport in Mactan, towels, showers, and photos are included.
“What an experience. Kenji and his friend were such a professional team. They picked us from the hotel in a tuk tuk. They gave us all instructions and made us comfortable as we were doing it for the first time. They made us practice the requirRead more”
Spend four days with WaterColors Boracay learning scuba theory, practicing in shallow and confined water, and completing open-water sessions with PADI instructors such as Jimmy and Darwin. Equipment, course materials, certification processing, and boat transport are included.
“I recently had my first diving experience with Watercolors and I couldn't be more thrilled with how everything went! From the very beginning, the team made me feel welcome and safe. A special shoutout to Jimmy, my instructor, who was absRead more”
Join DiveGurus Boracay Dive Center for a 2.5-hour outing for certified scuba participants. Choose from four daily departure times, meet guides such as Joe Ann, Darwin, or Christelle, and explore sites ranging from Crocodile Island to Camia, Tribird, and Punta Bunga.
“I recently spent 10 days diving with DiveGurus Dive Center in Boracay (Station 3), and I can’t recommend them enough! I started diving over 20 years ago and usually dive 2-4 times per week in Swiss lakes. Whether you’re new to diving, lookinRead more”
From Mobula Divers Sibaltan, you’ll take a 30-minute speedboat ride to a manta cleaning station for one shallow skills session and one open-water session. Instructors such as Alex, John, and Simone guide beginners in English or Tagalog. Mantas are possible, not guaranteed.
“It was amazing, special thanks to Simone for amazing guidance, teaching, kind approach and patience!”
Meet near Astoria Boracay, learn basic scuba skills, then enter the sea with an English-speaking instructor beside you. The two-hour session includes equipment, wetsuit, photos and video, changing facilities, and a local guide. It is aimed at first-timers, not independent swimmers.
“highly recommend this experience to anyone trying scuba diving for the first time. The instructors clearly explained all the details needed to complete the activity safely and were very patient during the practice portion. They made sure that you could 100% perform the basic skills to complete the activity comfortably and safely before moving on to the open water dive, showing how much they prioritize safety while still making the experience enjoyable.”
At DiveGurus Boracay, you’ll watch a short video, learn basic skills in shallow water, then take a guided underwater session at a boat-accessed site. Instructors including Brian, Darwin, Carlo, Aika, Ju Ju, and Gen work with first-timers aged 10 and up.
“DiveGurus is such an amazing place to stay, and our instructor Brian was so supportive. I was stressing in the beginning but he helped me calm down and explore the beauty of the underwater world ❤️”
Train at Scotty’s inside Shangri-La Mactan and earn a PADI Scuba Diver certification in about two days. Bernie is one named instructor, praised for patient teaching. You’ll be certified to 12 meters under direct professional supervision, with equipment, towels, water, and fees included.
“Bernie was my instructor and he was amazing. Knowledgeable and patient. I would recommend Scotty's sports at the Shangri La Resort in Mactan to anyone seeking Scuba lessons.”
At Scotty’s Action Sports in Mactan, you’ll watch a safety video, practice basic skills in shallow water, then spend about 40 minutes underwater with an instructor. The $149 package includes gear, towel, entrance, and environmental fees. Instructors include Michael, Bernie, Wensky, and others.
“Very professional but also friendly. Lots to see. Nice boat team and Michael dive instructor very good.”
Leave Cebu City at 5:00 AM in a private car for Oslob. After a safety briefing and gear setup, an English-speaking instructor guides you through a 30 to 40 minute scuba session beside whale sharks. The trip suits first-timers and licensed divers, with hotel or airport pickup included.
“Whale shark watching in Oslob starts early at 3am, but you should definitely go. There are many snorkeling tours, but there are a lot of people lined up to board the boat that goes out to sea, so you have to wait quite a while. And the surface of the sea is also full of people. However, with diving, you can enter directly from the beach without having to wait to enter, and the water is empty so you can move freely and see well. It's a little more expensive than snorkeling, but diving is definitely recommended. At Sumilon Island, we didn't dive, we went snorkeling. The drivers are very…”
Meet PADI instructor Peter Tay at Astoria Boracay, Station 1, for a 2.5-hour first-time scuba session. You’ll complete eLearning, practice skills in confined water, take a boat outing, and explore underwater with photo and video coverage.
“I had an absolutely fantastic time Discover scuba diving in Boracay for the first time, and I owe it all to Master Peter Tay for diving. Right from the start, he was so patient and reassuring, making sure I felt at ease and confident every step of the wRead more”
Join Mobula Divers Sibaltan for a six-hour outing to Binulbulan Island, about an hour from El Nido. Certified scuba participants get two boat-based sessions, including the Manta Cleaning Station and a coral reef site, with equipment, snacks, drinks, towels, and an English or Tagalog guide.
“Unvergessliches Erlebnis. Wir haben mehrere Mantas sehen dürfen. Der Guide übt seinen Job mit viel Passion aus. Wir hatten wirklich einen tollen Tag. Danke viel mals”
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