Scuba diving can be a pricey hobby, especially when you want to do it while traveling.
Many of the best diving destinations in the world can come at a premium price tag and might make them unaffordable for some.
However, scuba diving doesn’t have to be expensive.
I have come across many diving destinations that are easy to get to and offer some cheap diving and accommodation.
Therefore, this is my list of the 10 cheapest diving destinations in the world.
Thailand
Thailand is another diving destination that makes almost very best-of list and more divers get certified here every year than anywhere else.
The country is exciting to visit both on land and underwater and from whales sharks to manta rays, barracudas, schools of fish and wrecks there is nothing you will not find here.
Diving starts at as low as $20 per dive and it’s an excellent opportunity for beginners to practice more.
Liveaboard diving is dirt cheap here and trips start at below $500!
Flights to Thailand are easy to book and apart from the main travel season in January and February, you can get very affordable prices from all major airports.
Staying in Thailand is what makes this diving destination stand out from the rest as hostels can cost as low as $10 a night and food is basically pennies.
| Diving Season | November – April |
| Best time to dive | December – March |
| What to see | Manta rays, whale sharks, Barracuds, an abundance of macro life |
| Water Temperature | 28-30°C (82-87°F) |
| Best for | Warm water, plenty of fish, super cheap |
| Difficulty | All levels of diving available. Some negative descents and currents. |
Egypt
Egypt is on basically any and every scuba diving best-of list due to the sheer amount of diving opportunities here.
From incredible coral reefs to shipwrecks, dolphins, sharks, and sub $1,000 liveaboard trips, you can do it all here.
The Red Sea is famous for being full of surprises and on any given day you might encounter whale sharks, manta rays, manatees, or anything else really. And yes, it’s heaven for shark lovers!
The cheapest dive sites in Egypt can be found in Hurghada, Sharm El-Sheikh, and Dahab. Deep South liveaboard trips are a little pricier, but you can do a Northern Wrecks tour or even Brothers Islands for less than $1,000!
Diving days from shore start around €50-70 plus equipment, however, it’s a “all done for you” way of diving, and the dive centers will take of all your needs.
There are plenty of hotels, diving camps, and resorts to stay and Egyptian hospitality is great. Just be careful not to get sick from any uncooked food.
Getting to Egypt is very affordable for Europeans, and flights depart from all major airports.
Diving facts Egypt
| Diving Season | Year-round |
| Best time to dive | May – November |
| What to see | Sharks, dolphins, whale sharks, manta rays, dolphins, turtles. Many shipwrecks. |
| Water Temperature | 18-28°C (65-82°F) |
| Best for | Variety of dive spots, lots to see, very affordable |
| Difficulty | Any level of diving available |
Malapascua, Philippines
Malapascua is arguably the most famous diving region in the Philippines and for good reasons.
It is one of the prime destinations for diving with Thresher sharks and they can be seen here pretty regularly.
You can dive in Malapascua year-round, however, some other natural parks in the Philippines like the Tubbahata National Park are only open for a few months every year. If you want to see both, you should plan to travel here between March and June and consider a liveaboard cruise.
The most budget diving options for Malapascua begin at around $15-20 per dive and traveling in the Philippines is never expensive.
Just get some cheap flights below and you are all set for a budget dive trip!
Diving facts Malapascua, Philippines
| Diving Season | Year-round |
| Best time to dive | Some Natural Parks are only open from March – June |
| What to see | Thresher sharks, countless dive sites, whale sharks, manta rays, even whales in the winter |
| Water Temperature | 27-28°C (81-84°F) in the winter, 28-30°C (83-86°F) in the summer |
| Best for | Thresher sharks, beautiful underwater world |
| Difficulty | Any level of diving available |
Bonaire & Curacao
Curacao and Bonaire are part of the ABC islands (together with Aruba) and are famous for budget non-limit shore diving.
Pristine Caribbean waters, sunshine year-round, and super easy dive sites, both islands are great for beginners and experienced divers alike.
Flights to Curacao are surprisingly cheap as it’s just 2 hours away from Miami airport, and European divers benefit from “inland” flights from the Netherlands.
The best way to explore these diving destinations is by booking yourself into a divers camp, or resort as your home base and to fill your tanks, renting a rental car, and just drive around the island on your own.
You can basically park anywhere along the coastline and jump in right there.
Most dive bases only charge the rental fee and gas filling for the tanks, and if you have your own scuba gear, that’s all you ever have to pay for.
If you do not have a buddy, you can of course book some guided dives at one of the numerous dive centers on the islands.
I prefer Curacao as there is more to do, however, the diving is even better on Bonaire as the beaches are easier to access. Our recommendation: Get the best of both worlds and do some island hopping!
Only the food is not super cheap, but if you cook on your own this won’t be an issue.
Diving facts Bonaire & Curacao
| Diving Season | Year-round |
| Best time to dive | Anytime |
| What to see | Turtles, schools of fish, intact reefs |
| Water Temperature | 28-30°C (82°F -85°F) |
| Best for | Easy shore diving & getting in as many dives as possible |
| Difficulty | Super easy |
Roatan & Utila, Honduras
Honduras has long been known for being a cheap travel destination that’s great for backpackers, and budget divers!
Roatan and Utila are the prime destinations for diving in the country and await with a large biodiversity, intact reefs, and easy diving.
Diving packages are available at $30-$50 per dive which is a great price for such amazing diving conditions.
Please note that there is some great diving on the coast of Honduras but the marine parks Roatan & Utila can only be reached by boat!
The Aggressor Fleet also offers a 26-dives liveaboard cruise here, if you want to get the best of the over 100 dive sites in the area.
Staying in Honduras is inexpensive with rates starting at less than $20 per night, although you can of course find some premium offers at 10x that.
Diving facts Roatan & Utila, Honduras
| Diving Season | Year-round |
| Best time to dive | Anytime |
| What to see | Sharks, coral reefs, turtles, tropical fish |
| Water Temperature | 28-30°C (82-87°F) |
| Best for | Large biodiversity, super affordable, intact reefs |
| Difficulty | Mainly easy diving |
Cozumel, Mexico
Mexico is the prime scuba diving destination in the Americas and offers everything from coral reefs, to cave diving, whale shark snorkeling, Great Whites, and whales.
Really, there is nothing you will not find in Mexico, but the cheapest place to dive here is by far Cozumel. 300 days of sunshine per year, massive coral gardens, and the warm waters here make it a first choice for scuba divers around the world.
Diving starts at less than $40 per dive and if you book a 6 or 10-dive package, you will pay even less.
Flights from the US are cheap and not too bad for the rest of the world either.
Accommodation and food are inexpensive in most cases, making this one of the cheapest diving destinations in the world.
Diving facts Mexico
| Diving Season | Year-round |
| Best time to dive | Anytime |
| What to see | Whale sharks, sharks, cenotes caverns |
| Water Temperature | 21-30°C (69-87°F) |
| Best for | Lots of things to do, warm water, cenotes diving |
| Difficulty | From beginner to expert cave diver |
Bali, Indonesia
Bali is the backpacker’s dream come true and it’s no surprise that the island is also one of the cheapest scuba diving destinations on the planet.
There are more than 100 dive sites in Bali and dozens of dive centers to pick from.
The absolute highlight underwater is the giant oceanic sunfish, or Mola Mola that you can encounter here from August to October each year.
Manta season is a bit earlier from April to May, so pick wisely what you prefer…or just stay a little longer in one of the countless cheap hotels or backpacker hostels.
Make sure to check out the Tulamben dive sites with the USAT Liberty wreck, one of the best wreck diving sites in the world, as well as some muk diving near Seraya.
A single dive will be priced around $30 and as usual, package deals make it even cheaper.
Diving facts Bali, Indonesia
| Diving Season | Year-round |
| Best time to dive | April-May (manta rays), August – October (Mola Mola) |
| What to see | Mola Mola, manta rays, dolphins, sharks, wrecks |
| Water Temperature | 28-30°C (82-86°F) |
| Best for | Mola Molas and drift diving |
| Difficulty | Mostly easy diving, but rocky shores can be tricky |
Sipadan Island, Malaysia
Borneo and Sipadan are some of the most biodiverse regions in the world and every dive feels like an underwater petting zoo.
Diving here is not only superb but highly affordable and starts at less than $20 per dive!
Considering the amount of fish you will encounter, that’s an absolute steal.
Plus, if you are REALLY lucky, you can encounter thresher sharks and even hammerheads on Sipadan!
Malaysia as a whole is super affordable and traveling here won’t break the bank. If you can manage to get some cheap flights, that’s really the most expensive part of the entire trip.
Diving facts Sipadan Island, Malaysia
| Diving Season | March-September on the East Coast, Year-Round in the West |
| Best time to dive | April – September |
| What to see | Turtles, schools of fish, sharks, rays, seahorses |
| Water Temperature | 28-30°C (82-86°F) |
| Best for | So much fish, beautiful reefs, thresher sharks, hammerhead sharks |
| Difficulty | All levels of diving available |
Croatia
Croatia is a European hotspot for scuba diving and travel, and you’ll find something for everyone here.
While shore diving is really easy and popular, you’ll find the best dive sites in Croatia when joining a day trip on a diving boat. Massive shipwrecks lay at the bottom and kits and lots of caverns to explore.
Diving starts at around €40-60 for a two-tank diving day, and rental equipment is never expensive.
The entire coast of the Adriatic Sea is a nice budget option and plenty of diving camps, inexpensive hotels, and camping areas exist.
Oh, plus the food in Croatia is super yummy!
Most European divers can drive to Croatia by car and skip the need for flights and rental cars.
However, those are very cheap, as well, and make traveling to Croatia easy for everyone.
Diving facts Croatia
| Diving Season | April – January |
| Best time to dive | May – November |
| What to see | Wrecks, underwater walls, drop-offs, caverns |
| Water Temperature | 15-24˚C (65-75˚F) |
| Best for | Wreck diving, easy shore diving |
| Difficulty | All levels of diving available |
Florida, USA
What Croatia is to Europeans, Florida is to North American divers.
Easy and cheap to get to, countless diving opportunities, and a lot of things to do in and out of the water.
Florida is a diving hotspot for US divers and offers superb cave and ocean diving spots. Great for both beginners and experienced divers, you will love diving here.
Unlike other cheap diving destinations, you will absolutely need a rental car to get around and should make sure to get them early in advance.
Guided diving starts at around $90 for 2 dives including tanks, which is really incredibly cheap!
Accommodation in Florida is a little more pricey when booking on short notice, however, there are many great and inexpensive hotel and hostel options for those on a budget!
Diving facts Florida, USA
| Diving Season | April – December |
| Best time to dive | May – November |
| What to see | Wrecks, underwater walls, drop-offs, caverns |
| Water Temperature | 15-24˚C (65-75˚F) |
| Best for | Wreck diving, easy shore diving |
| Difficulty | All levels of diving available |
Conclusion
Great scuba diving doesn’t have to be expensive. Diving at any of the diving destinations above is fairly cheap and will limit your scuba diving costs to a minimum.
If you want more tips on how to save money, check out our guide on diving on a budget!
Do you know any other cheap diving destinations? Share them with us in the comments!
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Always dive with friends and happy bubbles. 😃
Cheers
Julius