The 10 Best Scuba Diving Trips in the Philippines

1.Helmet Diving Experience with Photos and Videos

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 155 reviews · 20 min · from $22Our pick

Meet your English-speaking guide at White Beach, ride a speedboat to the activity platform, and walk about 10 feet below the surface in a clear, air-filled helmet. Certified PADI instructors guide you beside coral reefs and colorful fish, while a photographer records your visit and uploads photos and video to your phone.

“It was first time helmet diving, instructions were good and the divers were helpful. You're ears do pop going down but that's normal and the diver checked on you while going down. They took lots of pictures and were able to download it straight to our phones there. It was cool seeing the fish and coral, and feeding the fish out of our hands. Would def do again.”

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2.Beach Scuba Diving Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 130 reviews · 2 - 4 hours · from $47

Meet your instructor at Nalu Dive’s beachside shop for a safety briefing, shallow-water practice, and one or two guided scuba sessions. Instructors including Kenji, Oniel, Romeo, and Richie work with beginners in English, Japanese, or Tagalog. Expect about 45 minutes underwater, possible sardines and turtles, free GoPro photos, and hotel pickup within Mactan Island.

“I did my very first two dives with Nalu Dive in Cebu, and I honestly couldn’t have asked for a better introduction to diving. From start to finish, the day was amazing. The two dive instructors were incredibly helpful, patient, and reassuring. They took great care of me the entire time and made sure I felt comfortable and confident in the water. The full safety briefing was thorough and easy to understand, which really put me at ease as a first-timer. The marine life was absolutely incredible – so much to see, and way beyond what I expected for my first dives. To top it off, at the end of…”

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3.WaterColors – Discover Scuba Diving in Boracay

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 127 reviews · from $75Top rated

Meet WaterColors near Willy’s Rock for a three-hour beginner scuba session with PADI professionals such as Jimmy and Ronald. You’ll learn basic safety, practice in shallow water, then take a boat to an open-water reef off White Beach. It is not a certification course, but it offers a clear first taste of underwater exploration.

“Professional, thorough, patient and kind. I am a 67 yr old female who wanted to try scuba diving for the first time. I could not have chosen a better location or dive shop. Jimmy and Ronald ensured that we received proper orientation, introducRead more”

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4.Introduction to Scuba Diving Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 104 reviews · 3 hours · from $50

You’ll learn scuba basics with a certified PADI instructor or divemaster, practice in shallow water, then take a boat to a beginner-friendly site. Your guide stays close during a 30 to 40 minute underwater session, usually to 6 meters. Photos, videos, equipment, transfers, and a completion certificate are included.

“Simply a lifetime experience...a must do in Biracay. The instructor is experienced since 1989, fhe photographer super cool! Transmitted a lot of confidence....we go through theory and practical class b4 diving. Anyway...will go back to get my diving license. Thx guys!”

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5.Scuba Diving Experience beach entry in Mactan

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 45 reviews · from $45

Meet Kenji and the Nalu team near Mactan’s beach for a two-hour beginner scuba session. You’ll learn basic breathing and equipment use, practice in shallow water, then move gradually into the sea with an instructor. Equipment, transport within Mactan, towels, hot shower, locker, and free underwater photos and videos are included.

“Beautiful dive spots and health sea life. Kenji was excellent in service before, during and after to make the experience very memorable.”

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6.DiveGurus -Scuba Diving in Boracay

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 25 reviews · from $50

Join DiveGurus Boracay for a 2.5-hour outing designed for certified scuba participants. Choose from four daily start times, meet guides such as Joe Ann, Darwin, and Christelle, and visit sites ranging from Crocodile Island to Camia, Tribird, and Punta Bunga. The trip begins and ends at Sitio Ambulong Road.

“Took open water certificate. Loved the experience, very good instructors, free Coffee, good location. Easy to understand, instructor Darwin can speak norwegian and understands swedish, Instructor Christelle, who is my Instructor. is good at cRead more”

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7.Discover Scuba Diving with Manta Rays in Sibaltan

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 24 reviews · 6 hours · from $126

Spend six hours with Mobula Divers Sibaltan on a first-time scuba trip to a manta cleaning station. You get a shallow skills session, a second descent to 12 meters, gear, boat transport, snacks, and brunch. Guides such as Alex, John, and Simone are praised for calm, patient instruction. No certification is needed, but you must swim.

“incroyable, alex est sur instructeur hors pair, c'est a peine la 2eme plongée de la vie et grace a lui je coche la case raie manta 😅 j'étais un peu stressé au début, il a tout de suite su me rassurer, et ma très bien expliquer la pratique, pour les touristes sur el nido, pas de panique ils assurent un conducteur en cas de besoin, mais je vous recommande d'avoir le votre 👍🏻 merci a toute l'équipe”

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8.Discover Scuba Diving in Boracay

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 22 reviews · 2 hours · from $49

Spend about two hours learning basic scuba skills, practicing with an English-speaking instructor, then visiting Boracay’s underwater world. The $49 session includes equipment, wetsuit, photos and video, a guide from White Beach, changing facilities, and storage. It is designed for first-timers, but the tightly guided format may feel slow if you already swim confidently.

“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.”

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9.Scuba Diver Course (PADI)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 18 reviews · from $270

Spend two days learning scuba skills at Scotty’s inside Shangri-La Mactan Island Resort. You’ll train toward a PADI Scuba Diver certificate, allowing descents to 12 meters under direct professional supervision. Bernie is one named instructor, praised for patience and clear teaching. Equipment, towels, bottled water, and fees are 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.”

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10.Discover Scuba Diving

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 18 reviews · from $149

Meet at Shangri-La Mactan for a beginner-friendly scuba session with a video briefing, equipment fitting, shallow-water practice, and about 40 minutes over Mactan’s reef. Instructors such as Michael, Michal, Bernie, Jeffrey, and Wensky are known for patient, safety-focused instruction. The three-hour experience includes equipment, towel, entrance, and environmental fees.

“The staff at Scotty’s are so friendly and helpful and our dive instructor Bernie was so patient and professional. I would highly recommend to trying Scotty’s Action Sport in Mactan.”

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