13 Affordable Places to Go Scuba Diving in the World

Scuba diving has a reputation of being an expensive hobby. The cost of the equipment, individual dives and course fees is not something that everyone can afford. If you go scuba diving in a location where the prices are almost too cheap to be real, the chances are they are! 

 You might run the risk of diving in a location where there's hardly anything to see, or worse, getting faulty equipment which can prove extremely dangerous. To avoid this and have a good experience, you need to choose reputed dive operators such as PADI, SSI, Dive Buddy, etc.

 These operators do have high-end charges. But, if you are someone who wants to try the sport just a couple of times, you should look at sites that offer a budget-friendly dives!

 To make this easier, we've listed down 13 cheapest scuba diving places in the world that you can visit that will easily fit your budget.

Below, we've listed some of the cheapest scuba diving in the world that not only have affordable rates but also have captivating views at stunning locations that make your experience well worth the money.

1. Aqaba, Jordan

The Gulf of Aqaba, part of the Red Sea, touches the Egyptian, Israeli, Jordanian, and Saudi Arabian boundaries. The Aqaba Marine Park has 21 dive sites within itself home to beautiful coral reefs and awe-striking marine life. Travellers have much to explore, with each dive site revealing its own unique secrets. 

You can try wreck diving, pinnacles, deep dives, and wall dives with clear visibility underwater, going as deep as 35-40 meters. 

• Cost: 80 JOD (Approx. ₹9,400)
  
• Unique Underwater Attractions: Corals, urchins, shrimps, coral crabs, sponges, turtles, pufferfish, groupers, damselfish, lionfish, scorpionfish, eels, rays, octopus, sharks, dolphins, whale sharks, manta rays, etc.
  
• Popular Dive Sites: Dahab Blue Hole, Ras-el-Mohammed National Park, Thistlegorm submarine wreck, Marsa Alam, Ashraf's Grotto - Paradise, The Tank and Seven Sisters, Japanese Garden.
  
• Best Time to Visit: March - May & September - November 

2. Nha Trang, Vietnam

Vietnam is one of the best-value countries in Asia, and the bustling seaside city of Nha Trang is no exception. Nha Trang is a beautiful, pristine destination to hone your scuba diving and underwater photography skills. 

Dive among colourful coral reefs, fishes and fascinating macro aqua life which will guarantee budget-conscious divers' a great value for their money.

• Cost: 6,00,000 VND (Approx. ₹2,200)
• Unique Underwater Attractions: Macro marine life, corals, nudibranches, moray eels, seahorses, frogfish, stonefish, rays, clownfish, angelfish, butterflyfish.
  
• Popular Dive Sites:  Hon Mun Marine Park, Moray Beach, Whale Island.
• Best Time to Visit: February - October 

3. Sao Miguel, Azores

If you find yourself in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, you must take a dive in the Azores - a group of independent islands near Portugal. It is a tiny volcanic island chain, a unique area for scuba diving.

Sao Miguel in Azores gives travellers a lot of value for their money along with a picturesque setting with an abundance of underwater life. Known as the Green Island, this is the biggest island of the Azores.

• Cost: 30-40 EUR (Approx. ₹2,700 - ₹3,600)
• Unique Underwater Attractions: Turtles, groupers, stingrays, dolphins, wrasse, parrotfish, combers, barracuda, jacks, triggerfish, octopuses, eels, underwater structures, caves, tunnels, gorges.
• Popular Dive Sites: Vila Franca do Campo, Amore, Arcos de Calora, Cozinha, H2 Cal, Dori Shipwreck.
  
• Best Time to Visit: June - October

4. Koh Tao, Thailand

Thailand is a tourist hub because of its affordability, scenic views, friendly locals, cuisine and culture. When you are in Thailand, you must not forget to visit the world underwater.

Koh Tao, Koh Lanta and the Similan Islands are great destinations for scuba diving in Thailand. The island of Koh Tao is mainly known for two things: its nightlife and scuba diving. Its scuba spots are great for new divers as the waters are calm and clear, boasting incredible marine life.

• Cost: 1,000 BHT (Approx. ₹2,300)
• Unique Underwater Attractions: Manta rays, whale sharks, shark species, groupers, barracudas, macro life, trevally, batfish, corals, rock formations, wrecks, turtles.
• Popular Dive Sites: Sail Rock, Southwest Pinnacle, Ko Nang Yuan, White Rock, Hin Thong Koo, Mango Bay.
  
• Best Time to Visit: November - April

5. Moalboal, Philippines

The Philippines is one of the most affordable countries to travel to in Southeast East Asia. Scuba diving around the Philippines are dense, so plan an extensive trip if you truly want to explore the country.

Affordable dive sites, particularly Moalboal, is a low-key, paradise dive resort with plenty to explore. The waters here are warm, clean and have excellent visibility.

• Cost: 1,100 PHP (Approx. ₹1,600)
• Unique Underwater Attractions: Turtles, rays, sharks, macro marine life, critters, octopuses, seahorses, whales, dugong, tunas, jacks, barracudas, cuttlefish, sardines.
• Popular Dive Sites: Cebu, Malapascua, Tubbataha Reefs, Panglao, Monad Shoal, Gato Island, Kemod Shoal, Puerto Galera.
• Best Time to Visit: October - May

6. Bali, Indonesia

For many, scuba diving in Indonesia is the number one destination in the world offering world-class diving spots attracting underwater photographers from all over the world. 

While being one of the most popular tourist destinations, diving in Bali remains surprisingly affordable. There are more than 100 dive sites in Bali to pick from. USS Liberty Shipwreck dive near Tulamben has consistently been named as one of the top dive destinations in the world. 

• Cost: 300,000 IDR (Approx. ₹1,600)
  
• Unique Underwater Attractions: Sharks, rays, stonefish, sunfish, seahorse, mackerel, tuna, barracuda, whales, manatee, turtles, dolphins, rocks, wrecks, caves.
  
• Popular Dive Sites: Raja Ampat, Wakatobi National Park, Gili Islands, Komodo National Park, Tulamben, Nusa Lembongan, Seraya, Batee Tokong.
  
• Best Time to Visit: April - November

7. Utila Island, Honduras

Just off the Caribbean coast of Honduras, you will find the three Bay Islands situated along the Meso-American reef, the second-largest reef in the world. 

The island of Utila became a hotspot for whale sharks, attracting scuba divers across countries over the years. It is a prime destination with a large biodiversity, intact reefs, and easy diving. The Halliburton was purposely sunken in 1998 and is now a great place for a dive. Utila has everything you need for an amazing diving adventure including night dives with bioluminescent plankton.

• Cost: 1,700 HNL (Approx. ₹5,700)
• Unique Underwater Attractions: Sharks, coral reefs, turtles, tropical fish, rays, whale sharks, dolphins.
• Popular Dive Sites: Roatan, Guanaja.
  
• Best Time to Visit: All year round

8. Cozumel, Mexico

Mexico is unquestionably one of the best scuba diving countries in the world, and thousands of cenotes are scattered throughout its Yucatan Peninsula.

The cheapest place to dive in Mexico by far is in Cozumel, the country’s largest Carribean Island. You can go scuba diving all year round among massive coral gardens and in warm waters, making it a first choice for scuba divers.

• Cost: 400 MXN (Approx. ₹2,000)
• Unique Underwater Attractions: Plankton, manta rays, silky sharks, humpback whales, bottlenose dolphins, sea lions, blue whales, orcas, whale sharks, cenotes caverns.
  
• Popular Dive Sites: Socorro, Revillagigedo, Sea of Cortez, Cabo San Lucas, Loreto, Squalo Divers, MUSA, Riviera Maya.
• Best Time to Visit: May – September

9. Gozo, Malta

Malta has warm seas and a shipwreck program that dates to the 1970s, making it one of the best diving destinations in Europe. 

Situated in the Mediterranean Sea between Sicily and Tunisia, Gozo is a part of the Maltese archipelago. The island is the second largest in the region. Most dive sites in Malta and Gozo, including the Gozo Blue Hole, are accessible from the coast. 

• Cost: 20 MTL (Approx. ₹4,200)
• Unique Underwater Attractions: Arches, cracks, caverns, wrecks, coral reefs, silversides, barracudas, jacks, star corals, scorpion fish, cardinal fish, groupers, dentex, tuna, prawns, sponges, spirastrella.
  
• Popular Dive Sites: Marsalforn, Xlendi Bay, Comino, Cathedral Cave, Sanap Cliffs, Calypso Cave, Sultan Rock.
• Best Time to Visit: March - December 

10. Bonaire, Caribbean Netherlands

The ABC islands - Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao are known for their affordable and unlimited beach diving. Bonaire is a fantastic place for both beginner and expert divers, offering crystal-clear Caribbean waters, constant sunshine, and extremely accessible dive spots. 

The beaches on the island extend underwater in a sandy plain that progressively descends to a depth of around 130 feet, and each location is protected as a marine park.

• Cost: 60 USD (Approx. ₹5,000)
• Unique Underwater Attractions: Turtles, fishes, coral reefs, shipwrecks.
• Popular Dive Sites: Bonaire National Marine Park, 18th Palm, Hilma Hooker, Cha Cha Cha, Bari's Reef, Salt Pier.
  
• Best Time to Visit: All year round

11. Sipadan Islands, Malaysia

Every dive in Malaysia's Borneo and Sipadan Islands seems like going to an underwater petting zoo, as these are some of the world's most biodiverse locations.

Sipadan Island is one of the world's richest marine environments, built by living corals growing atop an extinct underwater volcano. There are 12 diving sites in Malaysia on the island, and each offers a different perspective of the coral and marine life.

• Cost: 95 MYR (Approx. ₹1,700)
• Unique Underwater Attractions: Turtles, sharks, rays, seahorses, coral reefs, rock formations, shipwrecks, jacks, snappers, fusiliers, barracuda, tunas, whale sharks, hawksbills, parrotfish, morays.
  
• Popular Dive Sites: Perhentian Besar, Perhentian Kecil, Termuba Tiga, Tanjung Besi, Vietnamese Wreck, Sugar Wreck, Borneo.
• Best Time to Visit: March - September

12. Bisevo, Croatia

There is something for everyone in Croatia, making it a popular destination for travel and scuba diving in Europe. Explore a plethora of caves and find kits and massive shipwrecks at the bottom.

Dive among WWI and WWII shipwrecks, all fallen in battle. There’s a B-17 bomber to see in addition to the older ships when you go scuba diving in Croatia.

• Cost: 400 HRK (Approx. ₹4,700)
• Unique Underwater Attractions: Wrecks, underwater walls, drop-offs, caverns, rays, octopus, scorpionfish, spiny lobsters, nudibranchs.
• Popular Dive Sites: Kornati and Mljet National Parks, Modra Spilja, Blue Cave, Istria, Kvarner Bay.
  
• Best Time to Visit: April - January

13. The Florida Keys, United States

The Florida Keys is the ultimate underwater medley. Part of the third largest living coral barrier reef system in the world, the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary is home to 6,000 animal species. 

The area has nine shipwrecks waiting for you to explore. Miles and miles of glorious coral reefs are home to a wide variety of colourful fish species of different shapes and sizes.

• Cost: 90 USD (Approx. ₹7,500)
• Unique Underwater Attractions: Coral reefs, Parrot fish, Nurse sharks, Sea turtles, Tarpon, Barracuda, Snappers, Bull sharks, Damselfish, Groupers, Morays, Eagle rays, Wrecks, Statues, Eels.
• Popular Dive Sites: Molasses Reef, USCGC Duane, Christ of the Abyss, USS Spiegel Grove Wreck, French Reef, Sombrero Reef. 
  
• Best Time to Visit: October - June

• Avoid travelling during peak season. With the rise in tourists, the prices are bound to rise along with the crowd in many spots.
• Early bookings and group packages are two benefits that can significantly help lower the price.
• Keep factors such as distance to the dive site, fuel cost, accommodation charges, extra costs (marine park fees) etc., in mind when picking your dive spot.
• If you want to get into scuba diving, consider buying your own equipment. This investment will pay off in the long run compared to renting equipment for every dive

• Those who are physically unwell or are under the influence of substances are advised to avoid scuba diving.
• Avoid flying, exercising or consuming alcohol immediately after a dive.
• Don’t hold your breath underwater and remain calm while diving. 
• Follow all the instructions given by your instructor. Do not venture off on your own underwater, and always stay with your group.
• Check your gear and ensure that it is functioning correctly before you go for your dive.
• Just like any other adventure sport, scuba diving comes with its own risks. That's why you must avail of international travel insurance that also covers adventure sports such as scuba diving.

The extensive waters on Earth are just waiting to be explored. The perfect way for us to get close and observe the marine life in their natural habitat is by scuba diving into the deep blue. This prestigious activity can be accessible and shouldn't restrict the adventurist in you. Don't forget to visit these beautiful and cheap scuba diving sites around the world to get the most out of your travel.

Also read:

19 Best Places & Destinations to Go Scuba Diving in India