With around 7,000 islands, 22,550 miles (36,290 km) of coastline, and a location right in the middle of the Coral Triangle, it would be easy to spend a lifetime exploring the underwater paradise of the Philippines. In fact, it would take almost 20 years to spend 24 hours on every single one of the islands. But, luckily for divers, there are several locations that stand out above the rest.
Liveaboards in the Philippines are one of the best ways to explore this remarkable underwater landscape. You’ll find a truly staggering diversity of marine life, with nearly 600 species of reef-building corals alone. Six of the world’s seven sea turtles, plus more than 2,000 species of reef fish also call the region home.
Topside, you’ll find a vibrant country with a mixture of cultures. Colonial Spanish and Catholic influences linger, along with the traditions of hundreds of ethnic groups, making for a vast kaleidoscope of food, religion, and art.
When it’s time to choose one of the liveaboards in the Philippines, there’s one to suit every style of diving and price point. Here we’ve compiled 10 of the most popular boats to help you compare prices and choose must-have features. You can sort by price range, trip length, and facilities. Liveaboard diving in the Philippines is not to be missed, so start searching.
Diving in the Philippines is good all year round. July until December has the best visibility with water temperatures ranging from 72 to 77 F (22-25 C).
Philippine Siren
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One of our top picks for liveaboard diving in the Philippines, Master Liveaboards’ Philippine Siren lives up to the company’s reputation for great service, comfortable boats, and exciting itineraries. Depending on the time of year, guests will visit many of the island nation’s best dive sites. Tubbataha National Park from late February to June, with the rest of the year…
Key facts
Things we like:
- Helpful, friendly staff
- A huge variety of marine life
- On-board massage facilities
- Lots of repeat guests means happy divers
Things we don’t like:
- Some cabins can be a tight fit
Where to book Philippine Siren:
Infiniti Liveaboard
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With over 7,000 islands and some of the world’s most biodiverse marine ecosystems, the Philippines is a spectacular scuba diving destination. From pristine coral reefs, to wrecks, to spectacular drop offs, there is something for every diver. Standouts include UNESCO World Heritage Site Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park, a remote atoll teeming with marine life, and Malapascua, which is known for…
Key facts
Things we like:
- Dedicated camera room with media center and plasma screens
- Excellent, friendly crew of 18
- Biodiverse marine life and large pelagics
- Four dives a day including night dives
- Dive gear included free of charge (excluding computer)
Things we don’t like:
- Nitrox costs extra ($125 at time of writing)
- Fuel surcharge on all trips is $100 extra
- Marine park and port fees are an extra $110 to $190 depending on itinerary
- Most trips only six nights
Where to book Infiniti Liveaboard:
Atlantis Adventurer
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Renowned for diverse marine ecosystems, the Philippines features crystal-clear waters, vibrant coral reefs, and a rich array of marine life. Liveaboard divers can expect a variety of thrilling dive sites, from coral walls to historic wrecks teeming with fascinating underwater history. Whether exploring dramatic drop-offs, coral gardens, or atmospheric wrecks, each dive in the Philippines is absolutely captivating. The Atlantis…
Key facts
Things we like:
- Excellent choice of itineraries
- Spectacular reefs and historic wrecks
- Intimate atmosphere with maximum 16 divers
- Attentive crew
Things we don’t like:
- Cabins are a little small
- Smell of diesel when cruising
- Boat décor is a little tired
Where to book Atlantis Adventurer:
Narayana
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Tubbataha reef diving in the Philippines is liveaboard diving at its best, and Narayana’s other destinations don’t disappoint either. The Tubbataha UNESCO World Heritage site only has a short season, but it makes up for it by giving you opportunities to dive with countless pelagic species. Reef sharks, hammerhead sharks, giant trevally, barracuda, and tuna will keep pelagic species lovers…
Key facts
Things we like:
- Recently refurbished, cozy liveaboard
- Up to four dives per day
- Outstanding opportunities for pelagic encounters
Things we don’t like:
- No WiFi
- No nitrox
Where to book Narayana:
Stella Maris Explorer
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Tubbataha Reef almost needs no introduction. This National Marine Park in the Philippines features two atolls rising up from the bottom of the Sulu Sea. These atolls have become known as the nursery for fish and coral going on to populate the Coral Triangle from the Sulu Sea to Indonesia’s Sulawesi province and parts of Malaysia. Divers love the area…
Key facts
Things we like:
- Air-conditioning and carpeting throughout
- Custom-built liveaboard for Tubbataha exploration
- Up to four dives per day
- Nitrox included in the trip price
Things we don’t like:
- Some of the cabins are rather small
- Sit-down showers in bathrooms
Where to book Stella Maris Explorer:
Solitude One
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Would you like to see wrecks or discover some of the best biodiversity in the world? If you think the two can’t be combined, take a look at the itineraries offered by this liveaboard. The Solitude One covers both Palau and the Philippines, arguably two must-see destinations for any diver. Palau is home to WWII shipwrecks, the world-famous Jellyfish Lake,…
Key facts
Things we like:
- Three different cabin classes to suit different budgets
- Lots of cabin choices for single travelers
- Option to book transition trips and experience both Palau and the Philippines
- Hot tub for relaxation between and after dives
Things we don’t like:
- Limited natural light in some of the lower deck cabins
Where to book Solitude One:
Seadoors
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Picture yourself surrounded by hundreds of schooling fish in warm, tropical waters or enjoying a breathtaking encounter with a whale shark or a thresher shark. Those encounters, as well as a chance to explore historic wrecks, are the ingredients that make Philippines diving special. Visiting this archipelago by liveaboard gives divers all the freedom they need to reach off-the-beaten-track dive…
Key facts
Things we like:
- Flexible cabins for easy sharing
- Wide choice of destinations and trip lengths
- Dedicated space and facilities for photographers and videographers
Things we don’t like:
- No Wi-Fi
Navis 1
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Philippines diving packs a punch no matter where and when you go. Take the island province of Palawan, for example. With 1,800 islands fringed by coral reefs, UNESCO World Heritage sites, and the shipwrecks of Coron island, there is no shortage of dive sites in this area. Plus, most of the itineraries in the area allow dive operators to combine…
Key facts
Things we like:
- Stability even in challenging conditions
- Spacious cabins and dive deck because of the twin hull
- Excellent opportunities for macro and wide-angle diving
- Free WiFi
Things we don’t like:
- Additional charge for nitrox
Palau Sport
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Anilao, Apo Reef, and Tubbataha Reef—these three destinations will conjure up images of world-class diving for anyone familiar with Southeast Asia. If you haven’t dived this area of the Philippines, know that you’re in for a treat. Anilao regularly tops lists of leading macro diving destinations. The reefs of Apo and Tubbataha not only offer some of the most colorful,…
Key facts
Things we like:
- Queen suite cabins offer picturesque views
- Highly experienced crew
- Wide choice of destinations for macro, wide-angle, megafauna, and wreck diving fans
Things we don’t like:
- Twin cabins are quite small
- Trips may suffer from organizational issues
Where to book Palau Sport:
Philippines Aggressor
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Turquoise waters, whale sharks, schooling jacks, and sardines—what more could you ask for as a diver? Perhaps you’re an underwater photographer more interested in the tiniest of marine creatures? Fear not: liveaboard diving in the Philippines has it all. The Tubbataha Reef is part of the famed Coral Triangle and home to around 400 species of corals and nearly 600…
Key facts
Things we like:
- Brand-new, comfortable, and spacious boat with modern facilities
- Suites with ocean views and private balconies
- Access to rarely visited areas in the Philippines
Things we don’t like:
- Relatively small dive deck for the number of passengers
- No option to purchase Wi-Fi
Where to book Philippines Aggressor:
Liveaboards in the Philippines
Home to over 2,000 marine species and over 500 species of coral, you won’t run out of discoveries within the waters of the Philippines. The Philippines is also known for the sheer number of pelagic visitors—not only are you likely to see a variety of reef sharks, but you may also score a sighting of whale sharks or the elusive thresher shark.
With dive sites spread out across different regions and islands, some only accessible via boat, a liveaboard is one of the best and most convenient ways to explore. Dive safaris usually run from four to 10 nights, depending on what and where you book. With so many incredible dive sites, it pays to take note of several different areas when you’re booking and decide in advance exactly what you’d like to see.
As the capital of the Philippines, Manila is a fascinating city where east meets west. It’s home to high rises and resort hotels, many of them in the safe, tourist-friendly Makati neighborhood. It is also a great place to base yourself for a dive trip. If you are traveling to Manila, check out Subic Bay, around 2.5 hours away, and Puerto Galera, around 3.5 hours away.
Coron is home to some of the best wreck-diving opportunities in the world, thanks to one fateful day in September 1944 during the thick of World War II. In a surprise attack, U.S Navy aircraft crippled a dozen Japanese supply ships, which subsequently sank in just 15 minutes, before turning around to head home. Now, it offers divers one of the world’s best-preserved variety of wrecks at a variety of depths, starting around 33 feet (10 m).
Only accessible via liveaboard, Tubbataha Reefs represents the very best of Philippines diving. In the center of the Sulu Sea, the park encompasses 374 square miles and covers three atolls and a large swath of deep sea. Within Tubbataha, you’ll find sharks, whales, turtles, over 360 species of coral and almost 700 species of fish. Access is very limited though—because of both weather conditions and a desire to protect the natural environment, boats are only allowed at Tubbataha from mid-March to mid-June. Consequently, you’ll want to book a liveaboard trip far in advance.
Thresher sharks are the highlight for most divers visiting this province, specifically off the island of Malapascua. This tiny island is one of the very few places in the world that you’re almost guaranteed to see threshers. Aside from the sharks, Cebu provides unique experiences for even the most seasoned divers, with reefs and wrecks waiting to be explored.
Lovely Boracay Island has frequently been voted “best island to visit,” and it’s easy to see why, with swaying palm trees, white-sand beaches, and a gorgeous tropical climate. Underwater, divers will find an abundance of tropical reef fish, clear water, and healthy coral reefs.
Home to 75% of the world’s coral species and one of the planet’s largest reefs, Mindoro is an underwater paradise. From shore dives, to wrecks, to deep drift dives, you’ll find a bit of everything here. Common marine life includes barracuda, emperor fish, scorpionfish, eels, and schooling trevallies.
What to know about liveaboard diving in the Philippines
- Water temperatures are usually warm enough to dive with a shorty or a 3mm wetsuit. With multiple dives on consecutive days, most liveaboard divers will want some sort of exposure protection.
- Prime dive season runs from November through May.
- Rainy season falls between June and October. The Philippines is known for strong monsoons during this period. Diving during the rainy season is not recommended, as visibility drops dramatically and some dive sites are completely off-limits. Typhoons can also be incredibly dangerous both on land and in the water.
- Air temperatures average 78 to 90 F ( 25 to 32 C) with high humidity.
- Getting to the Philippines is not as difficult as you may think. The main international airport is Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL) in Manila. Note that if you are planning to use MNL as a transfer airport for an onward flight, give yourself plenty of time — at least two to three extra hours.
- The second-most popular international airport is Mactan-Cebu International Airport (CEB). If you decide to take a liveaboard trip around Cebu, Negros or Bohol, this would be the ideal airport to choose. Transfers from CEB are also easy to organize, either by your resort or your chosen liveaboard.
- Finally, Clark International Airport (CRK) is located around 60 miles (93 km) north of Manila. It is sometimes referred to as Manila Airport. If you’re planning to take a liveaboard north of Manila, then this is your ideal choice.
- The currency used in the Philippines is the Philippine Peso. Check current exchange rates here.
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