What a Tubbataha Reef dive trip actually costs

Palawan, Philippines · whole-trip pricing · 10 nights
The honest all-in number
$1,000 – $1,475

Per person for 10 nights — flights, hotel, dive ops, and gear-bag fees included. Typical trip lands around $1,175. Anyone can quote you a cheap flight; this is what the trip costs.

💰 Cost breakdown (per person)

Round-trip flightvaries by home airport — we watch fares from yours~$450
Hotel × 10 nights~$26/night typical · $9–$57/night range$90–$570
Diving (3 days, 2-tank)checked dive gear ~$70 RT, or rent ~$40/day locally~$390
Gearchecked dive gear ~$70 RT, or rent ~$40/day locally~$70
Realistic all-in
$1,000 – $1,47510 nights, per person

🐠 Best time to go

Prime months: Mar · Apr · May · Jun.

Liveaboard-only season — pristine atolls, sharks, big schools

🤿 The diving

Liveaboard-only drift dives over two remote Sulu Sea atolls — Black Rock, Jessie Beazley Reef, North & South Atoll walls — with sharks (whitetip, hammerhead), mantas, whale sharks, 82–86°F water, 100ft+ viz; experienced/advanced divers only.

Also known for: Tamilok — woodworm eaten raw in calamansi vinegar (Puerto Princesa's signature dare-food/delicacy)

⭐ Top-rated dive shops

Action Divers Puerto Galera, Philippines★★★★★ (175)
El Nido Adventure Scuba Dive Center★★★★★ (85)
Giant Strike - Dive Port Barton dive centre★★★★★ (64)
Freedive with Agatha★★★★★ (45)

🥾 When you're not diving

Seabird and Wildlife Watching — Spot boobies, frigatebirds, and sea turtles nesting on the reef's small cays.

Ranger Station Visit — Learn about reef conservation from park rangers at the on-site station.

Snorkeling the Shallows — Explore reef flats in calm areas without full scuba gear between dive sessions.

Stargazing on the Live-Aboard Deck — Remote location with zero light pollution makes for exceptional night skies.

Whale Shark Watching — Tubbataha waters attract whale sharks; spot them from the boat surface.

🔔 How to get it for less

The all-in above is the typical price. A few times a year, Tubbataha Reef fares drop 25–50% below that. StokedFare watches dive destinations from your home airport 24/7 and pings you the second one crosses that line — free.

Watch Tubbataha Reef from my airport — free →
Estimates from StokedFare's live price data; actual costs vary by dates, choices, and availability — always confirm at booking. StokedFare is not a travel agency. · Home · All costs · Deals caught