The scuba diving cost in Maldives varies more than most guides admit — from $50 per dive at a local island to $200 at a luxury resort. This guide breaks down every cost, every extra, and gives you honest weekly budgets for three types of trip.
A single fun dive costs $50–$70 at a local island guesthouse, $70–$110 at a mid-range resort, and $110–$200 at a luxury property. That's the quoted price — but the real cost is higher once you add equipment hire, taxes, and boat fees. Budget realistically, not just for the dive price you see on the website.
Maseeh
Maseeh
The diving cost in Maldives is genuinely higher than Southeast Asian destinations — but it's often more affordable than the luxury resort image suggests. The biggest shift happened in 2009, when the government allowed tourists to stay on local inhabited islands. Since then, you can dive the same reefs as resort guests for half the price.
The trap most divers fall into is looking only at the quoted dive price. At resort dive centres, the listed price rarely includes equipment hire, boat fees, and taxes can add 18–20% on top. A dive quoted at $80 can end up costing $110 with a full equipment hire and tax.
This guide breaks down every cost type so you can plan a realistic budget — whatever your trip format. The team at HolidayVibe Maldives has compiled these figures from 2026 price lists across budget guesthouses, mid-range resorts, and luxury properties.
Price references: Euro-Divers Dhigali 2026 price list · Outrigger Maafushivaru price list · Maafushi Dive & Watersports · Maldives Ministry of Tourism ↗
Your trip format is the single biggest factor in your total diving cost. Here's the honest comparison across all three options.
Local island diving completely changed the Maldives cost equation. You stay in a guesthouse on an inhabited island and dive with a standalone local dive centre — same sites, same reefs, half the price.
Most Maldives divers stay at a resort. Prices vary enormously — a 4-star property can offer world-class diving for far less than a 5-star. Choose the dive centre, not the star rating.
When you divide the liveaboard total by your number of dives, it often works out cheaper per dive than resort diving — and includes accommodation and all meals. The trade-off is you're on the boat for the entire week.
Prices in USD. Resort prices are before 8% GST and 10% service charge — add approximately 18–20% to the figures below for your final resort bill. Guesthouse prices are typically GST-inclusive.
| Dive Type / Service | Budget / Guesthouse | Mid-Range Resort | Luxury Resort |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fun Dives (certified divers) | |||
| Single fun dive (boat + tank + guide) | $50–$70 | $70–$110 | $110–$200 |
| House reef / jetty dive | $30–$50 | $40–$70 | $60–$90 |
| 5-dive package | $240–$350 | $330–$490 | $490–$750 |
| 10-dive package | $420–$600 | $560–$830 | $795–$1,200 |
| Night dive | $55–$80 | $80–$110 | $110–$150 |
| Two-tank morning dive | $90–$130 | $130–$180 | $180–$250 |
| Discover Scuba Diving (no certification needed) | |||
| Discover Scuba Diving (DSD) — pool | $100–$120 | $115–$150 | $150–$200 |
| Discover Scuba Diving — open water | $110–$140 | $150–$180 | $180–$300 |
| Whale Shark & Specialist Trips | |||
| Whale shark snorkel / dive trip (South Ari) | $60–$90 | $90–$130 | $110–$160 |
| Manta snorkel trip (Hanifaru-area) | $50–$80 | $80–$110 | $90–$140 |
This is where most dive trip budgets go wrong. The price on the website and the price on your bill are often very different. Here's what's typically in and out.
Always confirm exactly what's included when you request a price. "Full equipment" should mean BCD, regulator, wetsuit, and computer in addition to the above.
At luxury resorts, always ask for the "total dive cost per dive including taxes and equipment" rather than the headline price.
Most dive centres offer individual equipment hire — you only pay for what you need. Prices below are per dive and based on 2026 Maldives market rates.
| Equipment | Guesthouse / Budget | Mid-Range Resort | Luxury Resort |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full set (BCD + reg + wetsuit + computer) | $20–$30 | $28–$40 | $35–$55 |
| BCD only | $6–$10 | $8–$14 | $12–$20 |
| Regulator only | $6–$10 | $8–$14 | $12–$18 |
| Wetsuit (shorty or full) | $5–$8 | $6–$10 | $8–$14 |
| Dive computer | $5–$8 | $7–$11 | $10–$15 |
| Mask & fins | Often included | Often included | Often included |
| Torch (night dive) | $5–$8 | $7–$12 | $10–$15 |
| Underwater camera (compact) | $15–$25 | $20–$40 | $35–$60 |
| Nitrox fill (per tank, 32%) | $10–$15 | $12–$18 | $15–$22 |
Almost every resort and most guesthouse dive centres offer PADI courses. The Maldives is genuinely a great place to learn — warm water, clear visibility, and gentle house reef conditions.
The smartest way to get certified is the PADI Referral option — complete your theory and pool sessions at home (at your local dive school), then do only the open-water checkout dives in the Maldives. This saves 1–2 full days and around $100–$150 in course fees.
No certification needed. Introductory pool session + one guided open-water dive. Perfect for complete beginners who want to try before committing to a full course.
$100–$180The full certification course — 3 to 4 days, pool sessions plus 4 open-water dives. Certifies you to 18m worldwide for life. Equipment, boat, and certification fee included.
$400–$6605 adventure dives over 2 days. Extends your depth to 30m and unlocks the best Maldives sites — channel dives, wreck dives, and deeper walls. Worth getting before your trip.
$350–$600Theory-only course (no extra dives required). Allows you to dive with 32% or 36% oxygen mix — extends bottom time and reduces surface intervals on multiple-dive days.
$200–$350A significant step up in skills and awareness. Pairs well with Emergency First Response (EFR). Required before Divemaster training if that's on your horizon.
$500–$800Wreck, Drift, Deep, Night, Underwater Photography and more. Most specialties take 1–2 days. Some (like Photography) add real value for Maldives conditions.
$200–$450These are the extras that catch most divers off guard. Budget for all of them — they add up to several hundred dollars on a typical week-long trip.
Resort dive centres add 8% Goods and Services Tax plus a 10% service charge — roughly 18–20% on top of every quoted price. A $100 dive becomes $118. Always ask for prices "inclusive of taxes".
+18–20% at resortsSome dive centres quote the dive price separately from the boat transfer. At Euro-Divers Dhigali, for example, boat trips are €18–€40 per person on top of the dive price. Read the small print.
$18–$50 per tripThe Maldives government charges a Green Tax of $12 per person per night at all tourist accommodation — resorts, liveaboards, and guesthouses. A 7-night trip adds $84 per person to your bill.
$12 per person per nightMandatory at many Maldives dive centres. Short-term DAN insurance costs $25–$75 for a week. Annual coverage is better value if you dive regularly. The nearest recompression chamber is ADK Hospital in Malé.
$25–$75 per weekGetting to atolls like Baa, Lhaviyani, South Ari, and Vaavu requires a seaplane. Transfers cost $280–$500 per person return and are rarely included in resort rates. North and South Malé use speedboats — no seaplane fee.
$280–$500 returnProtected-area charges vary by site. Some areas show free access on the official Maldives portal; others like Hanifaru Bay operate under separate permit and token rules. Confirm with your dive centre before booking.
Varies by siteMany liveaboards charge a daily camera/equipment fee if you bring your own underwater housing — typically $30–$50 per day. This adds $210–$350 to a 7-night trip. Confirm before booking.
$30–$50 per dayNot mandatory but strongly customary and deeply appreciated. The standard is $5–$10 per person per day for your dive guide. On a 7-night trip with 2 dives daily, budget $70–$140 in tips.
$5–$10 per dayLiveaboard base fares almost never include alcohol. Expect resort-level prices on board — $8–$15 per beer, $12–$18 per cocktail. Budget this separately if you drink. Non-alcoholic drinks are usually included.
Not included — budget separatelyThree realistic scenarios for a 7-night Maldives dive trip — budget guesthouse, mid-range resort, and liveaboard. All prices in USD per person.
Maafushi or Fulidhoo base, 10 dives
South Ari or N. Malé, 10 dives
7 nights, ~24 dives, central atolls
Small decisions before and during your trip can save you several hundred dollars without compromising the diving itself.
Equipment hire adds $25–$40 per dive. On a 10-dive trip that's $250–$400. Even with airline baggage fees, bringing your own kit usually saves money — and you dive with familiar gear.
May, June and September to November offer 15–30% lower resort rates than peak season (December–April). Diving is still excellent — just with different trade-offs on visibility vs manta and whale shark timing.
Packages always work out cheaper per dive than single dives. A 10-dive package at a mid-range resort saves $120–$200 compared to booking individual dives. Unused dives are rarely refunded, so estimate realistically.
PADI eLearning or a Referral course (theory + pool at home, checkout dives in Maldives) saves 1–2 days and $100–$150 in course fees. More importantly, it gives you more actual diving time during your holiday.
North and South Malé Atolls are reached by speedboat from the airport — no seaplane required. Saving $280–$500 in transfer costs can fund 5–8 extra dives. Good diving doesn't require a seaplane.
Annual DAN membership with dive insurance costs around $60–$80 and covers unlimited trips in a year. Short-term coverage at a dive centre costs $25–$75 per week. If you dive more than once a year, annual cover wins.
For anyone doing 3+ dives per day, a mid-range liveaboard often works out cheaper per dive than a resort — and includes all meals. A budget liveaboard at $1,500 for 7 nights with 20 dives equals $75 per dive, all-inclusive.
Resort dive centres add 8% GST and 10% service charge. Always request a final price "inclusive of all taxes and charges" before booking. The difference between quoted and final price can be 20%+ at some luxury properties.
Plan the full picture — where to dive, where to stay, and what to expect at each level.
Common questions about diving costs and budgeting in the Maldives.
Send us your certification level, preferred trip format, travel dates, and budget range — and we'll build you a realistic cost breakdown with resort or liveaboard options that actually fit what you want to spend.
Free advice · No booking fees · Based in the Maldives